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American Interest in Cuba
The diplomats recommended to president Franklin to buy Cuba. America wanted Cuba because of two main reasons. It was 90 miles away from Florida so it was close to the U.S. With Spain having control over Cuba, the U.S did not like an empire being close to their land. The U.S also wanted to put sugar plantations on it. -
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Spanish American War Timeline
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Cubans rebel against Spain
In 1868 the Cubans rebelled against the Spanish. They wanted their own independence and to not be controlled by Spain. The Americans sympathized with the Cuban rebels because of how they were treated with Britain. However this was just the begining of a war that would last for 10 years. It was also before the second war -
Spain abolishes slavery
The 1st Cuban rebellion against Spain was not successful. In 1886 Spain abolished slavery in Cuba. This happened because in the in 1878 the Cuban rebels did not get what they want. After freeing the Cuban slaves American capitalist started to invest millions of dollars in sugar cane plantations. The Americans saw Cuba as another Island like Hawaii. In the end the rebellion failed. -
The Second War For Independence
Anti-Spanish groups in Cuba erupted into a second war for independence. This is where Jose Marti, a Cuban poet and journalist came in. Marti organized a Cuban resistance against Spain. He destroyed American-owned properties. Marti wanted the U.S to intervene with them. He also help make the phrase Cuba libre- free Cuba -
Headline Wars
Weyler's actions gave a good story for journalist. William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. These two would exaggerate stories in their writing, which made the Americans sympathize with the rebels more. They told stories like, poisoned wells, and throwing children into shark infest water. This exaggeration of journalism became known as yellow journalism. This shaped the Americans mindset of Spain and the Cuban rebels more. It also made Spain recall Weyler. -
War fever Escalate
Spain responded to Cuba''s rebellion by sending general Valeriano Weyler. In Cuba Weyler tried to destroy the rebellion by gathering the entire world rural population and putting them in concentration camps. An estimation of 300,000 Cubans filled these camps. where thousands died from hunger and disease. -
THE DE LÔME LETTER
A note that was written by the Spanish Ambassador to the US that gives shows his opinion over Spanish involvement in Cuba and US President McKinley's diplomacy. The letter called McKinley a weak president, and a man to be swayed by the words of people. The Ambassador resigned, but Americans were made about he had about their president. -
The U.S.S. Maine explodes
On January 24, President McKinley had ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger from the fighting and to protect American property on Islands. The U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana Harbor almost a month after on February 1898. -
The war in the Philippines
The first battle of the war took place in the Philippines islands. In April the Americans in the Pacific boated to the Philippines. George Dewey opened fire on the Spanish fleet in Manila. Dewey men destroy every ship there. Thanks to Dewey the Americans could land in the Philippines. -
War with Spain erupts
After the U.S.S. Maine sunk the Americans wanted war more than ever, remember the Maine became the rallying for U.S intervention in Cuba. It made no difference that the Spanish government agreed to almost everything the US demanded including a six month cease-fire. -
The war in the Caribbean
President McKinley ordered a naval blockade over the Caribbean. Dewey's victory at Manila showed the Americans and everyone else the strength of the US naval forces. At the time America only had a small experienced force. A majority of the naval force was of small experience. 125,000 Volunteered for the war. Soldiers were sent in the camp for training and they didn't have enough modern guns for the and the troops were equipped with heavy wool uniforms not fitted for Cuba's environment. -
Rough Riders
American forces landed in Cuba in June 1898 and converged on the port city of Santiago. An army of 17,000 which included four African-American regiments of the standard army and the rough riders. They were under command of Leonard Wood and short tempered Theodore Roosevelt. One of the most recognizable battles was the battle of San Juan Hill. Although this was minor, the papers made T.R look like a hero. -
Treaty of Paris
The US and Spain met in Paris for an agreement on a treaty. In the end Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million and America acquired Philippine, Puerto Rico, Guam. On February 6, The treaty started a great debate. Some people saw taking Philippines as and empire building thing. McKinley respond to the Americans with "That their was nothing to do, but to take them all". -
Debate over the treaty
People argued if the U.S had the right to have the Philippines. President McKinley "there was nothing else for us to to do, but to take them all, and educate them, and Christianize them. Some thought the Treaty Of Paris violated the Declaration Of Independence. Booker T. Washington thought that the U.S should take care of racial issued here, before acquiring another country. Samuel Gompers feared that the Filipinos would compete for american jobs. However the treaty was approved.
