Transcript The Gilded Age

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Definition:
The policy in which strong nations extend
their economic, political, or military control
over weaker territories.
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In the 1890s the U.S. economy was weak
The "Gilded Age" had passed, leaving labor conflict,
business corruption, racial violence, population surges,
poverty, unemployment, and markets saturated with
manufactured goods.
 America's great Western frontier had been settled. The
destiny of the nation, long rooted in the spirit of
exploration and expansion, suddenly seemed uncertain
(Manifest Destiny)
 The United States economy needed foreign markets to
sustain itself, the federal government was under pressure
to secure its power and prestige in the world community,
and Americans yearned to be reassured of their national
prowess.
 A war was almost inevitable.

As Theodore Roosevelt told a friend in 1897, "I should
welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs
one."
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Cuba was a colony of Spain
Some Cubans sought freedom from
Spain
“Independia or muerta” (“Independence
or death”
This was the opening for those who
wanted war
Call to war!
Numerous newspapers called
for the U.S. to go to war with
Spain for Cuba’s independence
William Randolph Hurst
New York Journal
Competing New York City
newspapers printed outrageous
stories about Spanish atrocities
that were not true in an effort
to sell more papers
Joseph Pulitzer
New York World
Rumors of suffering, starvation, and thousands of deaths in Spanish detention camps
inspired many to offer support to the Cuban cause. Americans held rallies, food drives,
and fund-raisers for "Cuba Libre," and many petitioned the federal government to
intervene
What it managed to do was anger many Americans to the
point that they were ready to go to war.
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Yellow Journalism:
A style of reporting in which writers often
exaggerated or lied to attract readers.
Propaganda:
Information, especially of a biased or
misleading nature, used to promote or
publicize a particular political cause or point of
view.
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Sold many papers
Angered many Americans to the
point that they were ready to go to
war.
Just needed a fuse to trigger a war.
Explosion aboard the Maine
February 15, 1898, the Maine
sank in Havana Harbor after
an explosion, resulting in the
deaths of 266 men
Although no one is sure
how the ship exploded,
many Americans blamed it
on Spain.
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The exact cause of the explosion of the
battleship Maine was unclear.
The surviving captain of the ship reported no
attack and no Spanish vessels in sight that
evening.
In fact, Captain Sigsbee and the other survivors
had been rescued and cared for by Spanish
crewmen aboard a civilian steamer.
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"The Maine was sunk by an act of dirty
treachery on the part of the Spaniards," Navy
Secretary Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the
day following the explosion.
Newspapers called for war
Politicians called for war
To obtain even more public support, a form of
propaganda called jingoism was used
War declared
in
April, 1898
Causes of the War
1) The explosion of the Maine, which was
blamed on Spain
2) The United States wanted to expand into
Latin America and the Pacific
3) People in Cuba and Philippines rebelled
against Spanish rule
4) Demands for involvement from American
expansionists and newspapers
The War in Cuba
U.S. quickly defeated Spain
in Cuba
American forces were led by
a volunteer fighting force
known as the Rough Riders
The Rough Riders
were heroes at the
Battle of San Juan
Hill in Cuba
The Rough Riders
The Rough
Riders were a
group of tough
cowboys, miners
and lawmen
The Rough Riders were led by
the former Secretary of the
Navy – Theodore Roosevelt
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Signed by
President
McKinley
Treaty of Paris
ended the war
America had
become a world
power
America in the Pacific
The United
States beat
Spain and gains
control of
Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the
Philippines and
gains influence
over Cuba