Transcript Spanish American Warx

How does the media affect peoples'
opinions and beliefs?
As a quick
introduction to the
role that
newspapers play in
portraying accurate
information we will
play Whisper down
the Lane.
Pair / Share Brainstorm
When is it appropriate for the United States to send soldiers to fight and face
death on foreign soil?
Choose up to three of the following reasons.
• to assist an ally of the United States
• to protect territory that is close to U.S. borders
• to stop human rights abuses
• to acquire resources
• to gain power
• to acquire territory
• to improve national security
• to spread or protect American values and moral beliefs
• to fight against oppressive governments
• under no circumstances is it ever appropriate
• other (explain)
Spanish American War
“The Splendid Little War”
Main Idea
Today we will examine
why the United States
sent troops to Cuba and
the Philippines in 1898
to fight a war against
Spain. This war led
many Americans to
wonder whether the
United States had the
right to extend its power
into colonial lands.
Others saw it as an
opportunity for the
United States to advance
as a world leader. The
war and the debate that
followed marked a
significant change in
American beliefs about
the nation’s foreign
policy.
In order for America to take its
rightful place amongst the world’s
power many felt America needed
to control a vast imperial empire.
With this need in mind
American eyes turned
towards Spain.
Spain, once a mighty empire, still with vast colonial
holdings many of them in our Caribbean backyard, was
now a much weaker nation than the U.S. They were
ripe for the picking and their imperial holdings would
be the spoils of victory.
Events leading up to War
U.S. attempts to buy
Cuba from Spain
Led by Jose Marti
(Cuban poet)
Cuban War for
Independence
American opinion split
Spanish Response
Valeriano Weyler
(Spanish General) puts
down rebellion and
imprisons thousands of
Cubans
Causes of the War
Major Causes
1)
Yellow Journalism
2)
De Lome Letter
3)
Sinking of the ‘U.S.S. Maine’
Minor Causes
1.
Support of Monroe Doctrine
2.
Desire for Empire
3.
Belief in American Superiority
Yellow Journalism

Sensational stories about Spanish atrocities towards the Cubans



“Butcher Weyler”
Stories of poisoned wells and killing children
William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer fuel the war
“You
furnish the
pictures
and I’ll
furnish the
war.” ~
Hearst
The Editor’s
to Blame
This song was written in the
late 1890s. It tells about the
role of yellow journalism in
pushing the United States
to war with Spain.
Who is
being
blamed in
this song?
What is he
being
blamed
for?
Why
might an
editor have
wanted to
start this
war?
What did
the editor
do to
provoke
this war?
What
might be
the
reaction of
American
readers to
the editor’s
news
stories?
Excerpt from Smithsonian
The Editor’s to Blame (Part 1)
Now wars are never started by those who have to
eventually fight them.
And profit is often gained by those who plot and intrigue to
ignite them.
Now take the recent struggle ’twixt America and Spain,
When all is said and all is done, there’s only one man to
blame.
Chorus
Editor, Editor, we all know your name.
Editor, Editor, you’re the man to blame. (Repeat)
He saw his circulation sinking mighty low,
So he says we need a yarn to put us on the go.
Then he looked at Cuba, and then he looked at Spain,
He says I’ll tell the world and God of Cuba’s tragic shame.
Chorus
And so he wrote of pain and tear, of anguish and despair,
Taxes made and orphans made, and print both bold and
bare.
He wrote of bleeding Cuba, he wrote of cruel Spain,
He says that we should intervene, in Christianity’s name.
Chorus
De Lome Letter

Enrique Dupuy de
Lome  Spanish
minister to the U.S.

Letter criticized the
President

Called him “weak”
and insulted greatly

Letter is stolen and
leaked to New York
Journal

De Lome is forced to
resign, Spanish
embarrassed and
Americans angry
Sinking of the U.S.S
Maine
Battleship sent in to escort American
citizens and protect property
Feb. 15, 1898  ship blows up in
Havana Harbor (260 men killed)
Debate over the reason for the
ship exploding still exists
(newspapers blame the Spanish
angering Americans more)
U.S.S Maine


“Remember the Maine”
Like Pearl Harbor during
WWII, this slogan is at the
center of American public
support over the SpanishAmerican War
America attacked by
foreign powers
• U.S.S. Maine
• Lusitania (British ship
w/ American)
• Pearl Harbor
• Twin Towers (‘93)
• Twin Towers (9/11)
The Pacific
The Caribbean
Theaters of War
War in the Caribbean
Rough Riders  cavalry group
led by Theodore Roosevelt
• Gain fame at Kettle Hill and San
Juan Hill (Cuba)
Spanish easily defeated in
Cuba
Soon after they are defeated in
Puerto Rico
Treaty of Paris

December 10, 1898

Terms




Actual war lasts a total of 15
weeks


Cuba is given independence
Guam and Puerto Rico given to
the U.S.
Spain sells Philippines to U.S. for
$20 million
361 American deaths, 2,061 of
food poisoning and disease
Sec. of State John Hay calls the
war, “a splendid little war.”
“Splendid Little War”
Militarily, the
Spanish-American
War (1898) was not
a monumental war.
-The war was
brief- 15 weeks,
included few
battles, and the
US generally
had an easy
time
Internationally,
however, the war
had major historical
significance.
It signaled the emergence
of the U.S as a great
power onto the world
stage of international
relations and diplomacy.
The war announced
to the rest of the
world that the US
was now a major
player.
New U.S. “spheres of influence”
The U.S into the 21st Century
Victory in the SpanishAmerican War touched
off a new era in the
United States. Its role
in world affairs forever
changed; the United
States became involved
in many foreign
conflicts over the next
century.

1917 = WWI

1941 = WWII

1950 = Korea

1964 = Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –
Vietnam

1991 = Persian Gulf War (invasion of
Kuwait)

2001 = Invasion of Afghanistan (to
depose the Taliban)

2003 = Invasion of Iraq (to depose
Saddam Hussein)
Spanish-American War
Clip: 10:05 – 18:15
Closure – Exit Slip
• to assist an ally of the United States
• to protect territory that is close to
U.S. borders
• to stop human rights abuses
• to acquire resources
• to gain power
• to acquire territory
• to improve national security
• to spread or protect American
values and moral beliefs
• to fight against oppressive
governments
• under no circumstances is it ever
appropriate
• other (explain)
1. Which of the
reasons do you think
best apply to the
Spanish-American
War? Why?
2. Do you think the
United States was
justified in sending
troops to Cuba and
the Philippines to
fight against Spain?
Why or why not?
3. Did U.S. actions in
the Spanish-American
War promote or
hinder the
advancement of the
ideals of opportunity
and democracy? In
what ways?
4. How did the
Spanish-American
War reflect the new
role of the United
States as a world
power?