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Martí organized a resistance against Spain. They destroyed property especially American-owned sugar plantations and mills to provoke the US and help the rebels.
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1895 - 1901 the US went to war with Spain for Cuba's independence.
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Weyler tried crushing the rebellion by herding the whole rural population of central and western Cuba into concentration camps. About 300,000 Cubans were put into these camps and thousands died from starvation and diseases.
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New York Journal published a private letter from the Spanish minister to the United States. A rebel from Cuba stole the letter and leaked it to the newspaper. The letter criticized President McKinley calling him weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd. The Spanish government apologized and the minister resigned.
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President McKinley ordered the USS Maine to bring American citizens home to protect them from the fighting and to protect American property. The ship blew up in the harbor of Havana. More than 260 men were killed.
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Spain agrees to all US demands including a 6 month cease-fire.
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Even with Spanish concessions the public favored war. On April 11th President McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force against Spain. After a week Congress agreed.
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The Spanish thought that the US would attack Cuba but the first battle was in the Philippines which was a Spanish colony that was on the other side of the world.
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The Americans forced landed in Cuba and converged on the port of Santiago.
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Roosevelt lead the Rough Riders and two African American regiments to victory in the Battle of San Juan Hill
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