The Spanish-American War

A War on Two Fronts-U.S. Navy blockaded Cuba

-why?-commodore George Dewy (Hong Kong) was ordered to attack the Spanish fleet located in their colony the Philippines

-why?

The Battle of Manila Bay-May 1, 1898 - George Dewy destroyed all 8 severely outgunned Spanish warships

-20,000 troops sailed from San Francisco to the Philippines

-picked up Guam on the way

-Dewy contacted Emilio Aguinaldo- and asked to lead a rebellion against the Spanish – U.S. will help

-Rebels took control of most of the islands and U.S. Manila

American Forces in Cuba-June 14, 1898 17,000 forces landed east of Santiago in Cuba

-US wanted to seize Spanish shore-based guns that occupied Santiago Harbor – flee and U.S. fleet waiting for them

American Forces in Cuba-U.S. troops advancing towards Santiago was the “Rough Riders”- group of flamboyant cowboys, miners, law officers

-“Rough Riders” command by Colonel Leonard Wood & Theodore Roosevelt was 2nd in command

American Forces in Cuba-July 1 U.S. troops attacked the village on El Caney – Northwest of Santiago

-others attacked-Kettle Hill- “Rough Riders”

- all black 9th & 10th Cavalry -1/4 of troops were

African American-4 Medals

of Honor -San Juan Hill- Rough Riders helped others seize

American Forces in Cuba-Spanish commander flees after victory in El Caney & San Juan Heights

-U.S. fire on Spanish while leaving = they surrender

-U.S. also occupies nearby Puerto Rico

An American Empire-December 10, 1898 - U.S. and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris

-Cuba = independent nation-U.S. acquired Puerto Rico & Guam-annex Philippines for $20 million

-1900 - Cuba wrote a constitution - they left out the U.S.

-1901 - U.S. wanted Cuba to make provisions-Platt Amendment

-The Platt Amendment stated that:1. Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part

of its territory2. The U.S reserved the right to intervene in Cuba3. Cuba was not to go into debt4. The U.S could buy or lease land on the island for naval &

refueling stations

The Platt Amendment

-Cuba needed to sign or U.S. would not leave

-In 1903, Cuba signed = Protectorate- a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power

The Platt Amendment

Governing Puerto Rico

-1900 congress passed the Foraker Act- ended military rule & set up a civil gov’t in Puerto Rico

-1917-Puerto Ricans granted the right to U.S citizenship & elect their own governor

Filipinos Rebel-Filipinos outraged by the Treaty of Paris

-Emilio Aguinaldo -believed that the U.S. had promised independence

-In Feb. 1899 Filipinos revolted

-Emilio Aguinaldo turned to guerrilla tactics = U.S forced Filipinos to live in designated zones where starvation and diseases killed thousands

-U.S. set up a similar gov’t that was in Puerto Rico

-Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946.