Spanish Civil War: What Were the Causes of the Spanish Civil War
Chapter 17 Becoming a World Power Section 2 The Spanish-American War.
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Chapter 17 Becoming a World Power Section 2 The Spanish-American War
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Transcript of Chapter 17 Becoming a World Power Section 2 The Spanish-American War.
Chapter 17Becoming a World Power
Section 2
The Spanish-American War
The Coming of War
• Cuba, a Spanish colony, provided wealth for Spain with sugarcane plantations.
• 1868 – Cuban rebels declared independence and began a guerilla attack against Spanish authorities.
• Attack failed, and rebels fled to U.S.
Jose Marti
• Exiled leader of the revolution fled to NYC.
• Raised money from Americans and began purchasing weapons and training troops to prepare for an invasion of Cuba.
Americans support the Cubans
• 1894 – U.S. imposed new tariffs on sugar, and the Cuban economy was devastated.
• Marti began a new rebellion in Feb. 1895.
• They seized control of eastern Cuba, declared its independence, and set up the Republic of Cuba in Sept. 1895.
Americans Support the Cubans
• At the start of the revolution America was neutral.
• After reports in two newspapers by William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) & Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) Americans began to side with the rebels.
• They used yellow journalism, exaggerated stories, to try to outdo each other.
Hearst (NY Journal)
• Reported that the Spanish were feeding Cubans to the sharks and dogs.
Pulitzer (NY World)
• Described Cuba as a place with “blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!”
Calling Out For War
• The Cuban rebels attacked and destroyed, American property hoping for American intervention.
Calling Out for War
• Spanish appointed Gen. Valeriano Weyler to serve as governor.
• Sent tens of thousands of Cubans to their deaths in reconcentration camps.
• This led to Americans to call for intervention.
Calling Out for War
• Spanish ambassador to the U.S., Enrique Dupuy de Lome, wrote a private letter, describing Pres. McKinley as weak and seeking admiration of Americans.
• The NY Journal printed the letter.
Calling Out for War
• Feb. 1898, the U.S.S. Maine, anchored in Havana, Cuba, exploded, killing 266 American officers and sailors.
• Most blamed the Spanish.
Calling Out for War
• Pres. McKinley didn’t want to intervene fearing it would cost the U.S. too many lives and hurt the economy.
• However, within the Republican party, jingoism, or aggressive nationalism, was strong, and the president declared war on April 19, 1898.
A War on Two Fronts
• The U.S. Navy’s North Atlantic Squadron blockaded Cuba.
• An American fleet in British Hong Kong was ordered to attack the Spanish fleet in the Phillipines – a Spanish colony.
U.S. Takes the Philippines
• May 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a squadron that destroyed Spanish warships in Manilla Bay.
• Sent 20,000 troops, and along the way, seized Guam.
U.S. Takes the Philippines
• Dewey contacted Emilio Aguinaldo while waiting for American troops.
• Aguinaldo quickly launched a new guerrilla war.
• This led the way for America to seize the Philippines.
American Forces Battle in Cuba
• June 1898, American troops advanced toward Santiago Harbor in Southern Cuba.
• Among the troops were the “Rough Riders” led by Colonel Leonard Wood, with Theodore Roosevelt as second in command.
• Both were American victories.
American Forces Battle in Cuba
• Spanish resistance ended with the surrender of Santiago on Aug. 12, 1898 with a cease-fire.
An American Empire is Born
• Dec 10, 1898 – U.S. & Spain signed the Treaty of Paris.
• Cuba became an independent country.
• U.S. acquired Puerto Rico & Guam and paid $20 million for the Philippines.
• Made the U.S. an imperial power.
Rebellion in the Philippines
• Emilio Aguinaldo ordered an attack on American soldiers stationed in the Philippines.
• Gen Arthur MacArthur was forced to set up reconcentration camps resulting in thousands of deaths.
William H. Taft
• 1st U.S. civilian gov. of Philippines.
• Introduced reforms in education, transportation, and health care.
• Lessened the Filipino hostility toward America.
• April 1902, Philippines were granted independence.
Governing Puerto Rico
• 1900 – Foraker Act made Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory.
• 1917 – Puerto Ricans were made citizens of the U.S.
• 1947 – Island allowed to elect its own governor.
Cuba and the Platt Amendment
• After the war, the U.S. set up a military government.• Platt Amendment (repealed in 1934)
– Cuba couldn’t make a treaty w/ another nation that would weaken its power or allow another foreign power to gain territory in Cuba.
– Cuba had to allow the U.S. to buy or lease naval stations in Cuba.
– Cuba’s debts had to be kept low to prevent foreign countries from landing troops to enforce payment.
– U.S. would have the right to intervene to protect Cuban independence and keep order.
End of Section 2
Next: Section 3
New American Diplomacy
