America Claims an Empire

1. America Claims an Empire Unit:2 Spanish-American War

2. Cuba

3. Cuban Political and Economic Instability • Cuba’s first war for independence from Spain failed but forced Spain to abolish slavery. • American capitalists invest in Cuba’s sugar plantations. • 1884 – Tariff abolished = sugar production skyrocketed. • 1894 - Tariff restored = Cuba’s economy ruined. • 1895 – Cuba’s second war for independence • Guerrilla warfare and destruction of property with the hopes of provoking U.S. intervention.

4. Jose` Marti • Leader of Cuban revolt against Spain. • Cuba Libre – a free Cuba (similar to Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” battle cry)

5. Threat of War Escalates • Spanish General V. Weyler’s response to guerrilla warfare – 300,000 Cubans in concentration camps. • Yellow journalism – legitimate stories of Cuba’s hardships mixed with sensationalized accounts. • Pulitzer & Hearst

6. Threat of War, cont. • The De Lome Letter • De Lome (Spanish minister to the U.S.) writes letter criticizing McKinley’s policy regarding Cuba. • Letter was leaked. • The U.S.S. Maine • McKinley sent U.S.S. Maine to protect Cuba. • On February 15, 1898, explosion sank ship killing 260 men. • Yellow journalists held Spain responsible.

7. U.S.S. Maine

8. War Breaks Out • “Remember the Maine!” war cry. • April 20, 1898, U.S. declares war against Spain. • Fighting started in the Philippines. • Pacific fleet defeats Spanish in two months. George Dewey • In Cuba, the Rough Riders, led by Leonard Wood and Teddy Roosevelt, converged on Santiago. • Battle of San Juan

9. War, cont. • U.S. navy destroyed Spanish fleet 2 days after Battle of San Juan Hill. • Treaty of Paris of 1898 • August 12, 1898, U.S. and Spain signed armistice. • Cuba is independent. • Puerto Rico and Guam belong to U.S. • U.S. pays $20 million for the Philippines.