Transcript A Brief History of Cuba

Aim: Why did the U.S. get
involved in the
Spanish-American War?
Do Now: Please
brainstorm a list of
reasons for U.S.
involvement in wars
throughout our
country’s history.
Try to come up with
at least 5 reasons
why our country has
entered wars.
Cuba has been
strategically
important to the
United States due to
its close proximity to
our mainland.
Spanish-American War
In 1898 A revolution began in the
Spanish Colony of Cuba
 In response to the rebellion, and to
show support for the rebels, the
Americans sent the warship USS
Maine into Havana harbor.

Before…
During…
After…
But WHY get involved???

Did the U.S. sympathize with the
Cubans’ desire for freedom? Perhaps
some did.
But what was the main reason for our involvement?

We had $50 million invested in Cuba
in sugar cane and rice fields.
• WE DIDN’T WANT TO LOSE OUR $$$
Immediate Cause 1:
The Sinking of the Maine
After the Maine was destroyed in Havana
Harbor, the U.S. media immediately
went to work blaming the destruction on
the Spanish, despite the lack of evidence.
 As of today, historians believe that the
ammo room inside the ship caught fire
and the resulting explosion destroyed the
ship.
 This may have been caused by something
as innocent as a dropped cigarette.

Immediate Cause 2:
Yellow Journalism



When the U.S.S. Maine was destroyed, the New
York Herald ran a story with the headline: "The
War Ship Maine was Split in Two by an Enemy's
Secret Infernal Machine.”
The story detailed how the Spanish had planted
a torpedo underneath the Maine and detonated
it from shore.
Captain Sigsbee originally made an official
report stating that it was impossible to tell what
caused the explosion that sunk the ship,
however he changed his story after reading the
account of the event in the Herald.

The end result
of these
stories was a
declaration of
war against
Spain by the
United States.
"The war of the United States with
Spain was very brief.
Its results were many, startling, and
of world-wide meaning."
--Henry Cabot Lodge
The war lasted only four months,
From April through August of 1898
and was a clear victory for the U.S.
 The U.S. gained control of several
territories, including Cuba.

Let’s Wrap It Up…

Should the U.S. have entered the
Spanish-American War? Why or why
not?
The U.S. and Cuban Independence
As soon as President Roosevelt took
office in 1901, he began working to
grant independence to Cuba and its
people.
 This did not come without a price…
 In order to be free from U.S. control
the Cuban government would be
forced to insert an amendment into
their constitution…

The Platt Amendment
This small amendment into the Cuban
constitution allowed the U.S. to
maintain control over Cuba despite it’s
“independence.”
 The amendment allowed the U.S. to
intervene in Cuban affairs: it allowed
us to supervise all financial decisions as
well as foreign affairs.
 It also gave us a new naval base…

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base


Cuba became a hot
vacation
destination.
Casinos opened for
business and
famously, Frank
Sinatra came to
Havana to play a
show.