Spanish American War

1/28/15

VS

President William McKinley

Started out his political career when he helped fight in the Civil War for the union side

He studied law which started his political career and later have two terms as governor for Ohio

After the panic of 1893, the republicans had the advantage over democrats Nominated McKinley as their presidential candidate

The Fight Over Cuba

America wanted to take over Cuba for a long time, since Jefferson Eventually they just settled with Cuba being independent

Cuba gained its independence from Spain in the mid-1860s United States wanted to support their independence

However Spain wanted to gain control of Cuba again

There was a mysterious explosion on the USS Maine in the Havana harbor

Spanish American War

McKinley used “yellow journalism” to try and start the war Use of sensationalism and exaggeration

McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war Congress declared war on April 25, 1898

McKinley asked for volunteers to fight in the war

Splendid Little War

One of the most favorable wars in American history since the Revolutionary War

Teddy Roosevelt called the war a “Splendid Little War” because of its short time period Only lasted 16 weeks

2,500 died from mainly diseases like yellow fever

$250 million spent on the war

Events of the War An army of regular troops and volunteers under

Gen. William Shafter and including Theodore Roosevelt and his 1st Volunteer Cavalry, the “Rough Riders” landed on the coast east of Santiago and slowly advanced on the city in an effort to force Cervera’s fleet out of the harbour.

Cervera led his squadron out of Santiago on July 3 and tried to escape westward along the coast.

In the ensuing battle all of his ships came under heavy fire from U.S. guns and were beached in a burning or sinking condition.

Santiago surrendered to Shafter on July 17, thus effectively ending the war.

End of the War On August 12, Spain surrendered By the Treaty of Paris (signed Dec. 10, 1898),

Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20,000,000. 

The effects of the war was a turning point for Spain and America Spain turned away from overseas colonial prospects

United States emerged as a world power and major player in international arena

Platt Amendment

Sponsored by Republican senator Orville Platt in 1901 Cuba was required to provide land for American

bases To devote national revenues to pay back debts to the

US To sign a treaty that would be detrimental to

American interests and to acknowledge the right of the US to intervene at any time to protect its interests in Cuba

War in the Philippines President McKinley sent 5,000 troops to

occupy Philippines Main reason was to Christianize and civilize them

At first the Filipinos trusted the Americans at first and then realized that the Americans wanted to take over Modern warfare broke out

Conquest of the Philippines became a U.S. territory

White Man’s Burden

There were many critics against America’s takeover of the Philippines Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, William Jennings

Bryan, Harvard philosopher William James