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U.S. Attempt to Purchase Cuba
Spain told America that they would rather see Cuba "sink in the ocean than in their possession." However, America still expressed interest in it. Especially because it was only 90 miles from Cuba -
Cuba's First War for Independence
It was Cuba's unsuccessful attempt to earn independence from Spain. However, this got the support of the United States and abolished slavery for the Cuban's 8 years later -
Jose Martí led Cuba's Second War (Revolution) for Independence
The Cuban poet and journalist launched a revolution. Martí
organized Cuban resistance against Spain, using an active
guerrilla war strategy and deliberately destroying property,
especially American-owned sugar mills and plantations. -
Valeriano Weyler was Sent to Cuba by Spain
He was sent to Cuba to restore order after the attempted revolt by Cubans. He then tried to end the rebellion by herding the entire
Cuban population of central and western Cuba into barbed-wire
concentration camps. This way, civilians couldn't provide support to the rebellion. "An estimated 300,000 Cubans filled these camps,
where thousands died from hunger and disease." -
The Yellow Press Begins to Shape American Public Opinion with Respect to Cuba's Civil War
The New York Journal used yellow journalism to exaggerate the Cuban war and treatment of locals in the concentration camps of Weyer. This was meant to lure readers and infuriate them on the topic. -
Publication of De Lôme Letter
The New York Journal published a private letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish minister to the United States. The letter was stolen from a Havana post office and leaked it to the
newspaper. The de Lôme letter called President McKinley “weak” and “a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.” Spain, embarrassed, apologize to the US. Still, Americans were angry over the insult to their president. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
The American's were going to retrieve American citizens on the U.S.S Maine, when the ship exploded. Because of this explosion, we blamed it on Spain, and declared war on them. -
Explosion of the U.S.S Maine
The U.S.S Maine was sent to Cuba to get American's out of the way of danger, when the ship exploded, killing 260 people. The American's did not know the cause of the explosion, so they blamed it on the Spanish and declared war.
