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The U.S Attempt to Purchase Cuba
The United States always had an interest in Cuba, it is only 90 miles south of Florida. In 1854 the diplomats suggested to the president at the time that Franklin Pierce should buy Cuba from Spain. They wanted Cuba because the U.S. was looking to expand its territory. This purchase was not a success since the Spanish said that they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean. This event was important because it started the long-term interest in Cuba that would, later on, lead to conflicts and war. -
Cuba´s First War For Independence
In 1896, James Creelman traveled to Cuba as a New York World reporter, covering the second Cuban war for independence from Spain. Dissatisfied with the corrupt and inefficient Spanish administration, lack of political representation, and high taxes. Newspapers during that period exaggerated stories like Creelman’s to boost their sales as well as to provoke American intervention in Cuba. This was important because it brought news to an uprising against Spanish rule and Cuba wanting independence. -
Jose Marti Led Cuba's Second War For Independence
Jose Martí was a Cuban journalist and poet. Martí organized Cuban resistance against Spain, using an active guerrilla campaign and destroying property, especially American-owned sugar mills and plantations. Martí counted on provoking U.S. intervention to help the rebels finally be free. His cry was Cuba-Libre. Due to this event, People from the U.S. wanted to start helping Cubans become free. The Cuba Libre cry reminded them of Patrick Henry's cry "Give me liberty or give me death!". -
Valeriano Weyler Was Sent to Cuba by Spain
Valeriano was sent to Cuba by Spain. They sent him because of the revolts that were going on and Cuba wanting to be independent. He gathered up the people of the central and western populations and put them in concentration camps. There were an estimated 300,000 Cubans in the camps and thousands died from hunger and disease. This was important because he helped restore the political order in Cuba as well as helping restore sugar mills so that they could have larger profits. -
The Yellow Press Began to Shape American Public Opinion with Respect to Cuba's Civil War
They wanted to influence how America saw the war. These journalists were somewhat stirring the pot. They would sensationalize the war by showing only the tragedies of the war. The yellow press was important because it really caused how America viewed the war and what they thought about Spain and Cuba. -
U.S. Invades Cuba
In 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. As a result, Spain lost its control over the remains of its overseas empire: Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Philippines Islands, Guam, and other islands. This event is important because it shows America protecting its interests and avenging the U.S.S Maine. -
Publication of the De Lome Letter
The New York Journal published a letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to the US. A Cuban rebel stole the letter and leaked it to the newspaper. The letter was insulting and criticized president McKinley calling him weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd. The Spanish government apologized but the American people were angry. This is important because this helped stir up/generate public support for war with Spain and the issue of independence for Cuba -
Explosion of the USS Maine
U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens in danger from the fighting and to protect American property. The ship blew up in the harbor of Havana. More than 260 men were killed. No one really knew why it exploded but they offered a reward of $50,000 for the capture of Spaniards who SUPPOSEDLY committed the crime. This event is important because it creates the United States' passion against Spain and leads to the naval blockade of Cuba, declaration of war, and stirs up the yellow press. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
Despite the Spanish concessions, public opinion favored war. On April 11, McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force against Spain. After a week of debate, Congress agreed, and on April 20 the United States declared war. This is of huge importance because this is when the United States finally declared war and things started getting more intense. -
Naval Blockade of Cuba
Sealed up the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. Dewey’s victory at Manila had demonstrated the superiority of the United States naval force. The Naval Blockade of Cuba is important because it's gonna stop the Spanish from getting troops and supplying, and it is the first time the US is getting the military involved. -
U.S. Attack on Manila Bay
George Dewey to the Philippines to help destroy every Spanish ship there. The victory allowed U.S. troops to land in the Philippines. Dewey had the support of the Filipinos who, like the Cubans, also wanted freedom from Spain. 11,000 Americans joined forces with Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo. In August, Spanish troops in Manila surrendered to the U.S. This is important because it involved the U.S. so they can get ahold of them instead of the other empires like France and the UK -
Battle of San Juan Hill
Roosevelt and his units played only a minor role in the second victory, U.S. newspapers declared him the hero of San Juan Hill. the most significant U.S. land victory, and one of the final battles, of the Spanish-American War. -
Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba
All the ships were destroyed. Battered by Brooklyn's guns, the Spanish flagship ran aground, as did the cruiser Vizcaya, set ablaze after losing an unequal hour-long duel with the battleship USS Texas. The crew of the cruiser Oquendo scuttled their ship, and the two Spanish destroyers were sunk. This event is important because Spain would not be able to supply its troops to Cuba -
Armistice is Signed Between the U.S. and Spain
U.S. and Spain signed a ceasefire agreement, at the time the secretary of state John Hay called it “A splendid little war”. This war lasted only 15 weeks, about 3 months. This was until they had time to come up with what would later be known as the Treaty of Paris. This event is important because this is what finally caused the war to come to a stop. -
Spanish Surrender The Philippines
They surrendered the Philippines when they were signing the treaty of Paris. The Spanish sold the Philippines for $20 million. This is important because the United States got more land to build their empire. -
Capture of Puerto Rico
American troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25. The United States now had an empire with Puerto Rico. America was trying to add to its empire. This is important because we got more land to add to the empire we were trying to create. -
Treaty of Paris of 1898
Signing the Treaty of Paris of 1898, Spain granted Cuba their independence. This treaty also gave the United States possession of the islands of Guam and the Philippines in the Pacific ocean along with Puerto Rico in the west. The United States gave Spain $20 Million in exchange for Cuba ending the Spanish American War. The United States emerged from this as an imperial power. This is important because it ended the Spanish-American War and gave the U.S. their first oversea empires -
Analysis