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US attempt to purchase Cuba
The southern US states were eager to increase their power in congress and add slave states. This was important because purchasing Cuba would not only help the southern states, it would also help our country imperialize and become a world power. -
Cuba's first war for independence
This war was part of Cuba's escape from Spanish rule. Cuban planters and rich natives started an uprising. Oct 10, 1868, a sugar mill owner named Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, along with his followers, claimed independence and started the conflict. This war was the first of three between Cuba and Spain, and it was important because it eventually led to the Spanish American war, and Cuba's freedom from Spain. -
José Martí led Cuba's 2nd war for independence
José Martí and Gomez (fill in a word that means went all over but sounds better) all around America in the 1880s and early 1890s and united Cubans to try and organize a rally for the Cuban independence. February 24, 1895, Martí led and died in the first war in Dos Ríos. The second war for independence was important because it rallied Cubans in Cuba and America, and encouraged them to fight for the freedom of their home country. -
Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain
Weyler was sent to Cuba to try and wrangle Cubans into concentration camps under the "reconcentracion policy". Any person who was outside of the 'towns' was shot. The towns were filled with decaying housing, food was practically unavailable, and disease spread quickly. By 1898, 1/3 of Cuba's population was in the camps. 40,000+ Cuban deaths resulted from the Spanish taking over. His appearance in Cuba was important because his actions made the Americans more sympathetic towards Cuban rebels. -
Yellow Press began to shape public opinion
The yellow press started with Hearst's and Pulitzer's newspapers. Pulitzer only charged two cents for 8-12 pages of information, while other newspapers were charging two cents for only four pages of information. The World became the highest circulation newspaper in New York. The conditions in Cuba were bad enough that no one cared about the accuracy of the newspapers. The yellow press was important because Americans became more aware of the terrible conditions that Cubans had been living in. -
Publication of de Lôme letter
A letter was sent from the Spanish minister, Enrique de Lôme, talking about his opinion of President McKinley. He said that McKinley was a "low politician" and a man who was "weak and catered to the rabble". American citizens were upset, even though many of them had the same view toward their president. This was an important factor in the start of the Spanish American war because it enraged American citizens because an official from another country was insulting their President. -
Explosion of USS Maine
The USS Maine was one of the first American battle ships and was built at a cost of $2 million. The ship was sent to Cuba to protect American interests after a rebellion against Spanish rule in Havana. The US Naval Court of Inquiry decided that the ship was blown up by a mine, not necessarily by the Spanish, but most Americans and the majority of congress were sure that Spain was responsible and they called for a war. This was important because it was the last event before America declared war. -
US declares war on Spain
Following the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, the US declared was on Spain. The declaration of war did not include anything about saving the Cubans or freeing them from their Spanish reign. This event was important because it started conflict between America and Spain. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
The blockade was started by Admiral William Sampson. He started it in Havana and later extended it to the southern side of Cuba. This was important because America had control over Cuba. -
US attacks on Manila Bay
On April 30, George Dewey's lookouts caught sight of the Philippine island, Luzon. They slipped into Manila Bay under the cover of darkness. Americans had fewer soldiers but many more guns than the Spanish. This impacted the Spanish American war because the US later occupied Manila and then took over the Philippines. -
US invades Cuba
American troops landed in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and more troops landed in Santiago on June 22. They defeated the Spanish army in Cuba, the US Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron on July 3. This was important because it gave America a lot of control. -
Battle for San Juan Hill
This was a decisive battle during the Spanish American war. This battle is one of the most famous and deadly from the war. US troops set out to attack San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill, led by Brigadier General Samuel Sumner. Their plan eventually fell apart, yet they managed to take over both hills. All remenants of the Spanish were destroyed by 2 pm that day. This was important because we defeated the Spanish on their own territory and the hills also made up the city's outer defenses. -
Destruction of Spanish fleet in Cuba
This event was also known as the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. The ships arrived in Santiago Harbor on the southern coast of Cuba on May 5, 1898, led by Admiral Pascual Cervera. They were blocked by US warships, but no one was allowed to attack the Spanish ships. By July, US land forces threatened the Spanish ships, so the Spanish admiral attempted to break out. One ship did escape, but the others were sunk. This was important because it led to Spain surrendering Santiago de Cuba two weeks later.' -
Capture of Puerto Rico
On July 25, 26,000 American soldiers invaded the shores of Guenica, Puerto Rico. This was an important stepping stone to the US taking over the island of Puerto Rico. -
Armistice is signed between US & Spain
US and Spain signed an armistice agreement to bring an end to the conflict between Spain and the US. The agreement was called the "Protocol of Peace". This was important because it ceased the fighting between the two countries, which halted the loss of lives in their armies. -
Treaty of Paris
US and Spanish commissioners met in Paris on October 1, 1898. They came up with a treaty to end the Spanish American War. The Spanish wanted to keep the Philippines, but eventually sold the islands to the US for 20 million dollars. Puerto Rico and Guam were also put under American control. Spain n longer controlled Cuba. The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. Treaty of Paris was important to the Spanish American war because it concluded the Spanish American war. -
Spanish surrender the Philippines
This followed the Battle of Manila Bay. Americans made it evident that they were staying in the Philippines when the US troops occupied their capital starting in May. On December 21, 1898, McKinley issued a Proclamation of Benevolent Assimilation that stated that "future control, disposition, and government of the Philippine Islands were ceded to the US". This was important because it was one of the first countries we gained when trying to become an empire.
