Transcript File - US History 2

“The Splendid Little War”
The Spanish American War - 1898
Discuss:
Why do you think any war would be called a “Splendid Little War?”
Who would call it that and what are the reasons they would do this?
Take a few minutes to write down your answer.
Questions: Why Spain? Why Now?
In the 1860s, there was a revolt in Cuba against Spanish rule.
Spain was able to put down this revolt, and when Cuba stabilized, many
people from the United States began to invest in Cuba.
Most of this money went to the Cuban sugar industry.
Mmmmmm sugar.
REBEL!!
By the 1890s, The United States and Cuba were trading $100 million worth of goods
per year.
American businessman, investing in Cuba.
Life was good.
Uh Oh!
When the Panic of 1893 struck, the US
tried to protect American businesses. They
increased Tariffs, which hurt Cuban trade.
The Cuban economy suffered.
The Cubans got mad.
Question: Who are the Cubans going to
blame for all of their problems?
Answer: Spain!
Discuss: If you were an American, would you support the Cuban rebellion against
Spain or would you oppose it?
Many Americans supported Cuba for two reasons:
1) Liked the idea of a struggle for independence (Kind of like The American
Revolution.
2) American crops and investments in Cuba were put in danger by both Spanish
and Cuban forces.
Yellow Journalism
Much of the American
public support was the
result of Yellow Journalism:
Sensationalist reporting, in
which writers often
exaggerated in order to
attract readers.
William Randolph
Hearst
Owner of the New
York Journal
Yellow Journalists focused
on the harsh conditions in
Cuba. They criticized
Spanish governor of
Cuba, Valeriano Weyler,
who created
“reconcentration camps”
where thousands died.
Joseph Pulitzer
Owner of the New York
World
“No man’s life, no man’s property is safe.
American citizens are imprisoned or slain without
cause. American property is destroyed on all
sides …. Cuba will soon be a wilderness of
blackened ruins. This year there is little to live
upon. Next year there will be nothing. The
horrors of a barbarous struggle for the
extermination of the native population are
witnessed in all parts of the country. Blood on the
roadsides, blood on the fields, blood on the
doorsteps, blood, blood, blood! Is there no nation
wise enough, brave enough to aid this bloodsmitten land?”
-The New York World
Two events create enough turmoil to bring the U.S. into the conflict.
1) Private letter from the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. made public.
Letter called President McKinley weak.
2) USS Maine – US naval vessel in Havana, Cuba explodes. Spanish are
blamed.
But was it the Spanish???
This calls for …
What kind of journalism
does this look like to
you?
Why?
Jingoism – An attitude of aggressive nationalism within the Republican Party
that was a result of these developments. They wanted war.
They finally got it, but under one condition:
The Teller Amendment: Passed before war, said US would not annex Cuba,
and would let Cubans rule themselves.
War on Two Fronts
1) The Philippines
2) Cuba
Commodore George
Dewey – Quickly
defeated Spanish fleet in
the Philippines, May 1st
1898.
Emilio Aguinaldo –
Filipino revolutionary
who fought Spanish
ground troops with
Americans.
American Cavalry Unit, The Rough
Riders, attack San Juan Hill in Cuba.
This strategic position allowed Americans
to achieve a swift victory.