The Spanish-American War

Background Info

Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Philippines are all Spanish colonies

Cubans were tired of the poor treatment and failing economy

Organized a revolt and began to fight against Spanish rule

Background Info

US business men were upset because of trade disruption

“Yellow Journalism” began to outrage US citizens with exaggerated claims of Spanish brutality in Cuba

Cuba wanted be independent

Cuban Revolt

President William McKinley - Doesn’t want a war

Public opinion forced US into action

McKinley demanded Spain stop its harsh treatment of Cubans

Sent the USS Maine to rescue US citizens from a riot in Havana that was led by Anti-American “Voluntarios”

USS Maine Havana Harbor (Cuba) in 1898

USS Maine

Was initially reported by William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers that the USS Maine was sunk as a Spanish conspiracy

Sinking was actually caused by a submarine mine

Took the lives of 250 men

War Has Begun

While all the revolts were taking place in Cuba

Rioting and fighting for independence was also happening in the Philippines

The US was also preparing to act on the problems in the Philippines

War Has Begun

July 3, 1898- war began with the Battle of Santiago de Cuba

Largest naval battle-ended in total destruction of Spanish Caribbean fleet

Americans took the town of Santiago

War continues

Germany had interests in Manila and offered aide

US called Germany’s bluff and showed intention to fight

Germany backs down. August 13, 1898- US takes control of Manila unaware that the war ended a day earlier

End of the War

July 1, 1898 – San Juan Hill is captured

July 17 1898 - Santiago is held

August 12 1898 - Truce is signed

Secretary of State John Hay referred to the war as “a splendid little

war”

Treaty of Paris is Signed

December 1898 – Paris

Philippines did not get their freedom and became an US colony

Filipinos were angry and felt betrayed

Spain had to give all its colonies to the US

Platt Amendment - gave the US the right to intervene into Cuban affairs