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U.S. attempt to purchase cuba
The United States had been interested in Cuba for a very long time. In 1854, diplomats told President Franklin Pierce that the U.S. buy Cuba from Spain. The Spanish was not a fan of this at all. However, America continued to be interested in Cuba. Between 1868 and 1878 the Cubans rebelled against Spain and America sent sympathies to the Cuban people. After the the emancipation of Cuba’s slaves, American capitalists began investing millions of dollars in large sugarcane plantations on the island. -
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Spanish American War
The Spanish American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, after the Cuban War of Independence. The U.S. attacks on Spain led to involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately to the Philippine–American War. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
In the Caribbean, hostilities began with a naval blockade of Cuba. Admiral William T. Sampson effectively sealed up the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. -
First Cuban War of Independence
Between 1868 and 1878, the Cubans rebelled against Spain. The Cuban revolt against Spain was not successful. However, in 1886 the Cuban people did force Spain to abolish slavery. -
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Cuba’s First War of Independence - 1868-1878
Between 1868 and 1878, the Cubans rebelled against Spain. The Cuban revolt against Spain was not successful. However, in 1886 the Cuban people did force Spain to abolish slavery. -
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Cuba's War For Independence
Between 1868 and 1878, the Cubans rebelled against Spain. The Cuban revolt against Spain was not successful. However, in 1886 the Cuban people did force Spain to abolish slavery. -
Jose Martí led Cuba’s Second War of Independence
Anti-Spanish sentiment in Cuba soon erupted into a second war for independence. José Martí, a Cuban poet and journalist in exile in New York, launched a revolution in 1895. Martí organized Cuban resistance against Spain, using an active independent parties campaign and destroying property, especially American-owned sugar mills and plantations. -
Valeriano Weyler was sent to Cuba by Spain
In 1896, Spain responded to the Cuban revolt by sending General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to restore order. Weyler tried to crush the rebellion by herding the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into barbed wire concentration camps. Here civilians could not give aid to rebels. An estimated 300,000 Cubans filled these camps, where thousands died from hunger and disease. -
The Yellow Press shapes American opinion of Cuba’s Civil War
Weyler fueled a war over newspaper circulation that had developed between the American newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. To get readers interested, they both printed exaggerated accounts of Weyler’s brutality. There were stories of poisoned wells and children being thrown to the sharks which deepened American sympathy for the rebels. This exaggerated reading became known as yellow journalism, and caused the public to have a lot more respect to Cuba’s Civil War. -
Publication of the DeLôme Letter
This letter held derogatory words from Minister Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, insulting President Mckinley. It was written because Mckinley is trying to solve a crisis by diplomatic means. It was stolen from the Havana Post office by a Cuban rebel and was leaked to The New York Journal. The letter called Mckinley “weak” and “a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.”. They were thirsty for a scandal and they definitely got one. The Spanish Government apologized. -
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
In 1898, President McKinley had told the U.S.S. Maine to go to Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger from the fighting. On February 15, 1898, the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana. More than 260 men were killed. At the time, no one really knew why the ship exploded. In 1898, however, American newspapers claimed the Spanish had blown up the ship. -
America Declares War on Spain
After the explosion of the USS Maine, there was no holding back the forces that wanted war. “Remember the Maine!” became the rallying cry for U.S. intervention in Cuba. Even though Spanish gave into some of our demands to avoid war, the public opinion favored war. On April 11, president McKinley asked Congress for the authority to use force against Spain. They debating for a week, Congress agreed, and then the United States declared war. -
Spanish Surrender of the Philippines
Dewey had the support of the Filipinos who, like the Cubans, also wanted freedom from Spain. Over the next two months, 11,000 Americans joined forces with Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo. In August, Spanish troops in Manila surrendered to the United States. -
Destruction of the Spanish Fleet
George Dewey gave the command to open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila, the Philippine capital. Within hours, Dewey’s men had destroyed every Spanish ship there. Dewey’s victory allowed U.S. troops to land in the Philippines. -
Battle for Kettle/San Juan Hill
The first part of the battle, on nearby Kettle Hill, featured a dramatic uphill charge by the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries. Their victory cleared the way for an infantry attack on the strategically important San Juan Hill. Although Roosevelt and his units played only a minor role in the second victory, U.S. newspapers declared him the hero of San Juan Hill. -
U.S. Forces Invade Cuba
The army of 17,000 included four African-American regiments of the regular army and the Rough Riders. The most famous land battle in Cuba took place near Santiago on July 1. The first part of the battle, on nearby Kettle Hill, featured a dramatic uphill charge by the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries. Their victory cleared the way for an infantry attack on the strategically important San Juan Hill. -
Armistice is signed between the U.S. and Spain
The United States and Spain signed an armistice ending a “splendid little war.” Battles in the war had lasted around 15 weeks. -
The Treaty of Paris
The United States and Spain met in Paris to agree on a treaty. Spain agreed to free Cuba and give islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to America. Spain also sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
American troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25. Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States.
