Spanish American WarA Resource Program

CausesIn The

Philippines

In Cuba

Treaty of Paris Quiz Panama

Canal

CAUSES

In 1895, Cuba had been rebelling against it’s mother country, Spain. Cuba had had colonies all over the world for hundreds of years.

American newspapers (particular Hearst and Pulitzer) had been reporting this uprising to the American people.

1. Why are the papers reporting this?2. What is it called when Newspapers report

embellished news to make readers buy papers? NEXT

MORE CAUSES

Americans were giddy with the idea of war after reading these articles of yellow journalism. Though President William McKinley did not want war, he saw no choice for the following reasons:- The U.S.S. Maine was stationed near Cuba in a blockade to protect Americans from the Cuban Uprisings. The U.S.S. Maine exploded and sunk. Click here to see pictures of the graveyard where the Maine seamen were buried.- Newspapers reported that Spain sunk the Maine, resulting in Americans being angry with Spain. Spain, however, denied having anything to do with the Maine’s sinking. In actuality, a boiler exploded in the ship’s hull. - America went to war with Spain over this, as many Newspapers called for with the battle cry “Remember the Maine”

3. Name two reasons Americans wanted a war with Spain? NEXT

MOST GRAVES WERE ANONYMOUS

CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND IT WILL PLAY

(HOPEFULLY)

IN THE PHILIPPINES

The first battle of the Spanish American War was fought in another Spanish Colony: The Philippines.

Click here to see where the Philippians are

They were already revolting against Spain, as well. 4. Why might all these countries be revolting against their

mother country?

George Dewey led a fleet into the Philippines and helped the rebels. After 7 hours, the American fleet had killed hundreds of Filipinos, where as no Americans were even hurt. America had taken over the Philippines in a few months and Dewey became a hero.

NEXT

George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an admiral of the United States Navy. He was also a pragmatist and was a candidate for the democratic party. Many historians called him the "hero of Manila." He is best known for his victory (without the loss of a single life of his own forces due to combat; one man died of heat stroke) at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. He was also the only person in the history of the United States to have attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy, the most senior rank in the United States Navy.

- From Wikipedia: George Dewey

RESULTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

At first, the people of the Philippines welcomed America as saviors and liberators. Then, in time, they realized it was no different than being under Spanish rule and they started to hate us. We gave them their independence 30 years later.

IN THE CARIBBEAN

Teddy Roosevelt was working for the U.S. Government in the Navy department when he resigned to volunteer in the war.

Enlistment increased ten times in 1898.5. Why did enlistment increase so much?

Roosevelt led America’s first cavalry into Santiago Cuba FUN FACT: The horses didn’t get there on time and Roosevelt was the only one

on a horse.

The Rough Riders and other soldiers attacked Santiago Cuba..They needed to take San Juan Hill as a strategic maneuver. They did this in a week and gained control of the port city of Santiago, then control of Puerto Rico.

The fleet was stationed in Santiago and they unsuccessfully tried to escape.

THE TREATY OF PARIS

Sec. of State John Hay went to Paris so Spain could surrender to him.

Spain gave up its colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. They also lost control of Cuba, but America did not take it on as its own.

6. Of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico: Which islands does America still own?

7. Why was it strategic/smart for America to own these islands?

THE PANAMA CANAL

Teddy Roosevelt is now a war hero and is elected President. Since America now owns islands/naval bases/trading posts

in East Asia and in the Pacific, it follows the Roosevelt Corollary (you need to click it and find out what it is), the U.S. needed a good trade route between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

It took two months to go around the bottom of South America, but we were in luck: Panama, at the time, was part of Columbia, and were being mistreated. Many wanted to revolt. America wanted to build a canal in Panama connecting the two oceans. America helped lead a revolt against Columbia by surrounding the nation with several ships, then negotiated for Panama’s freedom.

NEXT

PANAMA CANAL

America then was given the Panama Canal Zone from Panama, and they built their canal

9. What are the trading advantages for the U.S. in building the Panama Canal (specifically, who are we looking to trade with)?

It took 15 years and 380 million dollars to build the canal. Thousands died of diseases because they were Americans (often Chinamen) working in the rainforest.

10. What diseases were they subject to?

WHAT IS THE ROOSEVELT CORROLARY The Roosevelt Corollary was an addition to

the Monroe Doctrine, it basically said that America has the right to help out any nation in the Western Hemisphere from financial crisis. This, to us, was better than a European nation helping them out.

Roosevelt said of his foreign policy, we must “Walk softly, but carry a big stick.”8. What do you suppose “Walk softly but

carry a big stick” means?