War and Empire

War and Empire Overview

• Americans long desired Cuba, a Spanish territory close to Florida.
• John Quincy Adams referred to Cuba as a "ripe apple" ripe for the picking by the U.S.

Guiding Questions & Vocabulary

• Key Areas of Focus:
• How did tensions in Cuba lead to war with Spain?
• What led to the U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War?
• How did the U.S. acquire and govern its new empire?
• Key Terms:
• Atrocity
• Spanish-American War
• Platt Amendment
• Protectorate
• Foraker Act

Cuban Revolution and U.S. Involvement

• By the 1890s, Spain’s empire was reduced to just Cuba and Puerto Rico.
• Cuban rebels created tensions, sought independence.
• Historical Context:
• 1868: Cuban rebellion crushed after 10 years.
• Exiled revolutionaries, like Jose Martí, advocated for Cuban independence from New York.

U.S. Response to Tensions

• Americans invested heavily in Cuban economy (approx. $50 million).
• Public opinion was divided:
• Business leaders wary of war damaging trade.
• Anti-war sentiments vs. sympathy for Cuban rebels, likening their struggle to the American Revolution.

Press Influence and Yellow Journalism

• Sensationalist newspapers, led by Pulitzer and Hearst, exaggerated Spanish atrocities to stoke war fervor.
• The USS Maine explosion in 1898 was blamed on Spain, inciting public outcry and pressure for war.

Spanish-American War Timeline

• April 25, 1898: U.S. declared war on Spain.
• Theodore Roosevelt dispatched naval forces to the Philippines; immediate attack led to quick U.S. victories.
• Commodore Dewey successfully destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila on April 30, 1898.

American Military Actions

• Roosevelt's Rough Riders engaged Spain in Cuba, notably winning the Battle of San Juan Hill.
• Involvement of African-American troops (the Buffalo Soldiers) highlighted cross-racial cooperation in military efforts.

End of War and Consequences

• August 12, 1898: Peace treaty ended hostilities; the U.S. emerged victorious.
• U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines in the Treaty of Paris (1898).
• An anti-colonial debate ensued about implications of overtaking new territories.

Colonial Governance and Treaties

• In Cuba, the Platt Amendment imposed U.S. control while asserting Cuban nominal independence.
• The Foraker Act defined Puerto Rico’s limited autonomy and eventually made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens in 1917.

Filipino Nationalism and Resistance

• Emilio Aguinaldo led resistance against U.S. occupation; Philippine-American War declared independence a priority for Filipinos.
• The prolonged conflict resulted in significant casualties and drew attention to the U.S.’s imperialistic tendencies despite its origins in anti-colonialism.

Long-term Outcomes

• U.S. governance plans deferred independence for colonized territories, with the Philippines gaining sovereignty only in 1946.
• The war marked a significant transition for the U.S. from continental power to global empire.