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U.S. and Cuba
This is the point in time when diplomats recommended to President Pierce that the U.S. should buy Cuba. Why the interest in Cuba? Well for one it was only 90 miles south of Florida so it wasn't too far off. -
America's Sympathy
Another reason why the U.S. was interested in Cuba was because in the 1870's America sympathized the Cuban people. They felt for bad them because the Spanish were trying to control them. America new how it felt to be controlled and new that it was not the position the would want to be in. -
Sugar Plantations
America also found interest in Cuba because of their sugar plantations. They wanted to invest in them because they new they were a great business and would make a lot of money. -
America's Property
Jose Marti luanched into a revolution. He tried to get America involved in the war by deliberatly destroying the American property and mills. He did this so that business people would want the government to help them by supporting their investments. -
Yellow Press
After Weyler went to Cuba the Newspapers became a big part in making the Americans angry at the Spanish. In the newspaper there was things saying that there was poison in the wells and that they were feeding children to the sharks in Cuba. This was all just and exaggeration of course but it did make the Americans sympathize the rebels more. -
The De Lome Letter
A letter written by a man named Enrique Dupuy de Lome (the spanish minister) was stolen by a Cuban rebel and leaked to the newspaper. This caused a ton of tension because the letter criticized President Mckinley. -
Concentration Camps
Spain sent General Weyler to Cuba. To restore order, he put the Cubans in concentratrion camps. This sparkerd large amounts of anger and interest from Americans. -
U.S.S. Maine Explodes
The U.S.S. Maine bringing home american citizens from Cuba was blown up. No one actualy knows how it happened but the American newspapers claimed that the Spanish had blown it up. This was another reason why the U.S. had anger towards the Spanish. -
Manila
George Dewey's men opened fire and destroyed all of the Spanish ships at the Philippine capital, Manila. -
Converging
American forces landed in Cuba and began to converge on the port city of Santiago. The army of 17,000 included 4 African American Regiments and the Rough Riders. -
The Battle At San Juan Hill
Teddy Roosevelt led his men in an uphill charge. Their victory cleared the way for further attacks. -
Surrendering
Spanish Soldiers in Manila surrendered to the U.S. -
Treaty Of Paris
The U.S and Spain met in Paris to agree on the treaty. Spain freed Cuba and sold Guam, The Philippines, and Puerto Rico to the U,S for $20 million. -
Foraker Act
It ended the military rule and set up a civil government for Cuba. It gave our President the power to apoint Puerto Rico's governor and members of their upper-house legislature. -
The Platt Amendment
The Platt Amendment is a piece of provisions to the Cuban Constitution. It stated that Cuba couldn't make treaties that might limit it's independance or permit a foreign power to control any part of it's territory, Cuba was not to go into debt, and the U.S could buy/lease land on the island for naval and refueling stations. The U.S also reserved the right to intervene in Cuba.
