Spanish American War

  • U.S. Attempt to purchase Cuba

    U.S. Attempt to purchase Cuba

    The U.S. decided it'd be good for us to try and get a little bit of overseas land. The US reached out to Spain and they said they'd rather see Cuba sink in the ocean than sell it to the US. I believe that Spain created a little bit of tension with the US even before the war by saying that.
  • Cuba's first war for independence

    Cuba's first war for independence

    This war started in 1868 ended in 1878. It was called the ten years war because it lasted 10 years. This war is important because it was the first showing of Cuba wanting out of Spain's ruling. It also gave the U.S. a chance to support Cuba by sympathizing with them. It showed the U.S. interest in Cuba. This war also caused the abolishing of slavery in Cuba which opened up investment in large sugar cane plantations for the U.S. which Cuba later used to get us involved in a later war.
  • Jose Marti led Cuba's second war for independence

    Jose Marti led Cuba's second war for independence

    Jose was a Cuban poet and journalist who organized a Cuban resistance against Spain in 1895. He led with the phrase "Cuba Libre!". His idea was to attack American owned sugar plantations and mills to provoke U.S. intervention. This is important because if the U.S. wouldn't have intervened Cuba could still be a country ruled under Spain for all we know.
  • Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain

    Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain

    Valeriano Weyler was a General for Spain who got sent to Cuba to try and restore order. This is important because this is Spain's first move in a new war against Cuba, which turns into a war of America against Spain.
  • Publication of the De Lome Letter

    Publication of the De Lome Letter

    The publication of the De Lome letter was important because the letter made Americans very upset with Spain. The letter was written about the president and called him weak.
  • The Yellow Press began to shape American public opinion with respect to Cuba's Civil War

    The Yellow Press began to shape American public opinion with respect to Cuba's Civil War

    The creation of The Yellow Press is important because they were there to exaggerate stories and ended up deepening American sympathy for the Cubans.
  • Explosion of the USS Maine

    Explosion of the USS Maine

    The USS Maine was a ship that was sent to Cuba in order to pick up Americans that were in danger due to the fighting and to protect American property. The ship sat in the harbor of Havanah while doing its job. The USS Maine exploded while sitting in the harbor, and the yellow press made it out to be Spain's fault. The explosion of the USS Maine is important because it was basically the American's last straw towards Spain.
  • U.S. Declares war on Spain

    U.S. Declares war on Spain

    This event led to the eventual "independence" of Cuba. This is important because if America hadn't gone to war with Spain, Cuba may have never gotten away from Spain.
  • U.S. attack on Manila Bay

    U.S. attack on Manila Bay

    This attack consisted of an American naval squad going to the Philippines to destroy one of Spain's most significant squadrons. This was important to the war because it helped America's chances of war success in Cuba go up significantly.
  • U.S. invades Cuba

    U.S. invades Cuba

    This is when the Rough Riders first landed on Cuban land. This is important to the war because they were the first military unit in Cuba and ended up becoming one of the most impactful units in the war.
  • Battle of San Juan Hill

    Battle of San Juan Hill

    This battle was one of the most significant battles of the Spanish-American war. This battle was important because it led to the Spanish surrendering Santiago, Cuba. This played a big role in the Spanish eventually surrendering Cuba entirely.
  • Naval blockade of Cuba

    Naval blockade of Cuba

    The Naval blockade of Cuba was important to the war because America knew we had a far more superior navy than Spain and wanted to show them that we could easily take them down.
  • Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba

    Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba

    The destruction of the Spanish fleet came as a result of the Naval Blockade. America lost no ships while Spain lost many. This was important to the war because it was pretty much the lost hostile event.
  • Armistice is signed between the U.S. and Spain

    Armistice is signed between the U.S. and Spain

    Armistice being signed was important because it showed the end of all hostile activity and only good things to come for America.
  • Capture of Puerto Rico

    Capture of Puerto Rico

    This was important because after the war, Spain pretty much just gives us Puerto Rico, but this way we already have some American presence in Puerto Rico.
  • Treaty of Paris of 1898

    Treaty of Paris of 1898

    This treaty was important because it put all the ending gains for America and all of Spain's losses into writing. It shows the true end of the war.
  • Spanish surrender the Philippines

    Spanish surrender the Philippines

    Spanish surrendering the Philippines was important because it showed the end of Spain's empire.