Pg. 20 - Causes of the Spanish American War

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Pg. 20 - Causes of the Spanish American War

• 1898

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Humanitarian Concerns

• Stories of cruel treatment of Cubans by the
  Spanish poverty, starvation, imprisonment
• Use of reconcentration camps by Spain led to
  the death of many innocent Cubans
• U.S. cant help but be involved tugged at the
  heartstrings of the people

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Economic Concerns

• Many U.S. business interests in Cuba were
  disrupted by war (banks, sugar plantations,
  hotels)
• The on-going civil war in Cuba was costing
  American businesses money

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Yellow Journalism

• U.S. newspapers ran exaggerated stories of the
  events in Cuba to increase circulation blood,
  guts, gory details sold papers
• Many stories sensationalized the events but
  Americans believed them to be true
• Public opinion ? Anti-Spain

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The DeLôme Letter

• Letter from Spanish official leaked to the
  press
• Critical of President McKinley called him
  weak, a would-be politician and a jingoist
  (aggressive nationalist)
• Considered an insult to the president the
  nation
• Chances for peaceful negotiations were unlikely

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Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor

• 268 American sailors died
• State of the Art American ship destroyed
• Uncertain of how it happened
• Spain attacked ?
• Boiler blew up ?
• Cubans sabotaged ?

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Spain must be responsible

• After hearing all the horrible things Spain had
  done
• American people didnt want to wait for
  investigation
• Jumped to conclusion

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Immediate cause of War The sinking of the
U.S.S. Maine
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Newspapers told the story
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Results of the Spanish American War

• Treaty of Paris (1898)
• Cuba ? Independent
• Platt Amendment to Cuban Constitution makes Cuba
  a protectorate of the U.S.
• Puerto Rico Guam ceded to U.S.
• Philippines sold to U.S. (20 million)

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Importance

• U.S. becomes a World Power with Colonies
• U.S. interests stretch around the world