10.2 The Spanish-American War

1. 10.2 The Spanish-American War

2. U.S. and Cuba • Cuba was Spain’s colony, we were interested because some businessmen had sugar companies there • When Cuban leaders like Jose Marti called for a revolution (against Spain), we supported the Cubans

3. U.S. and Cuba • Spain sent General Weyler to tame the Cubans • He forced them into concentration camps, etc. • The practice of “yellow journalism” focused (and sometimes exaggerated) on the horrible treatment of the Cubans

4. U.S. and Cuba • In the intercepted De Lome letter, a member of the Spanish govt. insulted Pres. McKinley • The letter was printed in newspapers across the U.S. • Naturally, this infuriated Americans • Even if McKinley was kind of a dud…

5. U.S. and Cuba • Feb 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Spain, which was supposed to bring home U.S. citizens from Cuba, mysteriously exploded • We automatically blamed the Spanish, but no one could prove it. • The rallying cry became “Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!”

6. U.S. beats up Spain • Attacked the Spanish in the Philippines (in Pacific) before we invaded Cuba • We blockaded the Spanish fleet at Cuba, then invaded with a poorly prepared army • We still won that invasion anyway • TR (before he became Pres.) lead his volunteers (The “Rough Riders”) into the Battle of San Juan Hill

7. U.S. beats up Spain • In the Treaty of Paris (1898) we gained much of Spain’s Pacific and Caribbean empire • We gained Puerto Rico and Guam for free • But we agreed to pay Spain $20 mil. for the Philippines • [BTW: treaties are named after the city they are signed in. Paris was the center of world then (and a pretty nice party town to boot) so many of history’s important treaties are called the “Treaty of Paris”]