Spanish-American War and Imperialism

1
Spanish-American WarandImperialism

• Pgs. 279-281

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Imperialism

• After the United States took control of Alaska
  and Hawaii, some people accused the countrys
  leaders of imperialism.
• Imperialism empire building
• The U.S. also began to come into conflict with
  European nations that had spread beyond their
  borders, too especially Spain.

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Trouble with Spain

• By the end of the 1800s, Cuba and Puerto Rico
  were the only two colonies Spain had left in the
  Western Hemisphere.
• Cuba wanted its independence from Spain and tried
  two times to become and independent nation but
  failed both times. (1868 and 1895)
• Many Americans supported Cubas fight to win
  their independence.

4
Trouble with Spain

• In 1898 President McKinley sent the Battleship
  Maine to Havana, Cuba.
• On Feb. 15 the Maine exploded killing 200
  American soldiers.
• It was not clear why the ship blew up, but the
  United States blamed Spain.
• Many Americans demanded that Spain be held
  accountable!

5
War with Spain

• On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war
  on Spain.
• Theodore Roosevelt volunteered to fight. He led
  a group called the Rough Riders and took part in
  the Battle of San Juan Hill.
• The Rough Riders were mostly cowhands and college
  athletes.
• The Rough Riders were also part of the Siege of
  Santiago.

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Siege of Santiago.

• A siege is an attack that lasts for a long time.
• It ended on July 17, 1898.
• The Spanish-American War lasted less than four
  months.
• Approximately 5,000 American soldiers died, most
  from diseases such as Malaria and yellow fever.

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Results

• With the signing of the peace treaty with Spain,
  America gained control of Cuba, Guam, the
  Philippine Islands, and Puerto Rico.
• Cuba became an independent country in 1901
  followed by the Philippines in 1946.
• Guam and Puerto Rico are still possessions of the
  United States.

8
Theodore Roosevelt

• Roosevelt was popular with Americans following
  the war.
• He was asked to be President McKinleys
  Vice-President.
• In 1901 President McKinley was shot in Buffalo,
  New York and died eight days later.
• Roosevelt then became President.

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Theodore Roosevelt

• Roosevelt was a man of action.
• He felt the U.S. should use its power to
  influence events in the world.
• He thought that what happened in the rest of the
  world affected the U.S.
• Because of his work, he became the first American
  to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.