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Period: to
Spanish-American War
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Slavery is Abolished
Before the abolishment of slavery, American investors did not want to invest in sugar plantations that were produced by slsves. Shortly after the abolishment of slavery, American capitalists began investing in millions of dollars in large sugar cane plantations in Cuba. -
American Investments
The United States want to protect American investments in Cuba. The U.S. believed that if Spain gained control of Cuba, the invesments that were made would be endangered. This was one of the reasons that the United States was interested in Cuba. -
American Imperialism
America wanted to be in "The Club." The only way of doing this is by gaining control of overseas countries. Cuba was included in this category. America wanted to be a world power but they weren't going to make it their first priority. -
Sympathy for Cubans
General Valeriano Weyler arrived in Cuba to try to regain control. He put the Cubans into concentration camps where thousands died from disease and starvation. Anyone caught outside of the concentration camp was an "enemy" and was killed. This created sympathy for Cuba in the United States. -
Yellow Journalism
Yellow journalism was a type of writing that exaggerates news to lure and enrage readers. One example of yellow journalism was a story about babies being fed to sharks in Cuba. -
America gained control of Cuba
The United States and Spain met in Paris to agree on a treaty. Spain freed control of Cuba over to the United States. The U.S. is now a protectorate of Cuba -
United States gains Guam and Puerto Rico
As a result of the Treaty of Paris, The United States gains control of Guam and Puerto Rico from Spain. -
United States purchases the Philippines
The United States buys the Philippines from Spain for $20 million. -
The De Lôme Letter
This letter writen by Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish minister to the United States, was published in the New York Journal. This letter included material that criticized President William McKinley. Americans were angered by the letter that bashed their president. This was another reason that lead the U.S. into the Spanish-American war. -
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
The U.S.S. Maine, the United States' best battleship, was blown up on the harbor of Havana. The Maine was there to bring American citizens back home that were in danger from the fighting between Cuba and Spain & protect American property. American newspapers claimed that Spain had blown up the ship, but no one knows for sure what happened. This was one of the reasons that lead the U.S. into the Spanish-American War. -
Delcaration of War
The U.S declared war on Spain. -
War in the Philippines
American fleet steamed to the Philippines. Commodore George Dewey gave the command to open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila, the Philippine capital. -
War in the Caribbean
Admiral William T. Sampson sealed up the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The Battle of San Juan Hill was the most famous land battle in the Spanish-American war. The first part of the battle, on nearby Kettle Hill, featured a dramatic uphill charge by the Rough Riders and the Ninth and Tenth Calvaries. Their victory cleared the way for an infantry attack on the strategically important San Juan Hill. Theodore Roosevelt took credit as being the hero of the battle. -
Invasion of Puerto Rico
U.S. forces launch their invasion of Puerto Rico after Spanish fleet tried to escape the American blockade. This ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
End of the Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American war finally comes to an end.
