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U.S. Attempts to Purchase Cuba
This was important because it signaled that the U.S. was ready to move from expanding in the West to expanding beyond the land in the states. It was a shift in foreign policy and showed the world that the U.S. wanted to become a world power. -
Cuba's First War for Independence (10 Years' War)
This was important because the Cubans revolted against the Spanish government. The U.S. would have assisted but didn't due to reconstruction post-U.S. Civil War. The Cubans were able to convince Spain to end slavery. -
Yellow Press shapes American Public opinion regarding the Cuban Civil War
The Yellow Press exaggerated the truth in order to influence Americans that the U.S. needed to go to war with Spain and free Cubans. This fueled American sympathy for the Cubans and pushed the U.S. to declare war on Spain. -
José Martí led Cuba's second war for independence
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Valeriano Weyler sent to Cuba by Spain
Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba to prevent Cuban rebels from doing further damage. He made camps to put the Cubans that they knew weren't rebels in. In theory, this wasn't a bad idea, but the towns had the inadequate infrastructure and it is estimated that 300,000 Cubans died in those camps. The American Press jumped at the opportunity to frame Weyler as a villain and make Americans sympathetic towards the Cubans. -
Publication of the De Lome Letter
This was important because it revealed that the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. thought that President McKinley was weak and would do whatever the public wanted. This added fuel to the fire that was war fever. -
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
This was important because it made the American Public angry with the Spanish. The sinking of the Maine has an unknown cause, but newspapers jumped at the opportunity to blame the Spanish. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
This was important because it resulted in the U.S. attacking Spain in the Philippines and in the Caribbean. Attacking the Spanish in the Philippines was part of the U.S. wanting to build an empire. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
William T. Sampson led the naval blockade on Cuba. This led to supplies not being able to enter or exit the island. The Spanish fleet attempted to escape the naval blockade two days after the Battle of San Juan Hill. As a result, the Spanish fleet was destroyed. -
U.S. attack on Manila Bay
This was the first battle of the Spanish-American War. The U.S. had said they wanted to free Cuba, yet they attacked the Spanish at Manila Bay first. George Dewey led the United States to victory at Manila. -
U.S. invades Cuba
The U.S. invading Cuba marked the beginning of the Spanish-American War in Cuba. This was important because the war had begun in Manila Bay, but the war was yet to begin in Cuba which was supposed to be the reason the United States was in the war in the first place. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
This is the most famous land battle of the Spanish-American War. This battle featured U.S. soldiers, including Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, storming San Juan Hill with Spanish soldiers shooting at them. The U.S. succeeded and it made sure the U.S. won the war. -
Destruction of the Spanish Fleet in Cuba
The Spanish Fleet was destroyed in Cuba when they attempted to break William Sampson's naval blockade. This led to Spain being unable to win without a navy. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
The U.S. invaded Puerto Rico following the U.S. beating Spain in Cuba. When negotiating peace talks later, the Spanish gave the United States Puerto Rico which is still a U.S. territory to this day. -
Armistice is signed between the U.S. and Spain
The Armistice between the United States and Spain ended the war quite quickly. It lasted roughly 5 months and the United States and Spain were able to successfully negotiate the Treaty of Paris. -
Spanish surrender the Philippines
The U.S. was able to defeat the Spanish in the Philippines. They were led by George Dewey and the U.S. also joined forces with Philippian rebels in order to defeat the Spanish. -
Treaty of Paris of 1898
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 ended the Spanish-American War. The United States received the islands of Guam in the Pacific, Puerto Rico, and they purchased the Philippines for $20 million dollars. Spain also freed Cuba.