With many of the world's nations already acquired by the powerful countries of the world, America felt the need to get involved. They had their sights set on entering into conflict with Spain to free Cuba. Americans felt that they had achieved enough industrial and military power and should join in the global scramble to acquire overseas empires.
Watch the following video on the Spanish-American War and take notes.
By the 20th century, powerful European countries had acquired the strategic lands across the globe. When stronger nations exercise economic and political control over weaker nations, this is called
imperialism.
The only hope for the United States to join in the imperial race was to seize lands held by others.
The U.S. was a growing industrial and military power. As many of the countries the U.S. was interested in gaining sway over were already ruled by
other countries, the U.S. set its sights on a weak Spanish empire in 1898.
Cuba is 90 miles from Florida and looking for an ally--the United States. Cuba was chafing at Spanish colonial rule.
Spain sent a general and troops to confront Cuban rebels. Those in Cuba who were suspected of rebellion were placed in concentration camps where the
conditions caused over 200,000 to die of disease and malnutrition.
The American public learned of this through the yellow journalism of William Randolph Hearst
and Joseph Pulitzer. Outrage raged in the United States. On February 15, 1898, the American battleship, the Maine, was attacked in the Havana Harbor in
Cuba. The sinking of the Maine, led to the deaths of 260 sailors. Americans were ready to declare war
on Spain.
President McKinley was hesitant to make a quick decision and began negotiating with Spain. The Spanish government agreed to end fighting and concentration camps in Cuba. Regardless, the American public, spurred on by yellow journalism, demanded action with the
call “Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain.”
On April 11, 1898, McKinley asked Congress to use force against Spain. McKinley wanted the
world to know he was seeking Cuban independence and not American colonization. Congress passed the Teller Amendment, which guaranteed America would not take the lands of
Cuba. Once this passed, America declared war on the Spanish throne.
The United States was unprepared for war. Even though their military had been improved, they
were still weak. The navy was weak; the army was understaffed, underequipped and,
undertrained. It was hot in Cuba, and their uniforms were too stifling with heavy wool coats and
pants.
The only positive aspect was that Spain was even less prepared than the United States. Most of Spain’s fleet was in the Philippines at Manila Bay. Under orders of Assistant Secretary
of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt and Admiral George Dewey were already on their way to the
Philippines. Dewey had the perfect position and was given orders to attack on May 1, 1898.
The Battle of Manila Bay was a great success for the Americans. The mostly wooden ships of the
Spanish navy were no match for the American steel ships. The fighting in Cuba was not as successful for the U.S. as in the Philippines. The American Army
was outnumbered 7-1.
The biggest success of the Cuban campaign came from the volunteers organized by Theodore
Roosevelt, the Rough Riders. This was a mix of cowboys, college students, and ex-convicts.
Supported by two African American regiments, the Rough Riders Charged the San Juan Hill and
moved the Spanish forces into Santiago Harbor. The war was ended when the Spanish Atlantic fleet was destroyed by American forces.
The Treaty of Paris ended the war with the United States receiving the Philippines, as well as
Guam and Puerto Rico. Cuba became independent and Spain received $20 million for its losses.
Many anti-imperialists condemned American involvement in the Philippines. Filipino rebels led
by Emilio Aguinaldo led a three-year war against the Americans resulting in nearly 4,000 American
lives lost. Even so, President McKinley’s imperialistic policies were supported by the public who wanted
an expanding empire.
To this day, Puerto Rico and Guam are American territories. The U.S controls Guantanamo
Naval base in Cuba and has bases in the Philippines as well.
| What atrocities by the Spanish in Cuba were brought to the attention of the American public through yellow journalism? | concentration camps |
| What American ship was attacked in Havana Harbor, leading the American public to call for war against Spain? | the Maine |
| Which group of volunteers were most successful against the Spanish in Cuba? | Roosevelt's Rough Riders |
| The Treaty of Paris gave which lands to the U.S.? | Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines |
