Causes of the Spanish American War - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Causes of the Spanish American War

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Causes of the Spanish American War 1898 Humanitarian Concerns Stories of cruel treatment of Cubans by the Spanish poverty, starvation, imprisonment Use of ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Causes of the Spanish American War


1
Causes of the Spanish American War
  • 1898

2
Humanitarian Concerns
  • Stories of cruel treatment of Cubans by the
    Spanish poverty, starvation, imprisonment
  • Use of reconcentration camps by Spain led to
    the death of many innocent Cubans
  • U.S. cant help but be involved tugged at the
    heartstrings of the people

3
Economic Concerns
  • Many U.S. business interests in Cuba were
    disrupted by war (banks, sugar plantations,
    hotels)
  • The on-going civil war in Cuba was costing
    American businesses money

4
Yellow Journalism
  • U.S. newspapers ran exaggerated stories of the
    events in Cuba to increase circulation blood,
    guts, gory details sold papers
  • Many stories sensationalized the events but
    Americans believed them to be true
  • Public opinion ? Anti-Spain

5
The DeLôme Letter
  • Letter from Spanish official leaked to the
    press
  • Critical of President McKinley called him
    weak, a would-be politician and a jingoist
    (aggressive nationalist)
  • Considered an insult to the president the
    nation
  • Chances for peaceful negotiations were unlikely

6
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor
  • 268 American sailors died
  • State of the Art American ship destroyed
  • Uncertain of how it happened
  • Spain attacked ?
  • Boiler blew up ?
  • Cubans sabotaged ?

7
Spain must be responsible
  • After hearing all the horrible things Spain had
    done
  • American people didnt want to wait for
    investigation
  • Jumped to conclusion

8
Immediate cause of War The sinking of the
U.S.S. Maine
9
Newspapers told the story
10
Results of the Spanish American War
  • Treaty of Paris (1898)
  • Cuba ? Independent
  • Platt Amendment to Cuban Constitution makes Cuba
    a protectorate of the U.S.
  • Puerto Rico Guam ceded to U.S.
  • Philippines sold to U.S. (20 million)

11
Importance
  • U.S. becomes a World Power with Colonies
  • U.S. interests stretch around the world
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