The US expands through involvement in the Spanish American War and the building of the Panama Canal!

1. The
United States Expands
By the 1890s Spain’s only presence in the Western
Hemisphere was on the islands of Puerto Rico and Cuba.
In 1895 the people of Cuba began a revolt. Thousands
were either jailed or killed by Spanish troops.
Many Americans became sympathetic to the
cause of the Cubans
Read TB pages
374-377

2. The Spanish American War
On February 15, 1898, the American battleship USS Maine, which
had been sent to Havana, Cuba, to protect Americans, mysteriously
exploded and sunk killing 260 sailors.
Read TB pages
376

3. The Spanish American War
Read TB
Page 376
New York City newspapers reported that Spain was responsible for the
sinking of the battleship. There was never any proof of this, but
“Remember the Maine” became the country’s battle cry.
In April of 1898, Congress declared war on Spain
The articles inflamed public opinion against the rule of colonial Spain.
The articles were an example of yellow journalism.

4. Theodore Roosevelt resigned his position as the Secretary of the Navy and
assembled a group of volunteers to fight the Spanish in Cuba.
These volunteers, including former Civil War soldiers and cowboys,
were known as the Rough Riders.
The Spanish American War
African American cavalries known as the
“Buffalo Soldiers” joined the Rough Riders.
The “Buffalo Soldiers” had been responsible for
protecting settlers during the Plains Wars.

5. The Spanish American War
On July 1, 1898, Theodore Roosevelt led the Rough Riders and the
“Buffalo Soldiers” against the Spanish in the Battle of San Juan Hill
On July 17, the leader of the
Spanish military commander
surrendered and the war was
essentially over.

6. Results of the Spanish American War:
PhilippinesGuam
Puerto Rico
The United States gained
control of:
The western
most territory
of the US

7. Theodore Roosevelt
Following the assassination of President McKinley in 1901,
Theodore Roosevelt became President at the age of 42
He’s the youngest person to ever hold the office of President
Theodore Roosevelt biography: TB259
Political Cartoon

8. The Panama Canal
The Spanish-American War had shown the need for a
shorter water passage between the east coast and the west
coast of the United States.
After helping Panama gain its independence from Columbia in
1903, the United States purchased a 10 mile wide strip of land
through which the Panama Canal was built.
This narrow strip of land is an isthmus.

9. The Building of the Panama Canal
had its Challenges:
• thick rain forests
• the countries’ wetlands
• diseases such as malaria and yellow fever
• Dr. William Gorgas was hired to find a way to help protect
workers from these diseases which were carried by mosquitoes.
• By 1906,the area was thought to be safe enough to bring in
workers
• Over 40,000 men worked on the Panama Canal over a period of
seven years. 5,609 died either from disease or accidents.
Read TB pages
377

10. Effects of Building of the Panama Canal:
Allowed American ships to travel from the Atlantic ocean
to the Pacific more quickly
Strengthened America’s image as a world power
Contributed to America’s Military might