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U.S. Attempt to Purchase Cuba
The United States had wanted to buy Cuba for a long time, but the Spanish said they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean than be apart of the U.S. This was one reason they decided to help the Cuban rebels fight. -
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Spanish American War Chronology
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Cuba's First War for Independence
The Cubans were not successful in gaining more freedom, but they did get the Spanish government to get rid of slavery in Cuba. -
Jose Marti led Cuba's Second War for Independence
Jose Marti was a Cuban journalist who started and led the second revolution in 1895. He led the resistance in deliberately destroying American property in order to trigger the United States into joining the war. -
Valeriano Weyler Sent to Cuba by Spain
The Spanish sent Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to try and restore order. He attempted to destroy the rebellion by putting almost the entire population in concentration camps, where thousands died from hunger and disease. -
Yellow Press began Shaping American Public Opinion with Respect to Cuba's Civil War
Seeing what Weyler had done, newspaper publishers Hearst and Pulitzer published in their newspapers over the top accounts of the happenings in Cuba. These overexaggerated stories and style of writing is known as yellow journalism. -
Publication of the De Lome Letter
The De Lome letter was a letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lome which was stolen by a Cuban rebel who revealed it to the newspapers. When it was published, all the world read how de Lome criticized President McKinley, calling him "weak" and "a bidder for the admiration of the crowd". This made Americans very angry over the insult, giving them yet another reason to join the war. -
Explosion of the U.S.S Maine
Not long after the de Lome letter was published, the Americans grew enraged. Early in the year, McKinley had sent the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring back Americans in danger of the fighting. But the U.S.S. Maine was blown up in the harbor of Havana, killing more than 260 men. Newspapers claimed that the Spanish had blown it up, but no one was really sure how it happened. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
By now the Americans were entirely furious, and finally, McKinley asked Congress for permission to wage war on Spain. After about a week of debate, they agreed, and the U.S. declared war. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
Admiral William T. Sampson secured the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba with a naval blockade. -
U.S. Attack on Manila Bay
When the Spanish Fleet tried to escape the naval blockade, the U.S. fleet attacked and destroyed the enemy in Manila Bay. -
U.S. Invades Cuba
Four African-American regiments and the Rough Riders landed in Cuba in June of 1898. The first battle took place on Kettle Hill, followed by the battle of San Juan Hill. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The Battle of San Juan Hill took place on the first of July, and it was led by the Rough Riders and two other regiments. Roosevelt was named the hero of the battle, even though he played a minor role in the victory. -
Destruction of Spanish Fleet in Cuba
A couple of days after the Battle of San Juan Hill, the Spanish Fleet tried to escape the naval blockade, but the whole fleet was destroyed in battle the ensued. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
A few days after the destruction of the Spanish fleet, the troops moved on to Puerto Rico, but the armistice was signed in August, ending the battle. The Treaty of Paris gave the U.S. Puerto Rico. -
Armistice Signed
On August 12, 1898, the U.S. and Spain signed an armistice, a cease-fire agreement, which ended the war. -
Spanish Surrender the Philippines
After signing the Treaty of Paris, President McKinley, trying to vindicate imperialism, said that the only thing left to do was to take the Philippine island and the people and educate them and try and convert them, even though they were all mostly Christians already. The Spanish ended up selling the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898, by Spain and the United States. The treaty freed Cuba and gave the U.S. Guam and Puerto Rico.
