The Spanish American War

1
The Spanish American War

• Notes Page

2

• For centuries, Cuba had been controlled by Spain.
  Cubans were fighting for independence.
• U.S. businessmen were worried about destruction
  of trade, government leaders worried about a
  rebellion, and the American people were concerned
  about atrocities (violence/abuse) against Cuban
  citizens.

3

• What was causing many Americans to get more
  interested in going to war? Yellow Journalism
• President McKinley wanted to stay neutral.
• The U.S. was forced to be involved after what
  incident? The sinking of the Battleship Maine by
  the Spanish.
• What new information might have changed the U.S.
  involvement in the war? Finding out that the
  sinking of the Maine was an accident.

4

• What did the Filipinos have in common with the
  Cubans? Both wanted independence from Spain.
• What happened at Manila Bay in the Philippines?
  U.S. launched a surprise attack on the Spanish
  fleet and destroyed most of their ships.
• What did Teddy Roosevelt do to contribute to the
  war after leaving his job with the navy? He led
  the 1st regiment of the U.S. Calvary volunteers
  (called the Rough Riders)

5

• What happened in the battle of Santiago Bay?
  American troops blocked the coast and trapped the
  Spanish Fleet, heavy fighting took place and
  eventually the Spanish were defeated.
• After defeating the Spanish in Cuba, we quickly
  landed in Puerto Rico and claimed it as well.
• Spain signed an armistice or peace agreement,
  ending the war.
• The war lasted fewer than 4 months and 400 U.S.
  soldiers were killed in battle.

6

• More than 2,000 U.S. troops died from diseases.
• The treaty to end the war was called the Treaty
  of Paris.
• In this treaty, the U.S. received 3 things
• a. Cuba became an American protectorate
• b. Puerto Rico and Guam became U.S. territories
• c. Spain sold us the Philippines for 20
  million dollars.

7

• People who did not want to take over new lands
  were called anti-imperialists. They did not like
  this because they felt it contradicted with
  principles on which the U.S. was founded, worried
  about the large army needed to protect new
  territories, and feared competition with Filipino
  workers.
• Why did some people like getting all this new
  land? Because it showed the world we had power
  and were willing to fight to keep the peace
  around the world.

8

• Why do you think the Filipino and Cubans were mad
  at the U.S. after the war (you have to think
  about this one)?

9

• We helped them, and then we took over their
  country!