Spanish-American War Notes

Causes of the Spanish-American War

  • U.S. presidents from Jefferson to McKinley saw the benefits for the U.S. of gaining Cuba.
  • The Spanish-American War to assist Cuba’s independence was the most popular war since the American Revolution.

Background

  • By the 1860s, the only remaining pieces of the Spanish Empire were Cuba, Puerto Rico, & Philippines.
  • José Martí led Cubans in revolt against Spain in 1895.
  • Spanish General Weyler used a reconcentration policy (torture & destruction of the Cuban food supply) to try to end the Cuban independence movement.

De Lôme Letter

  • Dupuy de Lôme, Spanish Ambassador to the U.S., criticized President McKinley as weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.
  • He also described McKinley as a would-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party.

American Involvement

  • Presidents Cleveland & McKinley both remained neutral regarding Cuban independence until:
    • Newspapers used sensationalist “yellow journalism” which boosted U.S. sympathy for Cuba.
    • In 1898, the USS Maine, sent to protect U.S. interests in Cuba, exploded in Havana harbor.

Spanish-American War Declaration

  • In April 1898, Congress declared war on Spain.
  • Congress added the Teller Amendment to the war declaration, stating that the U.S. had no plans to annex Cuba.
  • The war led to patriotic outburst:
    • Ex-Confederates served & symbolically united North & South.
    • Women & African-Americans volunteered in mass numbers.
    • “Populists, Democrats, & Republicans are we. But we are all Americans to make Cuba free.”

War Theaters

  • Spanish-American War was fought in 2 theaters: Cuba & the Philippines
  • Even the elite joined: Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in Cuba

Treaty of Paris (Dec 10, 1898)

  • U.S. & Spain signed the Treaty of Paris on Dec 10, 1898:
    • Cuba gained independence.
    • U.S. gained Puerto Rico & Guam.
    • The U.S. annexed the Philippines because the U.S. did not want it, but Germany did.

The "American Empire" in 1900

  • Hawaii, Alaska, & Puerto Rico were made territories with appointed governors & granted U.S. citizenship.
  • The navy controlled Guam & Samoa.
  • The Platt Amendment created a new Cuban constitution but forced Cuba to give up land for U.S. naval bases, pay off U.S. war debts.
  • Cuba could not sign a foreign treaty that hurt the U.S., & the U.S. could intervene in Cuba at any time.

War in the Philippines

  • Filipinos welcomed war with Spain & aided the U.S. in the Pacific, but they grew angry when the U.S. refused to grant independence. The U.S. did not deem Filipinos “ready” for self-rule
  • Emilio Aguinaldo led a guerilla-style rebellion that lasted 3 years:
    • Cost 4,300 U.S. lives & between 50,000 & 200,000 native lives
    • The U.S. resorted to Weyler-style brutality: torture, starvation, rape

Resolution in the Philippines

  • McKinley appointed William Taft to the Philippine Commission:
    • Built schools, roads, & bridges.
    • Improved taxes & sanitation.
    • Created local governments that honored Filipino culture.
    • Aguinaldo was captured & urged an end to the fighting.
  • The Philippines was granted independence on July 4, 1946.

Impact of Spanish-American War

  • Just as the Depression of 1893 led to a shift in domestic policy, the Spanish-American War led to shift in U.S. foreign policy:
    • The U.S. gained overseas territories & was recognized as a legitimate “world power."
    • Increased the power of the American president.

U.S. Soldiers in the Philippines

  • Between January and June 1902, the U.S. Senate conducted hearings on the Philippine-American War because many Americans had become outraged at the reports of how American soldiers were treating Filipinos.
  • Historians today are trying to figure out what caused some soldiers to behave brutally during war.