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U.S. Attempt to Purchase Cuba
The United States had an interest in purchasing Cuba, which was only 90 miles south of Florida. In 1854, people suggested to President Franklin that the US should buy Cuba from Spain. When the Cubans rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878, they were not successful, but they did get Spain to get rid of slavery. Once slavery was abolished, millions of dollars in large sugar plantations in Cuba were invested in by American Capitalists. -
Cuba’s First War for Independence
The Cuban Revolution, also referred to as the ‘Ten Years War’, began October 10th, 1868. The war ended 10 years later in 1878. The revolution was led by Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. He proclaims independence and formed the Republic of Cuba. By 1869, Carlos written a constitution in Cuba that abolished slavery and annexed the country to the U.S. The rebels were not successful because they could not organize anything around a single goal. -
Jose Martí Led Cuba’s Second War for Independence
José Martí, a Cuban poet and journalist in New York, was the one who launched a revolution for independence on February 24th, 1895. He organized the Cuban revolt against Spain. They destroyed many properties such as American owned sugar mills and plantations. José thought that by provoking the United States intervention in order to help achieve a free Cuba. -
The Yellow Press Began to ShapeAmerican Public Opinion with Respect to Cuba’s Civil War
In 1896, Weyler’s previous actions had created an argument that developed between American news writers, William Randolph and Joseph Pulitzer. They would print highly exaggerated accounts of Weyler’s savageness to lure readers in. They would make up horrible stories so the American sympathy for the Cuban rebels increased. This interesting style of writing is called yellow journalism; its purpose is to lure in readers and make them angry. -
Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain
General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba in order to restore political order with the rebellions. He moved all of the rural population from central and western Cuba into concentration camps. They were moved there so the civilians could not help the rebels. About 300,000 Cubans were in the camps, and thousands ended up dying from hunger and disease. -
Publication of the De Lome Letter
President McKinley took office in 1897, and the demands for American intervention in Cuba were inclining. McKinley tried to diplomat means to avoid war with Spain. In February 1898, Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, published a private letter to the U.S. A Cuban rebel stole the letter and leaked it to the news. The letter criticized President McKinley. The Spanish government apologized & the minister resigned, but Americans were still angry because the Spanish insulted their president -
Explosion of the USS Maine
A few days after the De Lome letter was published, Spain was causing American outrage. President McKinley had ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring endangered American citizens home to protect them and American property. February 15th, 1898, the ship blew up in Havana harbor and more than 260 men were killed. Nobody knew why it had happened until American Newspapers stated the the Spanish had done it. The paper offered a $50,000 reward for the Spaniards that supposedly did it. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
There was no holding back for the forces that wanted to have a war. “Remember the Maine!” was the battle cry for U.S. intervention in Cuba. Public opinion favored the thought of war. On April 11th, 1898, McKinley asked Congress for permission to use force against Spain. On April 20th, Congress agreed to the U.S. declaring war on Spain. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
Hostilities began with a naval blockade of Cuba in the Caribbean. William Sampson effectively sealed up the Spanish fleet in Santiago de Cuba harbor. 125,000 Americans volunteered to fight because the U.S. army only maintained a small force. The volunteer soldiers were sent to camps to train. In those camps, they lacked necessary supplies and effective leaders. There were also not enough weapons to go around and they were in outfits that were not suitable for Cuban weather. -
U.S. Attack on Manila Bay
The battle took place in Manila Bay, the Philippine capital. On April 30th, 1898, the American fleet ventured to the Philippines. On May 1st, a command to open fire on the Spanish fleet was given. In a few hours, the American fleet had destroyed every Spanish ship there. Cuba and the Philippines wanted freedom from Spain, so Americans joined forces with Filipino rebels to gain that freedom. In August, the Spanish troops located in Manila Bay surrendered to the U.S -
Capture of Puerto Rico
U.S forces started attacking Puerto Rico in July 1898 to help get their freedom. Some of the Puerto Ricans wanted independence for their island while others wanted to ally with the United States. Spain announced that they were freeing the island of Puerto Rico on November 25, 1897. The news did not reach the island until the next year and they got a new government in February 1898, although, the United States did gain Puerto Rico in this battle. -
U.S. Forces Invade Cuba
Many called for an invasion of Cuba immediately after the U.S. won the battle of Manila Bay. One commander was Theodore Roosevelt. The 1st invasion failed when American army members went to Cuba to give Cuban rebellions supplies, but the 2nd succeeded. The army planned to send 25,000 men to Cuba to fight. They battled at San Juan hill and when the Spanish lost the battle there was no way they’d win the war. -
Battle for Kettle/San Juan Hill
The battle for Kettle/San Juan Hill was the most famous land battle in Cuba. It took place near Santiago on July 1st, 1898. The first part of the battle on Kettle Hill had a dramatic uphill charge by the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries. Because of their victory, it cleared the way for another attack on San Juan Hill. United States newspapers declared Roosevelt the hero of San Juan Hill even though he only played a minor role in the victory. -
Destruction of the Spanish Fleet
July 3rd, 1898, two days after the Spanish fleet attempted to escape the blockade at Santiago harbor, there was a naval battle. The battle was along the Cuban coast and it ended in the Spanish fleet being destructed. Because of this American victory, the troops of America invaded Puerto Rico July 25th, 1898. -
Armastice is Signed Between the U.S. and Spain
On August 12th, 1898, The United States and Spain both signed an armistice. It was a cease-fire agreement that ended the small war. The fighting that was part of the war only lasted about 15 weeks long. -
Treaty of Paris
The United States and Spain met in Paris, France to agree on a treaty on December 10th, 1898. When the treaty was agreed on and signed, Spain freed Cuba and turned over Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. Also, The United States purchased the Philippines from Spain for $20 million. -
Spanish Surrender the Philippines
The Treaty of Paris set off a debate in the United States on whether they had the right or not to annex the Philippines from the Spanish, but imperialism was the main issue. On February 6th, 1899, the question of the annex was settled with the Senate’s approval about the Treaty of Paris. The United States then owned Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
