Download Ch 10 S 2 Notes

Notes from The Americans
Chapter 10: America Claims an Empire
Section 2: The Spanish-American-Cuban War
California Academic Standards: 11.4.2
Objectives:
Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to:
1. Contrast American opinions regarding the Cuban revolt against Spain
2. Identify events that escalated conflict between the United States and Spain
3. Describe the course of the Spanish-American-Cuban War and its results
American Interest in Cuba
 Some Americans as early as 1860 called for the admission of Cuba to the union of the U.S.
 Investments in sugar plantations give Americans an economic interest in Cuba
 Abolishing a tariff on Cuban sugar imported into the U.S. caused Cuban sugar production to skyrocket, but
in 1894 when the tariff was restored the Cuban economy was ruined
 The Cubans revolted in 1895 under the inspired leadership of Cuban patriot Jose Martí. The revolt was
prompted by the failure of the Spanish government to institute reforms it had promised the Cuban people at
the conclusion of a rebellion against Spanish rule known as the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878)
 Jose Marti organizes resistance against Spain in order to free Cuba
 Some Americans support Spanish control of Cuba, while other sympathize with Cuban rebels
The threat of War Escalates
 General Valeriano Weyler of Spain moved 300,000 Cubans into concentration camps in order to combat
the guerilla efforts
 To put down the 1895 rebellion, the Spanish government poured more than 100,000 troops into the island.
General Valeriano Weyler, known as the “Butcher” for his ruthless suppression of earlier revolts, was sent
to the island as captain general and military governor.
 Spanish leaders employ harsh tactics in an attempt to crush the Cuban revolt
 He immediately rounded up the peasant population and put them in concentration camps in or near garrison
towns. Thousands died of starvation and disease.
 Yellow Journalism arouses American sympathy for Cuban Rebels
 The brutality of “Butcher” Weyler aroused great aggravation in the United States. The general anger was
exploited by sensational press reports, which exaggerated even Weyler’s ruthlessness. In 1897 the Spanish
government became alarmed at the confrontational tone of public opinion in the United States. Weyler was
recalled, and overtures were made to the rebels. The rebels rejected an offer of autonomy, however, and
were determined to fight for complete independence.
 Hearst’s famous line to Remington about a war between the U.S. and Spain, “you furnish the pictures, and
I’ll furnish the war”
 In January 1898 serious disorder broke out in Havana, Cuba. The U.S. consul general in the city asked that
a U.S. warship be sent to the harbor to protect U.S. citizens and property. The second-class battleship
Maine was ordered to Havana. On the night of February 15 the Maine was destroyed by an underwater
explosion while at anchor in Havana harbor and 266 officers and men were lost.
 Exactly how and why the explosion occurred could not be determined at the time, but many people in the
United States believed the Spaniards were responsible. “Remember the Maine!” became the national battle
cry overnight. A U.S. Navy study published in 1976 suggested that spontaneous combustion in the ship’s
coal bunkers caused the explosion, not the Spanish.
War Breaks Out
 The United States defeats Spanish forces in the Philippines and in Cuba
 U.S. President William McKinley had hoped to avoid war with Spain, but he was swept along on the wave
of national feeling in support of war.
 On April 11 he sent a message to Congress asking for the authority to put an end to the fighting in Cuba.
 On April 19 a joint resolution of the two houses of Congress gave him the authority to intervene.
 On April 22 the North Atlantic Squadron was ordered to blockade Cuba.
 A declaration of war on April 25 was hardly more than a formality.
 Congressional resolutions affirmed Cuban independence and stated that the United States was not acting to
secure an empire.
 Roosevelt had become assistant secretary of the navy in 1897.
 Late in 1897, before he resigned to organize the Rough Riders, he had insisted on the appointment of
Commodore George Dewey to command the Asiatic Squadron.
 The commodore had orders to attack the Spanish force in Manila when he left the United States in
December 1897
 The battle was over in just a few hours, resulting in the destruction of the Spanish squadron. Spanish
casualties included at least 160 dead and 210 wounded. The U.S. forces had no fatal casualties. Only two
officers and six men were wounded, none seriously. None of the U.S. ships were badly damaged.
 Spanish-American War The war was fought in the Spanish colonies of the Philippines and Cuba. On June
22, 1898, the United States landed 15,000 soldiers southeast of Santiago de Cuba.
 The troops engaged and defeated Spanish land forces July 1 around the city.
 The most famous engagement was Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt’s charge up Kettle Hill during
the Battle of San Juan Hill.
 The Navy’s basic job was to blockade the island of Cuba. If the Spanish army could be cut off from
seaborne supplies from Spain, it could not maintain itself for long against the Cuban insurgents, let alone
prepare to fight the U.S. forces.
 To maintain a successful blockade, the U.S. Navy would have to control the sea approaches to Cuba.
 As a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, Cuba becomes independent and the United States annexes the
Philippines
 Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty on December 10, 1898, in Paris, France.
 It provided for Spanish withdrawal from Cuba, leaving the island under temporary U.S. occupation.
 Spain was to retain liability for the Cuban debt. The United States did not push for the annexation of Cuba
because the Teller Amendment, passed when the U.S. Congress declared war, prevented the United States
from taking over Cuba. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines were ceded by Spain to the United States,
which in turn paid Spain $20 million. In December 1898 the United States announced the establishment of
U.S. military rule in the Philippines.