American Imperialism Causes of the Spanish American War

When did the Cubans revolt and who did they follow?

The Cubans revolted under the inspired leadership of Cuban Patriot Jose Marti in 1895.

Why did the Cubans revolt?

The revolt was prompted by the failure of the Spanish government to institute reforms it had promised at the end of the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878)

How did the Spanish government put down the rebellion?

They poured more than 100 thousand troops on the island. General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau were sent as captain general and military governor who rounded up the peasants and put them in concentration camps.

Who was the general sent to put an end to the rebellion in Cuba?

General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau

What were the causes of the Spanish American War?

1. US economic Interest

2. Yellow Journalism

3. American Imperialism

4. Sinking of the USS Maine

5. Cuban Independence

What was the US’s economic interest in Cuba?

Between 1841-1845, sugar and its byproducts made up of 84 percent of the Cuban economy.

US-Cuban trade made up for about a third of the entire foreign trade of the island.

By 1884, the US was buying a majority of the sugar and its byproducts from Cuba and US capital was flowing into the industries in Cuba (mining, tobacco, and railroad networks)

Cuba was an economic colony of the US, not political

What is yellow journalism and give an example?

Yellow Journalism is the exaggeration, manipulation, and manufacturing of the news using sensational headlines with emotional appeal.

Hearst’s New York Journal and Pulitzer’s New York World are two examples of news that used Yellow Journalism

The brutality of Weyler in his concentration camps was exploited by exaggerated news stories causing the American population to be against Spain

What happened to the USS Maine?

It sunk due to a mechanical issue.

It was originally sent in January 1898 to Havana, Cuba because of a disorder that broke out and required a warship to protect the US citizens.

Where did the USS Maine sink and how many people died?

It sunk on February 15 by an underwater explosion due to a mechanical failure while anchored in the Havana harbor.

266 officers and men were lost

How did the news companies have a field day with the sinking of the ship?

They blamed it on the Spaniards playing on the American population’s emotion

Why was Cuban Independence a cause of American Imperialism?

If Cuba were to be independent, it would mean the end of America’s political and economic hegemony and was a threat to the monoculture of sugar that benefitted the US./

How did the US respond to Cuban’s attempt for independence?

The US disbanded the troops and formed a republic that would benefit Washington