Spanish-American War

Monroe Doctrine• President James Monroe warned

European countries not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere

• “The American continents…are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers”

• Monroe Doctrine became a cornerstone of future U.S. foreign policy.– Actually written by John Quincy

Adams (6th U.S. President, son of John Adams, 2nd U.S. President)

Spanish Colonies• Puerto Rico• Cuba• Philippines Islands (including Guam) in

Micronesia

Cuba

• U.S. interest in purchasing Cuba had begun long before 1898

• American sugar interests bought large tracts of land in Cuba

• U.S. had > $50 million invested in Cuba– Annual trade (mostly sugar) was worth twice that

much

Rebellion in Cuba

• 1895 - Cuba’s economy collapses• Cubans rise up in protest• Spain sends 150,000 troops to quell the

protestors• Cubans are forced into concentration camps– Over 2 year period, 200,000+ Cubans die in the

camps from disease and starvation• Cuban guerillas use a bold tactic to get America’s

attention; they attack sugar plantations

Calls for War• Yellow Journalism – sensationalist,

biased and sometimes false reporting for the sake of attracting readers– New York Journal published a copy of a

letter from the Spanish Foreign Minister criticizing President McKinley

– Blames destruction of Maine on Spain• Jingoism – Extreme nationalism,

aggressive foreign policy– Republicans pressured McKinley to go to

war– Sec. of Navy Theodore Roosevelt was

strong advocate of war

“Remember the Maine!”

Road to WAR!

• February 15, 1898 – U.S.S. Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor

• March 28 - U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry finds that a mine blew up the Maine (still debate if mine or coal combustion)

• April 19-21 – Congress demands that Spain withdraw from Cuba, orders blockade of Cuba

• April 24 – Spain declares war on U.S.

War in the Philippines

• April 27, 1898 - Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong– Filipino revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo on board

• Fighting began in Philippines Islands at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1 – Dewey - "You may fire when ready, Gridley" – Spanish fleet destroyed – Dewey did not have enough manpower to capture Manila so

Aguinaldo's guerrillas maintained their operations until 15,000 U.S. troops arrived at the end of July

– On the way, the cruiser Charleston stopped at Guam and accepted surrender from its Spanish governor who was unaware his nation was at war

War in Cuba

• War actually began for the U.S. in Cuba in June when Marines captured Guantánamo Bay

• U.S. troops attacked San Juan heights on July 1, 1898– Dismounted troopers, including the African-

American 9th & 10th cavalries – Rough Riders commanded by Lt. Col. Theodore

Roosevelt

Rough RidersSan Juan Hill

10th Calvary

• http://www.history.com/videos/roosevelt-fights-in-spanish-american-war

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3oNkVCUCQY

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyuRSPbcC3A

Peace• Representatives of Spain and the U.S. signed a

peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898• Established the independence of Cuba• Ceded Puerto Rico & Guam to the United States• Allowed the U.S. to purchase the Philippines

Islands for $20 million • War cost the U.S. $250 million and 3,000 lives– 90% perished from infectious diseases– Food poison caused many of these deaths, also

Malaria, typhoid fever, and Yellow fever

American Imperialism• U.S. looks to China– Open Door Policy:

several foreign countries are can trade freely in China

• Roosevelt now VP, becomes Prez when McKinley is assassinated– “Speak softly and

carry a big stick.”– Panama Canal

Roosevelt Corollary"Chronic wrongdoing . . . may, in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power."

—Theodore Roosevelt, from his Fourth Annual Message to Congress, December 6, 1904

Dollar Diplomacy• After Roosevelt, William Howard

Taft is Prez• Less military force, more

economic development• Dollar Diplomacy– Support Latin American industry →

increase trade & profits for American businesses → lift LA countries out of poverty