22.2 The Spanish-American War and Overseas Empire

Spanish-American War

A conflict between the United States and Spain in 1898, primarily over Spain’s control of Cuba, which led to U.S. intervention and the eventual independence of Cuba.

Cuba Libre Movement

A Cuban independence movement led by José Martí, seeking to end Spanish rule in Cuba through uprisings and foreign support, particularly from the United States.

José Martí

A Cuban revolutionary leader and poet who founded the Cuba Libre movement to fight for Cuban independence from Spain.

General Valeriano Weyler

A Spanish general known for his brutal repression of Cuban rebels, including the policy of re-concentration, which involved forcing rural Cubans into military-controlled camps where many died.

Yellow Journalism

A style of sensationalistic news reporting, epitomized by publishers like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, which exaggerated events to attract readers, especially leading up to the Spanish-American War.

William Randolph Hearst

A publisher of the New York Journal, who used yellow journalism to stir up public sentiment for war with Spain, particularly following the explosion of the USS Maine.

Joseph Pulitzer

A publisher of the New York World, who, along with Hearst, competed using sensationalized stories that contributed to the call for war against Spain.

USS Maine

An American battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, an event that was widely blamed on Spain by yellow journalists and led to the U.S. declaring war.

"Remember the Maine!"

A rallying cry used in the U.S. following the explosion of the USS Maine, which was blamed on Spain and used to justify American intervention in the Cuban struggle for independence.

William McKinley

The 25th president of the United States, who initially resisted calls for war with Spain but eventually requested a declaration of war after the explosion of the USS Maine.

Teller Amendment

A provision passed by Congress in 1898 that declared the U.S. would not annex Cuba after defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War, ensuring Cuban independence.

Re-concentration Policy

A brutal Spanish tactic during the Cuban War of Independence, where Cuban civilians were forced into camps, leading to significant suffering and death, which outraged the American public.

Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Secretary of the Navy and future president, who ordered the attack on the Spanish fleet in the Philippines and later led the Rough Riders during the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American War.

Rough Riders

A volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt, consisting of college graduates, cowboys, and veterans, famous for their charge up Kettle Hill and involvement in the victory at San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.

Commodore George Dewey

U.S. naval officer who led the American fleet to a decisive victory against the Spanish navy in the Philippines, sinking all Spanish ships with minimal American casualties.

Smoked Yankees

A term used by Cubans to refer to African American soldiers who served in the Spanish-American War, particularly those who fought alongside the Rough Riders and played a crucial role in key battles.

San Juan Hill

A significant battle during the Spanish-American War, where Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, alongside African American regiments, captured the hill and helped secure victory over Spanish forces in Cuba.

African American Soldiers in the Spanish-American War

Over 25,000 Black soldiers served in the war, with many facing segregation and racism, yet playing a crucial role in the U.S. victory, especially in battles like San Juan Hill.

Puerto Rico

A Spanish colony that was quickly taken by the United States after the Spanish-American War, with little resistance from the Spanish forces.

The Battle of San Juan Hill

A pivotal battle in the Spanish-American War where U.S. forces, including Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders and African American regiments, defeated the Spanish and secured control over Santiago, Cuba.

Malaria and Malnutrition

Health challenges faced by American soldiers during the Spanish-American War, especially due to insufficient preparation and resources for the large number of volunteers.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

The agreement that ended the Spanish-American War, in which Spain recognized Cuban independence and ceded control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

William Howard Taft

The first American governor-general of the Philippines, known for his efforts to introduce reforms and modernize the country after its annexation by the U.S.

Teller Amendment

A U.S. congressional amendment passed in 1898 that declared Cuba would be free from U.S. control after the Spanish-American War, ensuring Cuban independence.

Platt Amendment

An amendment to the Cuban constitution, passed in 1901, that allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and guaranteed the U.S. a naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Anti-Imperialist League

A group formed in 1898 by notable figures like Grover Cleveland, Andrew Carnegie, and Mark Twain, opposing U.S. imperialism and the annexation of territories acquired in the Spanish-American War.

Emilio Aguinaldo

The leader of the Filipino independence movement who fought against American rule after the U.S. annexed the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

Filipino-American War

The conflict between Filipino insurgents and American forces from 1899 to 1902, resulting in significant casualties on both sides and Filipino resistance to U.S. occupation.

Foraker Act (1900)

U.S. legislation that established Puerto Rico as an American territory with its own civil government, though Puerto Ricans were not granted full citizenship until 1917.

Guantanamo Bay

A U.S. naval and coaling station in Cuba, secured by the Platt Amendment, and the site of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp established later in the 20th century.

Hawaii

U.S. territory acquired in 1900, previously annexed following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, granting its residents U.S. citizenship.

Alaska

Purchased from Russia in 1867 and granted U.S. territorial status in 1912, later becoming the 49th state in 1959.

The American Empire

The U.S. expansionist policy following the Spanish-American War, marked by the annexation of territories like the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, establishing the U.S. as an imperial power.

Puerto Rico

Acquired by the U.S. as part of the Treaty of Paris, Puerto Rico was granted territorial status in 1900, with full U.S. citizenship granted to its residents in 1917.

American Imperialism

The policy of expanding U.S. influence and control over foreign territories, especially in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The U.S. Eagle Cartoon

A political cartoon illustrating the expanded reach of the U.S. following the Spanish-American War, symbolizing the new American empire stretching from Puerto Rico to the Philippines.