understand the importance of yellow journalism on
TRANSCRIPT
Understand the importance of Yellow Journalism on today’s society and society in the 1800’s
Describe the events leading up to the Spanish-American War
Understand the impacts of the Spanish – American War
What does the term “The Splendid Little War” mean to you?What does it make you think of?
Why would a war be “splendid?”
What war could this be referring to?
What’s happening here?
How would a US citizen
react to this?
What would it be like to be
there during the explosion?
1890’s: Cuba controlled by Spain. Spanish putting Cubans into labor camps – “Reconcentracion”
Had become major sugar producer
Unsuccessfully battled for independence
1895: Jose Marti – leads an expedition to the island attempting to seize power from Spain
US Has economic interests in Cuba – wants to stabilize situation
Agreement negotiated between US and Spain = Cuba become self-governing by January 1, 1898
BUT…
President William McKinley
Sends USS Maine to Havana to protect US citizens and interests
February 15, 1898
Explosion sinks the Maine!
Kills 266 men on board
Nobody has ever established who attacked the Maine
Plenty of theories:Mine placed outside the ship – Spain?
Cuban rebels blowing it up to bring US into the war?
Destroyed from the inside? Burning coal = explosion?
Ammunition stored too close to the boiler room?
This telegram, in code from Assistance
Secretary of Navy Roosevelt to Admiral
Dewey, Commander, Pacific Squadron,
was sent without the knowledge of
Secretary of Navy Long. The telegram
authorized Dewey to engage the
Spanish fleet.
Should Roosevelt have done this?
“Search for Missing Bride Continues.”
“Bride Missing! Groom’s Family Blame History of Mental Illness.”
How do these headlines differ?
What does each imply?
What do you think would be the most reliable study?
The New York Journal’s illustration of
a woman stripped and searched by
Spanish officials. Female insurgents
were indeed searched—but by other
women and behind closed doors.
According to this song,
what happened to the
Maine?
What emotions are the
song’s lyrics supposed
to invoke?
How would the
average American
feel after seeing
these headlines and
songs?!
US Congress issues resolutions that declare Cuba’s right to independenceDemanded withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces
McKinley authorizes use of force
Spain declares war on US on April 24th
US declares war on Spain on 25th
Retroactively made to April 21st
George Dewey leads US naval squadron into Manila Bay Destroys anchored Spanish fleet in 2 hours – pauses to order crew a
2nd breakfast
370 Spanish lost, less than 10 Americans lost
What does this tell you about Spanish forces in the War?
Spanish Caribbean fleet in Santiago harbor, Cuba
“Rough Riders” – 1st US Volunteer Cavalry
Includes Teddy Roosevelt
Didn’t “ride” much – transport constraints = abandon horses/mules in Florida
Riders advance on coast east of Santiago to force Spanish fleet out of harbor
Spanish try to escape westward, attacked by US, all ships beached or sunk
Spanish surrender
Treaty of Paris:
Spain renounces all claim to Cuba
Guam and Puerto Rico to US
Philippines to US for 20 million
Philippine-American War
3,000 Americans die – only a small # from combat, Yellow Fever and typhoid decimated entire units
Spain focuses attention inward – cultural and literary renaissance
US emerges as world power