Transcript The Spanish-American War

The Spanish American War
Events Leading to the War
• 1868-1878 – 1st Cuban Rebellion seeking
independence from Spain
• 1895 – 2nd Cuban Rebellion due to an
economic collapse
• Spain sent Gen. Valeriano Weyler +
150,000 troops to Cuba & began
“reconcentration.” In 2 years’ time,
~200,000 died of disease or starvation
• Cuban exiles in the U.S. asked U.S. to
intervene; U.S. refused
• To get U.S. involved, Cuban rebels destroyed
American-owned sugar plantations and mills
(U.S. had more than $50 million invested in
Cuba)
• American business owners asked government to
intervene
• Pressure to get involved also came from
newspapers. Joseph Pulitzer & William Hearst
used yellow journalism to compete with each
other, telling exaggerated stories about Cuba
• American support of the Cuban rebels increased
• 1898 – riots broke out in Havana
• Feb. 1898 – President McKinley sent
U.S.S. Maine to Havana to protect
American citizens & property
• Feb. 15, 1898 – U.S.S. Maine
mysteriously exploded, killing over 250
American sailors
• American newspapers blamed Spain and
coined the phrase “Remember the Maine!”
• Asst. Secretary of the Navy, T. Roosevelt,
sent word to Admiral Dewey & other naval
commanders in the Philippines to prepare
to attack the Spanish fleet if war broke out
• April 1898 – Pres. McKinley asked Spain
to release Cubans from concentration
camps, pay for the Maine, and grant Cuba
independence
• Although Spain accepted most of these
demands, the U.S. Congress authorized a
declaration of war on Spain
Results
• U.S. won easily in a matter of months
• More U.S. soldiers died of disease than in
battle (only about 400)
• Signed Treaty of Paris. Spain agreed to:
– Give Cuba independence
– Give Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S.
– Sell the Philippines to the U.S. for $20mil
After the War
• Many Americans unhappy with imperialism –
“we don’t have the right to rule others!”
• Filipinos, who expected independence, declared
war on the U.S.
– 3 years, ~4,500 U.S. soldier casualties, ~20,000
Filipino soldier casualties + 200,000 CIVILIANS (this
further angered the American people)
– U.S.-led gov’t after the war
• U.S. President appoints Filipino governor, who
(along with Filipino citizens) appoints the
legislature
– Philippines not fully independent until 1946
After the War
• Cuba
– Independent, but w/ American influence
– U.S. military gov’t for 3 years
• Good: schools, economic stability, cure for yellow fever
• Bad: Cuba wanted full independence
– To satisfy the U.S., they drafted a constitution + Platt
Amendment:
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•
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•
Cuba couldn’t enter into other foreign agreements
U.S. got 2 naval bases in Cuba
U.S. could intervene whenever necessary
Conditions lasted until 1934
After the War
• Puerto Rico
– Did not become independent
– “incorporated” in 1917 – PR people get U.S.
citizenship
• Guam
– Remained “unincorporated” U.S. territory
Other Gains in the Pacific
• Hawaii
– 1887 trade treaty: U.S. could sell Hawaiian sugar
duty-free in the states; Hawaii leased Pearl Harbor as
a refueling station
– Many whites living in Hawaii working on sugar
plantations  new generation of Hawaiian-born
whites – take control of gov’t from King Kalakaua
– King died in 1891, his sister, Queen Liliuokalani,
took over. Wanted to reduce U.S. control in Hawaii
– Sanford B. Dole removed her from power in 1893 &
took over – asked U.S. to annex Hawaii. Congress
approved in 1898.
• Samoa
– 1878 treaty: U.S. would protect Samoa; U.S.
could lease harbor at Pago Pago
– Britain & Germany also wanted this territory –
divided it 3 ways in 1889
– Britain backed out in 1899 – Germany & U.S.
split the territory. U.S. acquired Pago Pago;
section now called “American Samoa”
• Open Door policy in China
– Many countries seeking spheres of influence
(areas of economic & political control) in China:
• Russia, Germany, France, Japan, Great Britain, U.S.
– Open Door Policy: In 1899, Secretary of
State John Hay wrote to these countries
suggesting an “open door” to China
• everyone would have equal access to China’s
markets, no exclusivity
• Open Door (cont’d)
– Chinese didn’t want foreign influence at all
– Righteous & Harmonious Fists (“Boxers”)
rebelled in 1900, killing 300 foreigners &
Chinese Christians
• “Boxer Rebellion”
– Rebellion ended by Europeans
– Secretary Hay thought they would use this as
an excuse to claim Chinese territory
• He wrote another series of “open door” demands
Approaches to Foreign Affairs
Chapter 23, Section 3
Gradually President Roosevelt and succeeding Presidents established a policy of
intervening in Latin America, especially when disturbances threatened American
lives, property, and interests there.
Roosevelt = Roosevelt Corollary/Big Stick in Latin America
Taft = Dollar Diplomacy
Wilson = Moral Diplomacy
Theodore
Roosevelt
• In 1902, when several European countries sent warships to
force Venezuela to repay its debts, Roosevelt announced a
corollary, or addition, to the Monroe Doctrine. To keep
European nations out of Latin America, he claimed that the
United States had a right to intervene in Latin America to
preserve law and order. The United States would use
“international police power” to force Latin Americans to pay
their debts.
• For the next 20 years, Presidents used the Roosevelt
Corollary to intervene in Latin America.
Approaches to Foreign Affairs
Chapter 23, Section 3
William
Howard
Taft
• Taft wanted to “substitute dollars for bullets.” He urged
American bankers to invest in Latin America. His policy of
building economic ties became known as dollar diplomacy.
• American investors helped build roads, railroads, harbors,
and other improvements.
• However, American businesses often meddled in the political
affairs of host countries. Sometimes, the United States used
military force to keep order and keep European countries out
of desirable territories.
Woodrow
Wilson
• Wilson said, “The force of America is the force of moral
principle.” Through his moral diplomacy, Wilson said the U.S.
should refuse to recognize any government that was
oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests.
• Nevertheless, Wilson sent troops to Latin America several
times. For example, he sent marines to Haiti in 1915, where
they remained until 1934.