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Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War was caused by yellow journalism exaggerating events in Cuba like the sinking of the USS Maine, as well as American desires to increase its global influence. The US declared war on Spain in 1898 and quickly defeated Spanish forces in Cuba and the Philippines. This led the US to acquire Spanish colonies like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. While the US granted Cuba independence, it maintained control over Puerto Rico and the Philippines through military occupation and colonial governments, demonstrating the war was one of American imperialism rather than simply a necessary conflict with Spain.

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The Spanish - American War (1898) A Case of US Imperialism or a Necessary War?
The Following are Causes of the Spanish-American War
Yellow Journalism • Yellow journalism is the deliberate use of bold or exaggerating statements in the media done in order to increase sales. • For example, “Persell’s social studies exam scores drop” v. a headline in the Post Journal might say, “Persell is Worst Educator on Planet.” • Two newspaper owners, Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, were competing in NYC to sell papers and often exaggerated the truth to create more sensational stories
Cause #1 William Randolph HearstJoseph Pulitzer
Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine • Cuba was seeking freedom from Spain, who was weakening • US citizens support a free Cuba, who we could trade with • The US trains some Cuban militia men( to free themselves), who promptly get killed or captured by Spanish • US sends a battleship, the Maine, to Havana Harbor to keep an eye on things & to be available for evacuation • The Maine explodes killing 260 US troops • US papers blame Spain without proof of why it exploded
How is Spain depicted?
How is Cuba depicted?
Cause #2 U.S.S. Maine Explosion - How is this image an example of Yellow Journalism?
Cause #3 Read the unproven headlines! How would Americans react?
Spanish-American War (1898) Imperialism or Necessary?
Conquer Philippines? • Commodore Dewey attacks Philippines one week after US declares war with Spain • Philippines belonged to Spain • Spain -381 killed • US - 0
Why Philippines? • Gave US possible ports and naval bases
US not ready at first, But Spain was so weak we did not have to be • Had only 28,000 troops, need 280,000 • Issued wool uniforms for tropics • Most died from diseases (malaria, yellow fever), not battle
Rough Riders - Theodore Roosevelt’s Volunteer Group • Very Popular in US due to newspaper articles written about them. TR had the reporters follow the Rough Riders to ensure good press. • People debate how much TR and the Rough Riders actually did. Many historians feel TR only fought when assured of victory. • Helped TR get elected as VP after the war
Most Famous Battle - Rough Riders take San Juan Hill • 7,000 US troops attack 600 Spanish • Well covered by press
Was the war Imperialism or Necessary? Imperialism without a doubt
What Does the US do with new Lands after the War? Cuba Philippines Puerto Rico
Cuba • We promised before war we wouldn’t keep it - we lied. • However the Platt Amendment - Allows US to intervene in Cuban affairs whenever we see “necessary.”
“This was like handing over the keys to our house so that the Americans can enter it at any time, whenever the desire seizes them, day or night, whether with good or evil design.” - Cuban official
Philippines • US intends to keep it, Filipinos revolt • 70,000 US troops fight 3 years there • Hundreds of thousands Filipinos die • 1902 - US sets up govt. with some local control • 1946 - Philippines become independent
Philippines
Puerto Rico • Becomes a US territory (didn’t fight like Filipinos did) • 1900 Foraker Act – the President & Congress create a civil government for Cuba and most U.S. Federal Laws apply there. • 1952 becomes a commonwealth of the U.S