The Spanish-American War

When did Spain start holding overseas colonies?

Since the 1500s

Which territories were among Spain's last holdings in the 1890s?

The Philippines, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico

Who led the Cuban revolutionaries in a war for independence?

José Martí

What influence did Martí have in the US?

Martí had spent time in the US and built support for Cuba

How was Spanish Governor Valeriano Wyler perceived?

Spanish Governor Valeriano Wyler was seen as a 'butcher'

What was the US's stance towards European presence in the West?

US, since the Monroe Doctrine, wanted Europeans out of the West

Who were the rivals known for Yellow Journalism?

William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer

What tactic did major newspapers use in Yellow Journalism to attract readers?

Sensational headlines

What were major newspapers battling for in the era of Yellow Journalism?

Sales

The De Lome Letter

-Spanish Ambassador de Lome writes that American President McKinley is weak

-Cubans intercept it and release it to the American press

-Hearst sensationalizes the insult in his papers

The USS Maine

-President McKinley send the battleship USS Maine to Havana Harbor to "protect American interests"

-The ship suddenly explodes in February 1898, killing most of the crew.

American Reaction

-Yellow papers immediately blame Spain and call for war

-In April 1898, McKinley asks Congress for authorization to use force in Cuba.

-Spain later declares war on the US

War Begins

-Commodore George Dewey leads American fleet to the Philippines

-US defeats Spanish at Manilla Bay on May 1

Victory in the Philippines

-Dewey enlists the help of Filipino revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo

-Aguinaldo rallies Filipinos to rebel against Spanish rule

-Victory declared in June 1898

War in the Caribbean

-US troops land at Guantanamo bay in June

-Reinforcements later land at Santiago

-US calls for volunteers

-Theodore Roosevelt leads a volunteer cavalry regiment known as the Rough Riders

-Roosevelt's Rough Riders and African American "Buffalo Soldiers" win key victories

-Battles at San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill push Spanish back

-US troops land in Puerto Rico to almost no opposition.

The War ends

-Cease fire called for in August

-The Treaty of Paris signed in December officially ending the war.

-Secretary of State John Hay calls it, "a splendid little war."

A splendid little war

-Cuba freed from Spanish rule and becomes a US protectorate.

-Spain gives Puerto Rico and Guam to the US

-US pays $20 million to Spain for the Philippines (but then must fight for it)

-US becomes an imperial power.

After the War

-US will fight a long, bloody conflict in the Philippines to put down a rebellion.

-The Platt Amendment gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba and the use of Guantanamo Bay.

-McKinley shot in 1901 and Roosevelt becomes Presidrny