American History Period 9

The Spanish-American WarWhat a splendid little

war!

-John HayNovember 14th, 2013

Opposition To the WarIn 1895-1898 Cuba and the Philippine Islands revolted against Spain. This was a controversial topic of which included different opinions from various people involved. U.S president William McKinley was strongly against military intervention, but was forced to demand Spain that they grant independence to Cuba. Although McKinley opposed war, congress responded to a request for armed intervention.

Eventually there was a peace treaty between Spain and the United States that placed Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam under U.S control. The Americans who opposed the treaty formed the Anti-Imperialist League. They accused the U.S of building a colonial empire. Although there were many protests, the treaty was approved by the Senate.

Spain had surrendered to the Philippines in a deal for $20 million from the United States. People wondered why their country wanted the islands. Some people thought it would be immoral to annex the islands without permission from the Filipinos. On the other hand, many citizens agreed with McKinley who said the U.S would benefit from the island’s naval and commercial value. It was also argued that annexing the islands would prevent Europeans from taking control of them.

Like Cubans and Filipinos, Puerto-Ricans had also hoped for independence after the war. Instead, Puerto Rico became a U.S territory. They now can have their own constitution as long as it does not affect the United States’ constitution. Cubans received independence as well as the Filipinos in 1946.

Important Dates:January 24th,

1898

February 15th, 1898

March 25th, 1898

April 19th-20th, 1898

U.S. President William McKinley sends the battleship USS Maine to Havana to protect U.S. interests in Cuba.

men.

The Maine explodes in Havana Harbor killing 266

detonation of a mine under the ship.

An inquiry conducted by the U.S Navy concludes that the explosion was caused by the

an ultimatum to the Spanish government.

The U.S. Congress adopts the Joint Resolution for war with Spain and sends

April 21st, 1898 blockade of Cuba.

The U.S. orders a

April 24th, 1898

Spain declares war on the United States, and the U.S. Congress responds on April 25 by issuing a formal declaration of war.

Written by:Alyssa Blackman

2

Events Leading To the Spanish-American

WarBy: Maia Gingrich

illustrate his articles. Remington’s name of Frederic Remington to Randolf Hearst hired a man by the Spanish. At one point, William were both quite critical of the Randolf Hearst. The two of them Joseph Pulitzer and William greatest affect on the war were this time period that had the Two main yellow journalists in order to sell more newspapers. exaggeration of news stories in

Yellow journalism is the Maine. of an American ship, the U.S.S the United States and the sinking the Spanish minister addressing yellow journalism, a letter from Spanish-American War include More rising actions leading to the

(McKinley)and civilize and Christianize them. educate the Filipinos, and uplift to do but to take them all, and to was ... there was nothing left for us over there worse than Spain's soon have anarchy and misrule self-government -- and they would themselves -- they were unfit for We could not leave them to

William McKinley:attracted the attention of president Spain. The problems even rebels’ fight for freedom from Americans decided to support the were forced to endure, many the harsh conditions Cuban rebels When news hit United States of deficiency and lack of sanitation. terrible camps from nutritional number of Cubans died in these reconcentration camps. A great into reconcentrados, or Spaniards threw many of them against Spanish rule in 1895, the

When the Cubans revolted

across the country.insults were printed on newspapers became international as news of the McKinley. The story quickly exposing his thoughts about Secretary of State William R. Day on it and took the letter to the U.S. sent, Cuban rebels got their hands in Cuba. In the process if being his friend, José Canalejas who was letter from the Spanish minister to government since it was a personal embarrassed the Spanish United States. The letter also started pro-war feelings in the to become anti-Spanish and also many Americans, it fueled people leader and low politician. Outraging Thus calling McKinley a weak

his party. (Dupuy de Lôme) and to stand well with the jingoes of desires to leave a door open to me and, besides, a low politician, who weak and catering to the rabble, shows once more what McKinley is: of Spain has said of Weyler, it all that the press and public opinion coarseness with which he repeats Besides the natural and inevitable

stated: de Lôme. In the letter, Dupuy minister, Señor Don Enrique Dupuy published a letter from the Spanish journalist William Randolf Hearst

On February 9th, 1898, and I’ll furnish the war.”“You furnish (provide) the pictures Hearst replied with a response of It is said that William Randolf trouble here. There will be no war.” “Everything is quiet. There is no sent a telegram to Hearst saying, it was in. Frederick Remington then pictures of Cuba and the condition first task as an illustrator was to get

The U.S.S. Maine entered the Havana Harbor in Cuba to protect U.S business and military interests on January 25, 1898. About three weeks on February 15th, 1898 after arriving in Cuba and six days after the De Lôme letter was published in the New York Times, the unexpected happens. The vessel explodes killing about two hundred sixty-six American sailors. Although the U.S Navy believes that the explosion was caused by the detonation of a mine that was underneath it, the exact cause for the ship to explode is unknown. After the news of the catastrophe reaches the United States, a large amount of Americans immediately blamed Spain. Hearst as well as Pulitzer published the tragedy claiming that Spain had caused the spontaneous and saddening event.

President William McKinley requested $50million from Congress in order to prepare for war. After negotiating the situation, Spain still wouldn’t consider Cuban independence. Congress declared Cubans as independent from Spanish rule and allowed Spain three days to clear out and get off of the island. Congress also passed the Teller Amendment stating that the United States had no interest in taking control of Cuba. After not abiding to the United States’ declaration, Spain proclaimed war on the U.S on April 24th, 1898. The next day Congress passed and McKinley signed a declaration of war against Spain beginning the Spanish-American War that was sparked by yellow journalism, a letter from the Spanish minister addressing the United States and the sinking of an American ship, the U.S.S Maine.

There were many battles during the Spanish American War, two of the most important battles where the Battle of San Juan Hill and the Battle of Manila Bay along with the Battle of Santiago which also played a significant role in the war. The Battle of San Juan Hill and Battle of Santiago took place in Cuba, while the Battle of Manila Bay took place in the Philippines.

The Battle of San Juan Hill took place in Cuba on July 1st in 1898. American troops experienced fire from Spanish snipers and skirmishers. (Infantry or Calvary soldiers stationed ahead or alongside a larger body of friendly troops.) Around 10:00 AM, the guns on El Pozo opened fire on the San Juan Heights. Americans were taking casualties from Spanish fire; parts of the San Juan River valley were dubbed "Hell's Pocket" and "Bloody Ford". Americans were left with 205

killed and 1,180 wounded, while the Spanish had 58 dead, 170 wounded, and 39 captured.

The Battle of Santiago took place in Cuba on July 3rd in 1898. It resulted in a victory for the US Navy and the complete destruction of the Spanish fleet. The Spaniards had lost 323 and had 151 wounded. 70 officers and 1,600 men were taken prisoner by the American forces.  Only 150 sailors or so made their way back to the Spanish lines at Santiago. The Battle of Santiago marked the end of large-scale naval operations in the war.

The Battle of Manila Bay took place in the Philippines on May 1st in 1898. It was one of the two major American Naval victories in the Spanish American War. At Manila Bay, the U.S. destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first battle of the Spanish-American War. Around 400

Spanish sailors were killed and ten warships were wrecked or captured while only six Americans were wounded.

The Battle of San Juan Hill, Battle of Manila Bay and Battle of Santiago were three of the most well known battles of the Spanish-American War. In conclusion, America won and Cuba was freed of Spanish colonial rule. The war lasted a short span of four months and because of this, it earned the name of “a splendid little war.”

Battles of the Spanish-

American War

By: Alyssa Kline

Transcript of the De Lôme Letter (1898)

(Translation of letter written by Señor Don Enrique Dupuy de Lôme to Señor Don José Canelejas. Undated, but from internal evidence probably written about the middle of December 1897.)

LEGATION DE ESPANA, WASHINGTONEximo Senor DON JOSE CANALEJAS:

My Distinguished and Dear Friend: - You need not apologize for not having written to me; I also ought to have written to you, but have not done so on account of being weighed down with work and nous sommes quites.

The situation here continues unchanged. Everything depends on the political and military success in Cuba. The prologue of this second method of warfare will end the day that the Colonial Cabinet shall be appointed, and it relieves us in the eyes of this country of a part of the responsibility for what happens there, and they must cast the responsibility upon the Cubans, whom they believe to be so immaculate.

Until then we will not be able to see clearly, and I consider it to be a loss of time and an advance by the wrong road - the sending of emissaries to the rebel field, the negotiations with the Autonomists not yet declared to be legally constituted, and the discovery of the intentions and purpose of this government. The exiles will return one by one, and when they return, will come walking into the sheepfold, and the chiefs will gradually return. Neither of these had the courage to leave en masse, and they will not have the courage thus to return.

The message has undeceived the insurgents who expected something else, and has paralyzed the action of Congress, but I consider it bad.

Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of Weyler, it shows once more what McKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party.

Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on ourselves whether he proves bad and adverse to us. I agree entirely with you; without a military success nothing will be accomplished there, and without military and political success, there is here always danger that the insurgents will be encouraged, if not by the government, at least by part of the public opinion.

I do not believe you pay enough attention to the role of England. Nearly all that newspaper canaille which swarms in your hotel are English, and at the same time are correspondents of the Journal, they are also correspondents of the best newspapers and reviews of England. Thus it has been since the beginning. To my mind the only object of England is that the Americans should occupy themselves with us and leave her in peace, and if there is a war, so much the better; that would further remove what is threatening her - although that will never happen.

It would be most important that you should agitate the question of commercial relations, even though it would be only for effect, and that you should send here a man of importance in order that I might use him to make a propaganda among the senators and others in opposition to the Junta and win over exiles.

There goes Amblard. I believe he comes deeply taken up with little political matters, and there must be something very great or we shall lose.

Adela returns your salutations, and we wish you in the New Year to be a messenger of peace and take this New Year's present to poor Spain.

Always you attentive friend and servant, who kisses your hands,

                  ENRIQUE DUPUY DE LOME

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Essay Citations

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Wright, General Marcus J., Wright's Official History of the Spanish-American War. (Washington: War Records Office, 1900, p. 63-64.)

"Enrique Dupuy De Lôme." - The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War (Hispanic Division, Library of Congress). Library of Congress, 22 June 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

PBS Online. "Crucible of Empire." PBS. PBS, 1999. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

Researchers. "Topics in Chronicling America - The Sinking of the Maine." The Sinking of the Maine. Library of Congress, 3 May 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

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"The Spanish-American War." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

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DiGiantomasso, John. "Santiago." Santiago. N.p., 2003. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

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"Introduction." Reporting the War. Library of Congress, 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.