The Spanish

1
The Spanish American War 1898

• America Claims an Empire

2
Immediate Cause of War

• USS Maine explodes and sinks due to an unknown
  cause
• The warship Maine was split in two by an enemys
  secret infernal machine
• February 15, 1898

3
Underlying Causes

• Americas concern over conditions in Cuba
• Colony of Spain
• Unrest turmoil Cubans rebellions against
  Spain
• Jose Marti
• Manifest Destiny
• Expansionists plan

4
Underlying Causes cont.

• Economic Interest
• Sugar Industry
• Land ownership in Cuba
• Rebels burning crops
• Unstable government bad business
• Close to Home
• 90 miles south of Florida

5
Underlying Causes Cont.

• Yellow Journalism Sensationalism
• Hearst (the Journal) vs. Pulitzer (the World)
• Exaggerated stories to create sales
• Headlines stirred influenced American Public
• General Valeriano Weyler
• Sent from Spain to maintain order
• Concentration Camps

6
Underlying Causes Cont.

• De Lôme Letter
• Spanish Minister, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme
• Letter published in New York Journal
• Criticism of President McKinley provoked American
  Public
• Explosion of USS Maine

7
Remember the Maine!

• April 9, 1898
• April 11, 1898

• Spanish government agrees to American demands
  six month cease-fire
• America declares war against Spain

8
A splendid little War John Hay

• April 30
• June 1898
• August 1898

• Commodore George Dewey gives order to fire on
  Spanish fleet at Manila Bay
• American troops land in Cuba
• Spanish troops surrender in Philippines

Established superiority of American naval forces
9
Key American Components

• Strong Naval Forces
• Rough Riders
• Teddy Roosevelt
• Volunteer Cavalry
• Cowboys, athletes, Native Americans police
  officers
• San Juan, Santiago Bay El Caney

10
Americas Involvement

• Teller Amendment
• U.S. would leave Cuba once it was free
• Platt Amendment
• Cuba not allowed to enter into any agreement that
  would danger its independence
• US had right to intervene
• Guantanamo Bay

11
Significance of Spanish American War

• America emerges as world power
• United America
• Ended the Spanish Empire
• Peace Treaty gave America a colonial empire
• Made Teddy Roosevelt a hero