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U.S attempt to purchase Cuba
The United States had an interest for a long time before President Pierce was recommended to buy it from Spain. Spain was not interested in selling it to the U.S so their interest continued. -
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Cuba's first war for independence
The Cuban’s rebelled against Spain but they were unsuccessful. All they got out of it was Americans’ sympathy. However, it did lead to them forcing Spain to end slavery in 1886. With the ending of slavery, America started sugar cane planting in Cuba on their private islands. -
Jose Marti led Cuba's second war for independence
Anti-Spanish opinions began to get bigger and that is what caused Cuba’s second war for independence. Jóse Martí was a Cuban poet and journalist in New York, who caused the revolution in 1985. He organized Cuban support against Spain, using a campaign and destroying property (a lot of American-owned sugar mills and plantations). Opinions were very split throughout the United States, businessmen and women wanted the government to support Spain. “Cuba Libre!” was the popular chant/cry. -
Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain
Valeriano Weyler was sent by Spain to get everything back in order after the Cuban revolt. His idea to stop the rebellion was to put everyone in concentration camps. About 300,000 were in the camps and several thousand died from disease and starvation. -
The yellow press began to shape American public opinion with respect to Cuba's civil war
Hearst and Pulitzer wrote in a style that increased war fever. Stories were put out about poisoned wells, and children were thrown into water filled with sharks. America read the stories and started to sympathize with Cuba. The stories made America realize that they needed to step in and help. -
Publication of the De Lome Letter
In 1897, American intervention with Cuba was a very popular topic. Mckinley wanted to avoid war with Spain, and was trying to resolve the crisis in a different way. In 1898, the private letter was published to the New York Journal. It was a letter between Enrique Dupuy de Lome and the United States. The letter called Mckinley “weak” and criticized him for not wanting to go into war. After the letter was public, the Spanish government apologized and Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the minister, resigned. -
U.S invades Cuba
At first, the Spanish thought that Americans were going to invade Cuba. But they were wrong because the first battle of the war took place in a Spanish colony all the way across the world. Later, the United States did end up invading Cuba and were successful. -
Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba
The Spanish fleet attempted to escape the American blockade at the harbor of Santiago right after the Battle of San Juan. -
Explosion of the USS Maine
President McKinley sent USS Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens that were in danger and to protect U.S property. On February 15th, 1898 the ship was blown up by Havana killing more than 250 men. When it happened they weren’t sure who did it, but a newspaper realized and announced the Spanish were to blame. -
U.S declares war on Spain
The Spanish government agreed to most of what the United States demanded on April 9. That included a six-month cease-fire which is a suspension of fighting. Although the Spanish agreed to all of these things, the public favored war. On April 11, Mckinley asked congress to have authority and force against Spain. It took a week of discussion but finally, Congress agreed and on April 20 war was declared by the United States. -
U.S attack on Manila Bay
The Spanish thought America was invading Cuba first, instead, Commodore Dewey called for an attack on the Spanish Fleet in Manila, the Capital of the Philippines. Shortly after, every Spanish ship was destroyed. During the battle, Dewey gained support from the Philippines who also wanted freedom from Spain. This is important because the US troops joined Filipino rebels led by Aguinaldo making them more powerful which forced Spanish troops to surrender. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The battle started on Kettle Hill when the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments charged the hill. The victory of Kettle Hill opened the way for the important attack on San Juan Hill. The victory of the Battle of San Juan Hill was important because it led to the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
Naval blockade of Cuba
Hostilities began with a naval blockade in the Caribbean. Dewey’s victory at Manila showed how high of power the United States had of naval forces. Around 125,000 troops volunteered, they were sent to training camps that did not have all of the proper supplies, and there was also a shortage of modern guns. The troops were very uncomfortable in their uniforms because of Cuba’s climate. -
Treaty of Paris
The United States and Spain signed a cease-fire agreement on August 12 and it ended “a splendid little war” called that by Secretary of State John Hay. The actual fighting that took place in the war only lasted 15 weeks. On December 10, the United States and Spain went to Paris and they agreed on the treaty. -
Armistice is signed between the U.S and Spain
The armistice was signed by both the U.S and Spain agreeing to put an end to the fighting. -
Spanish surrender the Philippines
Spain freed Cuba and they gave the islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies to the United States. The United States also bought the Philippines for $20 million dollars from Spain. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
During the Spanish-American war, the United States launched their invasion of Puerto Rico. With the United States troops under General Nelson A Miles, they were able to secure the island of Puerto Rico by the middle of August.