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U.S. Tries To Buy Cuba
In 1854 diplomats tried to convince President Franklin Pierce to buy Cuba from Spain. The Spanish said that they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean than to sell it. With Cuba being only 90 miles south of Florida, the U.S. felt like it should be theirs in the first place. The attempt to buy Cuba showed the amount of interest that the U.S. had in Cuba. -
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War TimeSpan
According to Secretary of State John Hay this splendid little war had only lasted 15 weeks. The war was sparked by the explosion of U.S.S Maine. There were wars in the Philippines, the Caribbean, and the war ended with the Treaty of Paris. -
Cuba's First War of Independance
The first war of independence for Cuba was unsuccessful in 1868-1878, Ten Years War, but in 1886 they were able to force the Spanish to abolish slavery. Since the U.S. has had an interest in Cuba, and its rich sources in sugar and tobacco, the first loss of independence made America feel sympathetic towards them. Americans know how it feels to fight for their independance and freedom, due to the Civil War just 3 years before. -
Jose Marti
Jose Martí, a Cuban poet and journalist, dedicated his life for the second war of independence in Cuba. Being in exile in New York, he launched a revolution in 1895. He used an active guerilla campaign, which is deliberately destroying property in Cuba, and the well known American sugar-mills and plantations. He did this to try and make Cuba less appealing to the Spanish. -
Valeriano Weyler Sent to Cuba
In 1896, the Spanish responded to the Cuban revolt by sending General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to try and restore order from all the chaos. He attempted to destroy the Cuban rebellion by placing the entire rural population of central and western Cuba in concentration camps. This prevented civilians from supplying aid to the rebels. Hundreds of thousands were placed in these camps and thousands died as a result. These actions fueled a war between American newspapers who over exaggerated accounts. -
Yellow Press
In 1896 the actions of Valeriano Weyler, had fueled a war over newspaper circulation. American newspaper writers, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were able to attract readers, by using exaggerations of prints by writers such as James Creelman. In example they wrote about stories of poisoned wells and of children being thrown into a sea of sharks. Their goal was to reel in sympathy for the rebels and enrage the readers. -
Letter of de Lome
On February 10 1898, New York Journal published a private letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lome, a Spanish minister. A Cuban rebel stole the letter from a post office in Havana and gave it to the newspaper. The letter criticized President McKinley, calling him weak, the Spanish government apologized, and were embarrassed, causing the minister to resign. -
Naval Blockade
In 1898 the Spanish began with a naval blockade of Cuba. William T. Sampson sealed up the Spanish fleet in the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The victory of Sampson and Dewey demonstrated the superiority of the United States Navy had acquired. -
Explosion of U.S.S. Maine
On February 15, 1898, only a few days after the de Lome letter, the USS Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana, more than 260 men were killed. Though the reason for the explosion is unknown, American newspapers were quick to place the blame on Spain, causing an outrage from Americans. This event added flame to American’s fire and desire to intervene in Cuba. This lead to the Spanish- American War. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
After tensions of the explosion of U.S.S. Maine and the De Lome letter which criticized the President, the U.S. declared War on Spain. This was important because the public opinion was to go to war with Spain in order to protect Cuba. -
Spanish Surrender
On April 30th, and the next two months over 10,000 Americans joined forces with Filipino rebels. In August, the Spanish troops had surrendered in Manilla, because of all the Americans that joined the Filipino rebels. George Dewey had the support of Filipino’s. The one’s who also want freedom from Spain. -
U.S.Attack on Manilla Bay
On May 1, 1898 the Americans caught the Spanish off guard by attacking the Philippine capital of Manila. George Dewey gave the order to open fire and soon the Americans had destroyed all of the Spanish ships and had won. Because of this victory, American troops could land in the Philippines. The Filipinos wanted freedom from the Spanish like Cuba so they joined forces with America. Because of this, in August 1898 the Spanish troops in Manilla supperedered. This gave America full control over the -
U.S. Forces Invade Cuba
In June 1898, American forces set foot in Cuba and began to converge in Santiago, Cuba’s capital city. 17,000 troops went into Cuba to fight including four African-American regiments and the Rough Riders, who were led under Theodore Roosevelt. This invasion led to the main battle of San Juan Hill and a win for the United States. This was invasion was like a go-with-the-flow strategy. -
Battle for Kettle HIll/San Juan Hill
On July 1, 1898 the most famous battle of Cuba was the Battle of Kettle Hill/ San Juan Hill had broke out. The battle started with an uphill charge on Kettle Hill by the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments. Tis the victory of this battle led to the more important battle of San Juan Hill. San Juan Hill was strategically the best hill to use in this battle of the Spanish-American War. Although Theodore Roosevelt had a minor role in this battle he was considered hero of San Juan Hill. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
On July 25, 1898, American invaded and captured the previously Spanish controlled country of Puerto Rico. They were able to do this after the American victory of the Battle of San Juan Hill. Puerto Rico was taken with very little effort and struggle. -
Armistice Signed Between U.S. and Spain
On August 12, 1898, the U.S. and Spain a cease-fire agreement. This agreement ended what had only been 15 weeks of actual fighting. The Secretary of State, John Hay describe the Spanish-American War as “a splendid little war”. -
Spanish Fleet Destroyed
In 1898 the Spanish began with a naval blockade of Cuba. William T. Sampson sealed up the Spanish fleet in the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The victory of Sampson and Dewey demonstrated the superiority of the United States Navy had acquired.wanted freedom fro Spain. Since the United States became an ally with the Filipinos the Spanish troops in Manilla surrenderd. -
Treaty of Paris
On December 10, 1898, the United States and Spain both agreed to and signed Treaty of Paris. Before the signing it was debated in the U.S. on whether they should have the right to annex the Philippines as well as big problem called imperialism. Spain freed Cuba and gave the United States the islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West, Spain also sold them the Philippines for $20 million.
