Spanish American War

1. Spanish American War April –August 1898

2. Cuban History • Spanish possession along with Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines • History of rebellion • U.S. interested in Cuba = sugar production • High U.S. tariffs ruined Cuban economy in 1894

3. Revolt in Cuba • Cubans revolted against Spain in 1895 • Rebels deliberately destroyed U.S. property hoping to provoke U.S. intervention • Americans were torn in their opinions of the rebellious Cubans

4. Yellow Journalism • Spain responded to rebels by putting rural pop. into concentration camps, thousands died • Newspaper publishers used information & exaggerated it to sell more papers – yellow journalism

5. Yellow Journalism • William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer competing newspapers reported sensationalized stories • Spanish authorities restricted journalists freedom and prohibited them from entering combat areas • Hearst sent famous artist Frederic Remington to illustrate reporters’ stories • Hearst reportedly said, “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

7. The de Lome letter • Feb. 1898 the New York Journal, Hearst’s paper, published a private letter from Enrique Dupuy de Lome, Spanish minister to the U.S. • Letter stolen and published by Hearst • The letter criticized Pres. McKinley calling him “weak” and “a bidder for the admiration of the crowd”

8. Reaction to the Letter • Although some Americans agreed with de Lome’s opinion of McKinley, they resented this criticism of their President • de Lome resigned his position

9. U.S.S. Maine • Early 1898, McKinley ordered the ship to Cuba to protect American lives and property • Feb. 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine exploded and sank • More than 260 of the 350 American officers and crew died • The Spanish were blamed for the explosion

10. “Remember the Maine”

11. War Propaganda

12. What Really Happened • At the time, the navy reported that the ship hit a mine • In 1976, a study determined that an internal explosion in the ship’s coal bunkers caused the initial blast • In 1898, “Remember the Maine” became the rallying cry to U.S. involvement in Cuba

13. The War • On April 11, McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force against Spain • The Pacific fleet was already in the Philippines (sent by TR in Feb. in case war broke out) • First battle of the war took place in the Philippines

14. The War in the Philippines • On May 1, 1898 Naval commander, George Dewey steamed into Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet • U.S. forces landed in the Philippines • Over the next 2 months U.S. troops joined Filipino rebels against the Spanish • In Aug., Spanish troops surrendered to Americans rather than Filipinos

15. The War in Cuba • U.S. navy began with a naval blockade and trapped the Spanish in Santiago harbor showing U.S. dominance • The U.S. Army was less prepared • 125,000 volunteered but lacked sufficient training and ill-prepared • Not enough weapons and inappropriate uniforms (wool in the tropics is a bad idea!)

16. Land Invasion of Cuba • June 1898, 17,000 began to converge on Santiago • Four African-American regiments (Buffalo Soldiers ) and the Rough Riders (one of leaders = TR) • Famous battles – Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill

19. General Shafter

20. Spanish Surrender • Spanish fleet tried to escape the American blockade in the harbor but were destroyed • July 17, 1898 the Spanish surrender • July 25th U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico

21. End of the War • Armistice signed Aug 12th • 5,400 American died (379 battle casualties, rest from disease and other causes) • 16 week war • Sec. of State John Hay called it “a splendid little war”

22. Treaty of Paris 1898 • Cuba would become independent • Spain would give U.S. Puerto Rico and Guam • U.S. would pay $20 million for annexation of Philippine islands