spanish american war steps to u.s. involvement. american interest in cuba geographic location (90...

Spanish American War

Steps to U.S. Involvement

American interest in Cuba

• Geographic Location (90 mi. south of FL) – Panama Canal a

possibility– Spanish Colony – too

close for comfort

• Business Investments– Large sugar cane

plantations ($50 mil. – 1895)

Cubans Rebel Against Spain

• 1st revolt (1868-1878) – unsuccessful• Spanish Gov’t in Cuba

– Corrupt, no reforms, no self-gov’t for Cuba

• 2nd Revolt led to War for Independence (1895)– Jose Marti – organized Cuban resistance– “Cuba Libre!” – Free Cuba– Guerilla campaign

• Hit & run, scorched earth policy – Destroyed American-owned sugar mills & plantations

• Hoped to provoke US into intervening to help the rebels

Second War for Independence

• Spanish Response – Send 200,000 troops &

General Weyler “The Butcher” to crush rebellion

– Atrocities against Cuban people

• Put peasants in concentration camps

• Kill crops, animals & people

American Public Opinion• Originally split between:

– Supporting rebels in fight for freedom

– Supporting Spain to protect business investments

• Headline Wars – William Randolph Hearst

(New York Journal)– Joseph Pulitzer (New

York World)– Rally support for war

Joseph PulitzerJoseph PulitzerWilliam Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst

American Public Opinion• Yellow Journalism

– Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers.

• Jingoism– Intense burst of

national pride & aggressive foreign policy

Hearst to Frederick Hearst to Frederick Remington:Remington:

“Please remain. Y“Please remain. You’ll ou’ll furnish the pictures, and furnish the pictures, and

I’ll furnish the war!”I’ll furnish the war!”

The De lome Letter• President McKinley tried

to avoid interventionism– He got Spain to recall

Weyler & modifiy concentration camp policy

• NY Journal published private letter from Spanish ambassador to US criticizing McKinley

• Americans angry over insult to President

• De Lome Letter thwarted progress by McKinley

“…shows what McKinley is, weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd,

besides being a would-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind

himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party.”

~ De Lome Letter

USS Maine• McKinley sends USS

Maine into Havana Harbor– Evacuate US citizens if

needed (riots)

• February 15, 1898– Maine explodes in

harbor– 260 Americans killed– Press blames Spanish

sabotage

America Enters the War• “Yellow Press” continue

to whip up anti-Spanish hysteria

• April 20, 1898– US demands that Spain

withdraws• Authorized President to

take military action necessary

– Teller Amendment – guaranteed US would not annex Cuba

• April 25, 1898– 25th –

• Spain declares war on US• US declares war on Spain