The Spanish-American War1898

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The USS Maine

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The sinking of the USS Maine spurred the United States into the Spanish-American War. The ship was anchored in Havana Harbor when an explosion occurred on the night of February 15, 1898. A United States Navy investigation concluded that a Spanish mine had destroyed the Maine. Cubans were revolting against Spanish colonial rule, and the United States declared war on Spain on April 23. Subsequent research has proven that the explosion was an accident involving the Maine’s onboard coal supplies.the USS Maine in Havana

Harbor

Yellow Journalism

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Yellow journalism dominated after the sinking of the Maine. Newspaper reporters wrote sensational stories that inflamed American public opinion against Spain. Newspaper owners such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst published stories that convinced many people that the Cubans needed America’s help to gain independence from Spain. Most Americans believed the sensational newspaper reports and demanded the United States go to war with Spain, although there was a vocal minority who opposed the war.

William Randolph Hearst

Guam

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Guam was one of the first countries to fall to America during the war. Captain Henry Glass of the USS Charleston set his course for Guam, where he was given orders to secure the island. Upon arriving, Glass sent orders for a cannon to be fired. When a Spanish soldier approached the vessel, he was taken captive and later sent back to his Spanish commanders with orders for the Spanish military to surrender. The next day, the Spanish army laid down its weapons; and Guam became an American territory.

The USS Charleston was a heavy cruiser that weighed 3,700 tons.

Puerto Rico

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Lieutenant Henry H. Whitney was sent to Puerto Rico to gather information about Spanish military forces on the island. Whitney discovered information about Spanish military activities, including maps of military bases. These maps aided the United States Navy when it attacked off the coast of San Juan on May 12, 1898. More American involvement followed as the Yosemite blocked San Juan’s harbor while General Nelson A. Miles led a regiment inland and took control of Guanica.

The Teller Amendment

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The Teller Amendment was enacted after President William McKinley declared war on Spain. The act stated that America would not annex Cuba and would allow the Cubans to maintain independent rule. Colorado Senator Henry M. Teller devised the plan because he believed the United States government would attempt to annex Cuba as a state or a territory. The amendment passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with votes of 42-35 and 311-6, respectively.

Henry M. Teller

Battle of Manila Bay

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Commodore George Dewey’s American Asiatic Squadron led the attack in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. Aboard the USS Olympia, Dewey entered Manila Bay and was met with fire from the Spanish navy, under the command of Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron. The Americans continued to circle the bay, firing massive amounts of ammunition on each pass. Spanish ships attempted to return fire and prevent the Americans from securing Manila Bay. However, Spanish losses were tremendous, and they had no choice but to surrender to Dewey.

Commodore George Dewey

Battle of Santiago de Cuba

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The largest naval battle of the Spanish-American war was the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898. It was the largest naval battle of the Spanish-American War. Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete led Mexican naval forces against the United States Navy, which had been blockading Cuba. The Americans dominated the Spanish and sank six ships within the first hour. When Spanish ships began to retreat, the United States sent ships, including the USS Brooklyn, to pursue them. By the end of the conflict, the entire Spanish Caribbean Squadron had been destroyed.

the Spanish warship Viscaya

Battle of Las Guasimas

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The Battle of Las Guasimas took place on June 24, 1898, in Sevilla, Cuba. General Joe Wheeler led the American forces on land and his men began to fire on the Spaniards. Spanish forces, under Antero Rubin, used 1893 Mauser rifles that made it difficult for the Americans to return fire. Both sides suffered great losses, and each side retreated. The American troops briefly controlled Las Guasimas and waited for an enemy attack that never happened.

The German-made Mauser rifle could be loaded with five rounds at a time.

The American weapon had to be reloaded after every shot.

Battles of El Caney and San Juan Hill

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The Battles of El Caney and San Juan Hill took place on July 1, 1898. General Joaquin Vara del Rey led the Spaniards in defending Santiago. The Spanish held a force of eight thousand Americans from entering San Juan Hill. Generals William R. Shafter and Joseph Wheeler directed the American units, engaging in battle with Arsenio Linares’ forces. Linares’ men fired on the Americans. General Samuel Sumner and Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt charged San Juan Hill while Colonel Leonard Wood sending reinforcements to support the infantry. The Americans were making progress, but Shafter ordered a retreat, fearing massive American losses.

the Battle of San Juan Hill

Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders

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The Rough Riders were the men Theodore Roosevelt led in the United States Voluntary Cavalry. They were distinguished because of their diversity. The Rough Riders included athletes, singers, Indians, and cowboys. The Rough Riders were from Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Indian Territory. In addition, they were the first volunteer group involved in active combat during the war. The Rough Riders are famous for their actions in the Battles of Las Guasimas and San Juan Hill. They bravely charged into battle though the enemy outnumbered them.

the Rough Riders standing atop San Juan Heights

Buffalo Soldiers

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Buffalo Soldiers was the nickname for members of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Infantry Regiments in the United States Army. These regiments were composed of African-American soldiers because of the army’s segregation policies. Buffalo Soldiers were given this nickname because Indians thought their dark hair looked like the coat of a buffalo. They were involved primarily in the Battle of Kettle Hill, and they worked alongside Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in driving the Spanish from the region.

Although the Rough Riders are famous for storming San Juan Hill,

Buffalo Soldiers led the charge.

The Treaty of Paris

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The United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris in 1898. France’s Jules Cambon helped to negotiate for the Spanish. Cambon sympathized with the Spanish, along with the majority of Europe (except for England). Initially, Cuba was the main focus of the talks, but focus shifted to the Philippine Islands. The United States paid twenty million dollars for the Philippines and claimed Guam and Puerto Rico. Cuba gained its independence from Spain when the document was signed on December 10, 1898.

the Treaty of Paris

The Philippine Insurrection

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The Philippine Insurrection, or the Philippine-American War, took place between 1899 and 1902. The Filipinos viewed the Americans as a dominating colonial power, similar to the Spanish. Because of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, America seized control of the Philippines. Filipinos refused to accept American domination of their nation and attempted to form an independent government. Combat between American and Filipino forces broke out, and the Americans eventually overpowered the poorly armed Filipinos. Nevertheless, ten times as many Americans died in the Philippine Insurrection as in the Spanish-American War, and Filipino losses were estimated at no less than 25,000 and may have been more than 200,000. It was a bitterly contested guerrilla war with atrocities committed on both sides. Though barely mentioned in history textbooks today, it was hotly debated in America at the time. The war raised questions about whether the United States, which was founded in a rebellion against British colonial control, should now become a colonial power.

Many Filipinos fought the Americans with their only weapons – spears.

The Platt Amendment

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The Platt Amendment stated that the Cuban government would never enter into a treaty with another country for fear of losing its independence. Cuba also could not accrue public debt, and the United States could intervene in Cuban matters if America deemed it necessary. America benefited as it could lease land from the Cuban government to protect the island. Though Cuba remained independent and self-governing, the Platt Amendment gave the United States significant control over Cuban affairs.

The Platt Amendment gave the United States considerable power throughout Cuba.

Anti-War Figures

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Many anti-war figures were vocal during the Spanish-American War, including the majority of President McKinley’s administration. McKinley had told representatives of the Spanish government that the United States would not enter into the conflict between Spain and Cuba. After the war, the administration stated that it would not annex Cuba as a potential territory or state. McKinley was reluctant to take over the Philippines at first, but changed his mind when he considered that if the United States did not take the islands, Germany would. Although major newspaper publications were fanning the flames of war with Spain, smaller publications’ columnists publicized their anti-war feelings. They wanted to delay war until it was definitely determined what had happened to the Maine. Many well-known Americans spoke against the war, including humorist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).

Samuel Clemens