"The war of the United States with Spain was very brief. Its results were many, startling, and of world-wide meaning."

--Henry Cabot Lodge

U.S Involvement

U.S refuses to help Cubans - conflict didn’t affect U.S. interests

Cubans began burning American sugar plantations & property

U.S business leaders pressure U.S government to respond

Steps to War The de Lome Letter

Spanish Ambassador insulted President McKinley – angered public

Sinking of the Maine – Havana Riots

1898 – U.S.S Maine sent to protect U.S interests

Feb. 15, 1899 - Maine exploded, killing more than 250 Americans

Philippine Rebellion (Spanish Colony)

U.S viewed Philippines as potential base

U.S aided the Filipino rebels

Attempts at Peace

McKinley sent a list of demands to Spain

Compensation for the Maine

An end to the ‘reconcentration’ camps

Truce with Cuba & recognize Cuban independence

Spain accepted but public wanted war

April 11th, 1898, Congress declared war

A Splendid Little War 1st action took place in the Philippines

Adm. Dewey surprised the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay

The entire Spanish fleet was destroyed in 7 hours

Events in Cuba

Spanish fleet trapped in Santiago Harbor

July 1, 1898 - Battle of San Juan Hill -Rough Riders

July 3, 1898, Spanish fleet destroyed trying to escape

2500 U.S. Casualties

400 – Combat/battle

2100 - Food poisoning, Malaria, Yellow Fever & poor medical conditions

Battle Maps

Treaty of Paris 1898

Cuban independence recognized

U.S acquired Philippines, Guam & Puerto Rico for $20 million

‘unincorporated territories’

NOT American citizens

Philippine-American War U.S. - rebels unfit to govern themselves

Jan. 1899 - rebel Emilio Aquinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence

Philippine vs. U.S forces - 1899-1902

4200 GIs killed, 2800 wounded

16K rebels & 200K civilians killed

Philippine independence obtained in 1946

Fate of Cuba

Teller Amendment - U.S would not annex Cuba

U.S remained to protect economic interests

3 year military government

Insisted Cuba accept Platt Amendment in their constitution

Platt Amendment 1898-1934

No foreign agreements without U.S approval

Two U.S naval bases on the island

U.S intervention whenever necessary

Annexation of Hawaii

Queen Liliuokalani opposed U.S influences

Samuel B. Dole asked U.S. for help - U.S. marines removed queen

Pres. McKinley annexed Hawaii in 1898

Cuban Rebellions

1868 - independence from Spain

10 years of fighting

Spain made minor changes

1895 - economic collapse

Gen. Valeriano Weyler & 150K troops

‘Reconcentration’ camps used to prevent peasants from aiding rebels

200K died from poor conditions, treatment