Spanish-American War

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Spanish-American War
American Imperialism/ Big Stick Policy in Action
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Cuba 1890s

• a colony of Spain
• had rebelled (unsuccessfully) against the
  Spanish since 1868
• Spain decided to control the rebels by
  creating guarded camps (reconcentration camps)
• estimated that 200,000 Cubans died in the camps
• Many Americans felt a duty to help the Cubans,
  but
• also, many American companies owned sugar mills
  plantations in Cuba

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American "Yellow" Journalists

• newspapers reported exaggerated and sometimes
  false stories about events in Cuba to sell
  newspapers
• this transformed American public opinion
• put pressure on federal government to pursue an
  interventionist policy, at least in Cuba

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Steps to War...

1. Riots in Cuba prompt President McKinley to send
   the U.S.S. Maine to protect American economic
   interests
2. American newspapers publish a letter from a
   Spanish Ambassador that ridicules President
   McKinley

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• 3. The U.S.S Maine explodes and sinks, killing
  250 American sailors the press blames Spain
  (to this day, it is unclear what really happened)

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4. Another Spanish colony, the Philippines, also
begin to rebel, American politicians see it as a
great location to protect American trade
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5. McKinley sends a list of demands to Spain
Spain agrees to all but independence for Cuba 6.
McKinley then requests a declaration of war from
Congress
April 1898 Spanish-American War is Declared
"Remember the Maine"
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U.S. Victory

• Treaty of Paris
• Spain recognized Cubas independence
• U.S. paid 20 million for Philippines, Puerto
  Rico, and Guam
• These lands become unincorporated territories
  (not intended for statehood)
• an era of Americanimperialism begins

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