7.3 The Spanish–American War

obj: explain the effects of the spanish-american war

What conflict was happening between Cuba and Spain?

in 1985, Cuban nationalists rebelled against SPN, but SPN crushed their rebellion (Cuba was a colony under SPN)

What was yellow journalism?

Yellow journalism was the practice of exaggerative writing that sacrificed the truth solely for the purposes of increasing readership

How did yellow journalism influence the Spanish American War?

Yellow journalists wrote exaggerative stories about the atrocities SPN committed against Cuba, leading to the American public believing that intervention in Cuba was the humanitarian thing to do

What was the effect of the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor?

The explosion led to the death of 200 Americans, resulting in the American public blaming the SPN for the explosion although in reality, the explosion was accidental → McKinley declares war

What happened to Cuba after the Spanish American War?

Cuba gained independence from Spain but it was limited by America

What was the Teller Amendment?

stated that the US would not make Cuba a colony

What was the Platt Amendment?

an amendment inserted into the Cuban constitution that allowed the US to intervene militarily if American economic interests were threatened

What was the effect of the Platt Amendment?

it made if v difficult for Cuba to conduct its own foreign policy and manage its foreign debts

How did the US win the Spanish American War?

allied with Filipino nationals to bombard SPN fleets in PH and overthrow SPN

What was the Treaty of Paris?

ended the Spanish American War + SPN relinquished claims of Cuba, sold Philippines (PH) to the US for $20M, and ceded Puerto Rico + Guam to the US

What happened to PH after the Spanish American War?

PH essentially switched from one imperial power to another (SPN → US)

How did PH react to US imperialism?

gathered under leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo to throw off SPN rule → 3 year war + 10 year conflict, US would retain ctrl of PH until after WWII

What was US foreign policy in Puerto Rico?

Puerto Ricans were considered US residents but not citizens. The US heavily invested into Puerto Rico for cheap labor. Puerto Ricans were unhappy with US rule b/c of limited freedom + most major industries were US owned

What was the Jones Act?

passed during WW1 and gave Puerto Ricans US citizenship

Why was the US interested in Hawaii?

Hawaii was a good rest stop for shippers, sailors, etc. + had prosperous sugar plantations + good naval base; commercial value grew after Spanish American War b/c it served as a midpoint between US and PH

How was Hawaii annexed?

Wealthy American plantation owners disliked Queen Liliuokalani who wanted to restore the Hawaii monarchy and weaken the power of foreign merchants resulting in them organizing a successful overthrow

Why were the US interested in Panama?

The US wanted to build a canal through Panama that would allow US warships to easily pass through through the Atlantic and Pacific w/o going around South America so the US could easily defend its new territories (Puerto Rico + PH)

Why was US involvement in Panama problematic?

Panama was originally a Colombian colony, so the US tried negotiating a treaty with Colombia to build a canal. However, when Colombia rejected the treaty, Panama, knowing the US would likely involve themselves, staged a revolution. US naval forces did in fact intervene, leading to Panama gaining its independence.

What was happening in China during the early 19th century?

China was economically taken over by Europe and carved into spheres of influence

What was the Open Door Policy?

Secretary of State John Hay asked EU powers to ensure equal trading opportunities for all nations in China

What was the effect of the Open Door Policy?

It was neither accepted nor rejected, but it allowed the US to gain some trading rights

What was Roosevelt’s big stick approach?

peaceful negotiations backed by a strong military

what was Roosevelt’s corollary?

the US had a responsibility to preserve order and protect Latin American nations