Document A: Dupuy de Lôme Letter Scandal

February 9, 1898

On February 9, 1898, the contents of a seized Spanish letter caused an international scandal that fueled anti-Spanish and pro-war feelings in the United States. While in Washington in the middle of December, Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lôme wrote a personal letter to his friend José Canalejas who was in Cuba. The letter contained these derogatory comments about President McKinley and his policies concerning Cuba:

Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain have said of Weyler, "It shows once more that McKinley is weak and catering to the rabble and, besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party."

Somehow, Dupuy de Lôme's letter fell into the hands of Cuban rebels who then sent the letter to Cuban Junta   abroad. Cuban expatriots took the letter to U.S. Secretary of State William R. Day and exposed Dupuy de Lôme's insults. New York Journal owner William Randolph Hearst published the letter on February 9, with the headline "The Worst Insult to the United States in Its History." Once Hearst published the letter, the news of the insults filled newspapers across the country, and the story became a true international scandal--the U.S. public was outraged, the President demanded an apology, and the ambassador resigned. In the end, the Dupuy de Lôme letter scandal left Spain further demonized and the U.S. public calling for action; these forces pushed the United States closer to war. .

Document B: Remember the Maine!

February 16 1898: Battleship U.S.S. Maine Explodes

At 9:40pm on February 15, 1898, the battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 268 men and shocking the American populace. Of the two-thirds of the crew who perished, only 200 bodies were recovered and 76 identified.

The sinking of the Maine, which had been in Havana since February 15, 1898, on an official observation visit, was a climax in pre-war tension between the United States and Spain. In the American press, headlines proclaimed "Spanish Treachery!" and "Destruction of the War Ship Maine Was the Work of an Enemy!" William Randolph Hearst and his New York Journal offered a $50,000 award for the "detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage." Many Americans assumed the Spanish were responsible for the Maine's destruction.

On March 28, 1898, the United States Naval Court of Inquiry found that the Maine was destroyed by a submerged mine. Although blame was never formally placed on the Spanish, implication was clear. Recent research suggests that the explosion may have been an accident, involving a spontaneous combustion fire in the coal bunker. Some conspiracy theorists have even suggested that sensational journalist William Randolph Hearst may have set the explosion in order to precipitate a war. While historians will never know exactly what happened the night the Maine went down, it is clear that the incident was a significant force that propelled the United States into the Spanish-American War.

Document C: War is declared!

April 25, 1898: Congress Declares War

In April 1898, months of tension between the United States and Cuba climaxed into war. After the destruction of the U.S.S. Maine and the Naval Court of Inquiry's implication of Spain, pro-war feeling in the United States reached new heights and by the Spring, the U.S. public got what it had demanded for months—war.

On April 11, 1898, President McKinley asked Congress for permission to use military force in Cuba. By the middle of April, the U.S.S. North Atlantic Squadron had fully blockaded Cuba; by early May, Commodore Dewey and his U.S. Asiatic Squadron had defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. The official declaration of war occurred on April 25, 1899 when President McKinley sent an official request to Congress.

The war with Spain continued into the summer of 1899. On August 12, Spain and the United States signed a peace protocol which officially ended the war. Ironically, an uninformed Commodore Dewey and General Wesley Merritt attacked the Spanish in Manila on August 13, 1899, forcing a Spanish surrender after the peace protocol had been already signed.

Document D: Battle of San Juan

On July 1, 1898, the United States military achieved the most significant land victory of the Spanish-American War—the battle of San Juan, Cuba. On June 22, 1898, General William R. Shafter and the Fifth Corps landed in Daiquiri to begin the land approach to San Juan, located on the outskirts of Santiago,

One of the most recognized images of the Spanish-American War is that of Theodore Roosevelt charging up San Juan and Kettle Hill. The story of Roosevelt riding with his Rough Riders was celebrated by newspapers and popular songs. Although Roosevelt and his Rough Riders did distinguish themselves in battle, Roosevelt was not the only leader of the victories in San Juan Heights. Brigadier General Jacob Ford Kent, General Samuel S. Sumner, John Coulter Bates, and General Henry W. Lawton were also important leaders in the battles around San Juan. When U.S. troops won the battles of San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill, the siege and Spanish surrender of Santiago followed.

Who were the rough riders?:

Voluntary cavalry unit comprised of former cowboys, miners, law officer, Ivy League athletes, and American Indians.

Created and led by Theodore Roosevelt, former Secretary of the Navy.

Document E: Yellow Journalism spikes US feelings during the war

Rival newspapers exaggerated brutality of Spanish treatment of Cubans.

New York Journal – by William Randolph Hearst

New York World – by Joseph Pulitzer

Sensationalized stories became known as yellow journalism.

Document E: Treaty of Paris

Other Notes:

1. Spain ceases to become relevant. (Official end to Spanish Empire)

2. America gets their big win, becomes a player at the world table.

3. Foreign Policy becomes an important issue for American Presidents from here on out.

Document Summarize, importance to Spanish-American War…

A

Dupuy de Lôme Letter Scandal

B

Remember the

Maine!

C

Congress declares

War

Summarize, importance to Spanish-American War…

D

Battle of San Juan

E

Yellow

Journalism

F

Treaty of Paris