The Spanish American War
Use the online presentation to complete these notes, and enjoy learning about the best example of American imperialism at the turn of the century.
The Context
What was the situation in the Spanish colonies in the late 1800s?
¶ In the late 1800s, Spain had a tenuous hold on their empire - Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific
¶ The American expansionist mood was at a fever pitch, with U.S. investments in Cuban sugar and mining industries steadily rising
¶ José Martí - young Cuban angered the Spanish government with a patriotic poem - Martí was jailed for four months and sent him into exile - Martí continued his political writing - calling for Cuban independence.
¶ In 1894, Martí organized guerrilla actions, destroying U.S. owned sugarcane plantations, hoping to provoke U.S. intervention in the Cuban plight against Spain.
¶ Spain sent an army under General Valeriano Weyler to crush the rebellion. José Martí was killed, but the revolution continued
José Martí
¶ Frustrated by rebel successes, General Weyler ordered 300,000 Cuban civilians into concentration camps - thousands died, and the revolution looked like it may die as well
The Causes
Why did Spain and the U.S. go to war over Cuba?
M ______- William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) sensationalized the news, and were not above creating events when the news wasn't as spicy in order to sell papers
M ______ - a Cuban agent stole a letter written by Spain's minister in Washington - the letter called McKinley a "weak man" and stated that he was a "bidder for the admiration of the crowd" - the letter appeared all over the press, including the front page of the New York Journal
M ______ - February 15, 1898 -
Some notes on the event …
M ______ - a combination of extreme patriotism and the desire to push for war – many politicians developed this feeling, including Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, and eventually President William McKinley
M ______-
o April 11 - McKinley asks Congress for authority to send American troops to Cuba to end the civil war
o April 19 - Congress passes joint resolutions proclaiming Cuba "free and independent", disclaims any intentions in Cuba, demands Spanish withdrawal, and authorizes the President to use as much military force as he thought necessary to help Cuban patriots gain freedom from Spain – or else
o April 24 - Spain breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States, declares war
o April 25- Congress declared that a state of war between the United States and Spain had existed since April 21st
The Event
What should you know about the war?
TR – pre-teddy bear
The Impact
What were the short and long term results of the war?
¨ Over ______(only about 400 battle deaths), and a cost of $______million
¨ ______of the U.S. – America acquires ______, ______, ______, and ______
¨ Spain had to recognize ______independence and leave the island nation
¨ The ______Amendment – Cuba becomes a ______of the US, and US gains a naval base at ______- American-Cuban relations begin (positive and negative)
¨ ______strength and arms become respected – recognized as a global power
¨ U.S. becomes much more involved in ______and ______
¨ U.S. ______increases
¨ US becomes a ______nation, and will look for a link to help commercial and military strength
¨ American ______or anti-imperialism develops
The Response
Why do some Americans begin to oppose Imperialism?
· Spanish American War wasn’t for ______
· Philippines should be “free and ______”
· imperialism was ______
· ______at home
· no such thing as “______”
· too hard to hold and ______the colonies
· undemocratic - not fair that the colonies would be governed but not represented in ______
· worries about world ______