Spanish American War

1. Unit 8- Imperialism

2.  I. Spain controls an empire (Cuba, Puerto Rico,
Philippines, Guam)
 A. Jose Marti- Cuban poet and journalist living
in the US, started a revolution in Cuba
 B. US had much invested in Cuban sugar
plantations

3.  III. Spanish-American War
 A. 3 reasons that the US went to war with Spain:
 1. General Weyler, “The Butcher”- Spanish
General, sent to Cuba to restore order
 Put 300,000 in prison camps, thousands died

4.  2. De Lome Letter- The Spanish minister to
the US, wrote a letter to Spain from Cuba
 Stolen from a Havana post office and leaked
to the New York Jounal
 Criticized President McKinley as “weak” and
a grandstander

5.  3. USS Maine- Us warship sent to Havana
harbor to protect Americans in Cuba
 It blew up in the harbor, killing 260 men
 US papers blamed Spain

6.  B. Yellow Journalism-sensational and
exaggerated style of writing made Americans
want to go to war with Spain

7.  II. America declares war- April 1898
 A. “Remember the Maine” was the rallying cry
 B. US attacked the Philippines first, destroyed
Spanish fleet
 -supported by the Filipinos

8.  C. US attacks Cuba
 Rough Riders- volunteer regiment led by
Theodore Roosevelt, important for winning
the war
 San Juan Hill- important strategic victory in
Cuba for Rough Riders and Buffalo Soldiers

9.  Treaty of Paris- Ended the Spanish American
War, gave the US Cuba, Philippines, Puerto
Rico and Guam