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Attempt to buy Cuba by the US
In 1854, the President Franklin Pierce ( influenced by his diplomats) decided to buy Cuba.
This was mainly due to the welath and proximity to the US.
Spain rejected this proposal and others that emerged later. -
Cuba's independece war
Cuba was unhappy with the Spanish rule. The situation was not fair for them, so they decide to become inependent.
Cubawas supported by America, considered as a new trading partner.
In 1855, Jose Martí leads a civil war. -
Yellow Journalism
Yellow journalism is an exaggerated style of newspaper reporting.
Rivals newspaper publishers, William Randolph herast and Joseph Pulitzer, competed for sales in the coverage of events before and after the Spanish-American War.
They exaggerate the events, which provoke interest in the reader. although they were not true. -
Spain send Valeriano Weyler to Cuba.
With the intention of softening the situation, Spain decided to send Valeriano to Cuba.
He created concentration camps for those rebellious Cubans.
Many died of hunger and in precarious conditions. This was a trigger for the beginning of the war. -
De Lôme Letter
This letter was sent by Enrique Dupuy De Lôme, Spanish Ambassador of the US, to José Canalejas, foreign Minister of spain. It showed the Ambassador's opinion about the US President McKinley’s diplomacy and the Spanish situation in Cuba.
Americans didn't like it a lot. -
USS Maine
This was the last straw for America.
President McKinley sent to Cuba the USS Maine to pick up Americans that were in danger.
The ship had blown up in Havana Harbor and 250 men died in the explosion.
The Washington government blames the Spanish state for the explosion and war is declared. -
