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The Spanish-American War
Cuban revolutionaries
in Santiago in the late
1800’s
• Cuba was a Spanish
colony
• America had economic
ties with Cuba (sugar
and railroads)
Explosion of the
U.S. Battleship
Maine
• 1898, President
McKinley ordered
battleship Maine into
Havana Harbor in
Cuba to protect
American citizens
and property against
Cuban uprising and
Spanish hostility
Headline
for
The World
February 17,
1898
•Yellow Journalism –
reporting information
to get readers to agree
with a stance or policy
jingoism: extreme nationalism or
chauvinism characterized by a
belligerent foreign policy.
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Supposed Reasons for War
Sinking of USS Maine
Sympathy for Cubans struggling
for independence
Anti-Spanish Sentiment
Yellow Journalism
Expansionism into overseas
markets
DECLARATION OF WAR WITH SPAIN
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, First. That war be,
and the same is hereby, declared to exist, and that war has existed
since the 21st day of April, A. D. 1898, including said day, between
the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain.
Second.
That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed
and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United
States and to call into the actual service of the United States the
militia of the several States to such extent as may be necessary to
carry this act into effect.
Approved, April 25,
1898.
Pacific Front in the
Philippines (May 1)
• US Navy attacked
Spanish fleet and
easily won.
• Why? US
Modern navy.
• US Army rushed
to capture
Philippines… and
captured Guam
along the way
Atlantic Front in Cuba
(June-July)
• U.S. Navy
blockaded Cuba
• To capture big
guns at Santiago
Harbor, U.S.
Army invaded
through San Juan
Heights including
San Juan Hill
• US Navy attacked
fleeing Spanish
Fleet
Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough
Riders
How did Roosevelt participate in
Spanish American War?
• Rough Riders: 2nd in command… but
organizer
– Mix of cowboys, miners, and law officers
– Media Attention! Capture of San Juan Hill
Atlantic Front in Puerto Rico
• Easily captured by U.S.
• Secretary of State Hay claimed that
it was a “splendid little war”
–Few American casualties, but
5,000 died from typhoid, yellow
fever and effects of tainted meat
–Much of army had to be
quarantined in New York’s
immigration centers upon return
home
• Cease-Fire signed between U.S.
and Spain August 12, 1898
• In the peace treaty signed Dec. 10,
1898, U.S. acquires Philippines,
Guam and Puerto Rico. Cuba was
granted independence, although the
Platt Amendment gave the U.S.
influence over its affairs.
The Spanish American War
raised the awareness of….
• Lack of quality supplies for U.S. military
• Need for better sanitation
• Better plan for mobilizing army
The Spanish American War proved the
bravery of…
African American soldiers (1 of 4 soldiers), but
in segregated units (4 medals of honor)
– 9th and 10th
Colored Cavalries
crucial to taking
the ridges around
Santiago, Cuba
– Little notoriety or
acclaim for it,
though.
American Possessions in1900
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fsdfsdfdddCuban revolutionaries in Santiago in the late 1800’s
Cuban hatred of Spanish rule and frustration with falling sugar prices led to a revolt. Spain responded to
this with imprisonment and brutal treatment of the Cubans
Leads to anti-Spanish feelings in U.S.
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Explosion of the U.S. Battleship Maine
On February 15, huge explosion destroyed the battleship, killing 260 soldiers. No conclusive evidence to r
eveal who had sunk the Maine
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Deep-sea divers sent by U.S. Navy to explore the wreckage. Concluded that underwater mine may have exploded under the ship.
Many historians strongly doubt that Spanish mined the battleship: too much to lose by provoking the U.S.
Probably an accident
– Roused much anti-Spanish sentiment with suspicion that Spain was to blame for death of American
sailors and loss of a battleship. Newspapers throughout U.S. continually called for U.S. intervention
in Cuba to avenge the act of Spanish Aggression
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Political cartoon depicting Spain as a bloodthirsty brute
This cartoon was part of the rebel publicity fed to newspapers to stir up support for their cause against Spain
In the competition for readers in NY, publisher Joseph Pulitzer of the World and William Randolph Hearst of
the Journal tried to outdo each other with more spectacular reports of Spanish cruelty in Cuba.
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…………………Pacific Front in the Philippines (May 1).
Fighting did not start in Cuba immediately, began in another Spanish colony, the Philippines
Entire Spanish fleet was sunk during the Battle of Manila by U.S. fleet based in Hong Kong under the command of Commodore
George Dewey. There was only 1 American casualty
Dewey got help from Filipino patriot Emilio Aguinaldo, who led an uprising against Spain in 1896. Organized an uprising against
Spanish forces & successfully ousted Spanish rule in all territories except Manila.
Aguinaldo under the impression that the U.S. would grant Philippines independence after Spain was defeated.
Later, Dewey denied that any such assurances were given and claimed that Aguinaldo was mistaken
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Atlantic Front in Cuba (June-July)
Bullet 3) On July 3, the U.S. Navy sank the Spanish fleet in a one-sided battle in Santiago Harbor that ended Spanish resistance in
Cuba
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Among those sent to Cuba was Theodore Roosevelt. He commanded a volunteer unit called the Rough Riders that consisted of
cowboys, college students, and adventurers. Rumor had it that Teddy Roosevelt personally recruited the Rough Riders in the
taproom of a San Antonio Hotel.
Rough Riders became the symbol for national enthusiasm against Spain
Their spirit and determination became legendary after their charge up San Juan Hill (part of the ridges surrounding Santiago).
American troops demoralized Spanish forces and took strategically important hill
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It was also called "Wood's Weary Walkers" after its first commander, Colonel Leonard Wood as an acknowledgment of the fact
that despite being a cavalry unit they ended up fighting on foot as infantry. When Colonel Wood became commander of the 1st
Cavalry Brigade (1st U.S. Cavalry, 106th U.S. Cavalry, and 1st U.S.V. Cavalry) the Rough Riders then became "Roosevelt's
Rough Riders".
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Atlantic Front-Puerto Rico
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U.S. turned to Spanish-held island of Puerto Rico next, easily conquer in July: “moonlight excursion”
During May 1898, Lt. Henry H. Whitney of the United States Fourth Artillery was sent to Puerto Rico on a reconnaissance
mission, sponsored by the Army's Bureau of Military Intelligence. He provided maps and information on the Spanish military
forces to the U.S. government prior to the invasion. On May 10, U.S. Navy warships were sighted off the coast of Puerto Rico. On
May 12, a squadron of 12 U.S. ships commanded by Rear Adm. William T. Sampson bombarded San Juan. During the
bombardment, many buildings were shelled. On June 25, the Yosemite blocked San Juan harbor. On July 25, General Nelson A.
Miles, with 3,300 soldiers, landed at Gu�nica and took over the island with little resistance.
Foraker Act: made Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory of the U.S.
Puerto Ricans were not citizens of US and had no rights.
1917 Puerto Ricans were granted citizenship.
1947 Puerto Ricans allowed to elect own government
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Af-am soldiers were sent to storm the hill first
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Teddy Roosevelt had his personal publicist with him…made himself out to be a hero…given medal of honor