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Diplomats suggested to President Franklin Pierce that the U.S. should buy Cuba from Spain. However, the Spanish said, "that they would rather see Cuba be sunk in the ocean". This event was important because it was the beginning of us quietly wanting to be imperialistic. -
The Cubans tried to rebel against Spain which made a war that lasted 10 years. But in the end, they failed. Americans sympathized with them because it reminded them of their own fight for independence. This is important because following this war Cubans made the Spanish abolish slavery. After this Americans began investing millions into Cubans plantations.
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José Martí was a Cuban poet and journalist that helped lead the second war for independence. He did this by organizing a revolution by destroying property like American-owned sugar mills and plantations. This forced America to pay attention to Cubans. This is important because this provoked the U.S. to intervene to help the rebels and save their investments. -
The Yellow Press was a sensational writing style that exaggerated the news to lure and enrage the readers. This had a HUGE effect on Americans' opinion of the Cuban civil war. The papers helped sway public opinion, and because the more outrageous the news sounded the more they sold, the American people were convinced that they needed war. This created war fever. -
Weyler was sent to shut down the Cuban rebels. The way he did it was containing normal citizens in concentration camps to help find the rebels. These camps became death camps because of the lack of supervision for the people. This event helped fuel the beginning of the war which the news took this showed America how poorly these people were being treated. -
Enrique Dupay de Lóme was a Spanish minister that made a letter that said the American president was weak. This letter was stolen and got to the American press. This was important because it angered the Americans making them want war for offendinging their president and nation. We wanted to prove ourselves that we were strong. -
The Maine was to basically show off to the Spanish and gloat in their faces. However, before it was going to leave the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana. More than 260 men were killed. No one knows who did it but most Americans blamed the Spanish. This had a major effect on the war because it helped convince more people that something had to be done to the Spanish. -
William McKinley finally asks and gets approval from Congress to declare war on Spain. They plan and prepare for war. This is important because it's the U.S. trying to secretly build its own empire while saying we are only helping the helpless. -
The naval blockade was when the Americans took their ships and traped them in so the Spanish could not leave. This allowed the U.S. the upper hand and led to the Spanish having to surrender to the American’s. The importance of this is that it was the first American move against the Spanish in the Spanish American War. -
After U.S. troops landed they joined forces with the Filipino rebels. and in August the Spanish troops in manila surrender to the U.S. This is significant because, in the long run, it gave the U.S. more power and helped secretly by imperlistic. -
The first battle of the war that happened in the Philippine Islands in the capital called Manila Bay. George Dewey led the naval attack and destroyed all the ships allowing the U.S. troops to land in the Philippines. This victory at Manila had demonstrated the superiority of United States naval forces. -
They went to Cuba's coast and unloaded the ships. They were unprepared because most soldiers were untrained and not prepared for the climate (woolen uniforms). This is important because we are finally in Cuba and taking charge and getting ready for war. -
This was the most famous land battle near Kettle Hill. It consisted of African American soldiers, the rough riders, and Teddy Roosevelt. This victory made a way for the attack on San Juan Hill. The newspapers praised the forces of the united states for this event. This helped America by giving us a position to take over Cuba and give us an upper hand over the Spanish. -
After the battle of San Juan Hill, the Spanish tried to escape the American Naval blockade and a battle occurred. This ended with the Spanish fleet being destroyed. This was important because it helped us win the war. -
After the defeat of the Spanish fleet, we captured Puerto Rico. This is important because we are gaining more territories and becoming more imperialistic. -
A cease-fire agreement between the U.S. and Spain ending the small war. It's important because it stopped the war and help lead to the Treaty of Paris. -
When the war officially ended and Spain gave America land. This is important because it helped us succeed in being imperialistic and helped show the "world powers" that we mean business.
