Spanish-American War. Sources- US History book. http://www.spanamwar.com/cubanrev.htmBetween April and August 1898 , the United States went to war to help cuba win its independence from Spain.American Interest in Cuba-Cuba is only 90 miles south of Florida's coast. People wanted President Franklin Pierce to have the United States buy Cuba from Spain. When the Spanish found out they said that they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean. Cuba rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878. At first the Spanish-American War was a victory for Spain. Spain had political, strategic, operational, and tactical mistakes, and ended in American domination of Cuba.The Second War for Independence-Jose Marti was a Cuban poet, and also a Cuban national hero. He had many accomplishments in his life including: a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He wanted to achieve independence for Cuba. He got expelled from Cuba at the age of 16. But went to school to earn his masters degree and a law degree. He then decided to settle in the United States. In 1895, Jose Marti died fighting for Cuban independence.War Fever Escalates - General Valeriano Weyler was a spanish solider. He entered the military college of infantry at age 16. He was sent to Cuba to restore orders. He herded the rural poplulation of central and western Cuba into barbed wire concentration camps. About 300,000 Cubans were in the camps and many died from deseases and hunger.Headline Wars Yellow Journalism appeared during the war. Yellow Journalism is when journalists displays eye catching hearlines and exaggerate the news to lure and enrage readers.The De Lome LetterPresident William McKinley took office in 1897. Enrique Dupuy de Lôme was the Spanish Minister. He wrote a lettle which was supposed to be private, to one of his friends, Don Jose Canelejas. Don Jose Canelejas was a Spanish official in Havana. In February, 1898, the New York Journal published the letter which had been stolen by a Cuban rebel. The letter was criticizing President McKinley stating that he was "weak" and "a bidder for the addmiration of the crowd." The New York Journal headlined THE WORST INSULT TO THE UNITED STATES IN ITS HISTORY. The Spanish Government became very embarrassed and apoligized. The minister resigned but the Americans were still angry because of the insult to their president.The U.S.S. Maine ExplodesPresident McKinly sent the USS Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger. Also, he wanted to protect American property. The Maine was a 6,682 second-class battleship. In the Havana Harbor, on February 15, 1898, the ship blew up. 266 men died from the explosion and later 8 more died from injuries.War with Spain Erupts "Remember the Maine!" (rally cry for US intervention in Cuba)McKinley wanted authority to use force against Spain. He asked Congress, they finally agreed after a week and declared war.The War in the PhilippinesJust when the Spanish thought that the US would invade Cuba, the first battle of the war took place in the Philippine Islands. The Philippine Islands is a Spanish colony on te other side of the world. George Dewey demanded an open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila. Manila is the Philippine capital. George Dewey is known for his victory at the Battle of Minila Bay. People called him the "hero of Manila." Within hours of the open fire, they had destroyed every Spanish ship there. This allowed US troops to land in the Philippines. The Filipinos also wanted freedom from Spain. 11,000 Americans joined and Spanish troops in Manila surrendered to the United States.The War in the Caribbean125,000 Americans volunteered to fight. New Soliders were sent to training camps that lacked adequate supplies and effective learders. With not enough modern guns to go around, troops also had to heavy woolen uniforms. Which they hated because of Cuba's tropical climate. Many times the Civil War veterans had to step up rather then just training the volunteers.Rough Riders -a volunteer cavalry under the command of Keonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt. The army of 17,000 landed in Cuba in June, 1898. TR gave up his job as an Assistant Secretary of the Navy and lead the group of volunteers. Later TR became president of the United States. San Juan Hill- TR was known as the hero of San Juan Hill. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. The metal of honor is awarded by the United States government to recognize sevice and personal accomplishments. This was the most famous battle of the Spanish-American War. Also the bloodiest. The heights were a north-south running elevation about two kilometers east of Santiago de Cuba. After this victory, American troops invaded Puerto Rico.Treaty of Paris -The treaty ending the Spanish-American War, in which Spain freed Cuba, turned over the islands og Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and sold the Philippines to the Unitied States for $20 million. On December 10, 1898 the United States and Spain met in Paris to agree on the treaty.Debate over the Treaty- The treaty of paris created a great debate in the US. Imperialism became the real issue. Imperialism is the policy of extending a nation's athority over other countries by economis, political, or military means. Some people felt that the Treaty of Paris was violating the Declaration of Independence by denying self government to the newly acquired territories. Next, the US would plan to add to its dominon because its newly empire consisted of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as well.
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