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The United States attempts to purchase Cuba
In 1854, the U.S. was interested in purchasing Cuba from Spain. Spain didn't allow this to happen at this time. Americans were still interested so they invested millions of dollars in large sugar cane plantations in Cuba. -
Cuba's first war for independence
Cubans rebelled against Spain from 1868-1878 which wasn't successful. In 1886, though, the Cuban people forced Spain to abolish slavery. -
Jose Marti leads Cuba's second war for independence
Jose Marti was a Cuban poet and journalist who launched a revolution in 1895. He organized a Cuban resistance against Spain and used a campaign to destroy property, especially American property. Jose used provoking United States intervention to help the rebels achieve a free Cuba. -
Valeriano Weyler is sent to Cuba by Spain
Sending Weyler over to Cuba was Spain's response to the Cuban revolt. Weyler tried to resolve the rebellion by creating concentration camps that an estimated 300,000 Cubans would be sent to. -
Yellow Press shapes American's thoughts on Cuba's Civil War
After Weyler created the concentration camps in Cuba, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, two American journalists, began a newspaper war. Both of the journalists tried to lure readers in by exaggerating the story which became known as the yellow press. -
Publication of the De Lome letter
A Cuban rebel stole a private letter written to President McKinley from the Spanish minister and leaked it to the news. The New York Journal published the letter which criticized the President. The Spanish minister apologized and resigned, but Americans were still angered at this insult to their president. -
Explosion of the USS Maine
On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana which killed over 260 men. No one really knew why the ship exploded but many thought it was the Spanish because of the De Lome letter situation. The journalist for the New York Journal, William Randolph Hearst, offered a $50,000 reward for the capture of the Spaniards that was thought of to be to blame for this crime. -
United States declares war on Spain
After the USS Maine blew up, Americans were furious with Spain. Even after Spanish concessions, the public favored a war. On April 11, President McKinley asked Congress for the authority to use force against Spain. Congress debated for a week and ended up agreeing, so on April 20, the United States declared war. -
Naval blockade of Cuba
The war in the Caribbean started with a naval blockade of Cuba. William T. Sampson sealed the Spanish fleet in Santiago de Cuba. McKinley then called for 125,000 military volunteers the next day to fight. -
U.S. attack on Manila Bay
When the American fleet arrived in the Philippines on April 30, George Dewey commanded to open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila. Dewey's men destroyed every Spanish ship there within hours. This allowed U.S. troops to land in the Philippines. -
U.S. invades Cuba
American forces landed in Cuba in June of 1898 and had the first battle on Kettle Hill on July 1, 1898. The U.S. army of 17,000 had four African American regiments along with the Rough Riders. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The first part of the battle of San Juan Hill was on Kettle Hill and included the Rough Riders and two African American regiments doing a dramatic uphill charge. Their victory made the infantry attack on San Juan Hill way easier. -
Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba
Two days after the battle of San Juan Hill, the Spanish fleet attempted to get through the American blockade of the harbor in Santiago. There was a naval battle along the Cuban coast after this which ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
Armistice is signed between the U.S. and Spain
The United States and Spain signed an armistice on August 12 which is a cease-fire agreement. The actual fighting part of the war only lasted 15 weeks. -
Spanish surrender the Philippines
As part of the Treaty of Paris, Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. -
Treaty of Paris
The United States and Paris met in Paris to talk about signing a treaty. During this talk, Spain freed Cuba, turned over the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and sold the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
After America destructed the Spanish fleet, American troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25. On December 10, the Treaty of Paris was being agreed on and Spain decided to turn over Puerto Rico to the U.S. It was finalized on February 6, 1899.