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US Attempt to Purchase Cuba
In 1854, the United States had a long interest in attaining Cuba. The US wanted to make Cuba into a slave state. During this time the US wanted equal senators in slave states and non-slave states in congress. The slave states in the South were decreasing due to the Civil War. If the US got Cuba the South could intervene in the senate voting. This is important to the War because this was the start of Ameria's interest in Cuda. -
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Cuba 1st War for Independence
In 1868, Cubans wanted independence from Spain. The war for independence continued for 10 years. However, the Cubans were unsuccessful in independence but Spain made promises. Spain promises to end Slavery, which was settled in 1886, and promised to grant Cuba a degree of self-government but never gave them it. Due to the damage from the sugar plantations were destroy; so the US invests in the sugar plantation in Cuba. This first war was important because the event caused the US to get involved -
Jose Marti led Cuba's 2nd War for Independence
In 1895, a journal and poet named Jose Marti, speak out about Cuba in America; this spread the news nationwide and launched a revolution in Cuda again. This is important because the US can help out Cuba and more people could be involved. -
Valeriano Weyler sent to Cuba by Spain
Due to the rebellion in Cuba, Spain sent Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to punish the rebels. This is important because it shows that Cuban rebels were being treated badly. -
The Yellow Press published public opinion about Cuba's Civil War
In 1896, word traveled over the sea about Weyler's cruel punishment to the rebels and the War. The Yellow Journal published about the civil war in Cuba and sided with the Cubans. This is important because this gives one of the reasons the US would Cuda on the War for Independence. -
The De Lómo Letter
In 1897, De Lomo wrote a letter to America's president at the time, William Mckinley. This letter spoke badly about Mckinley. When the letter was sent it got into the hands of Cuba and then sold to the Yellow Press. In 1898 the letter was published. This is important because it gave the US another reason to hate Spain and side with the Cubans. -
The explosion of the USS Maine
In 1898, Mckinley sent the USS Maine to Cuba due to the auger the US had for Spain. The night of February 2, 1898, the ship exploded, killing more than 260 men onboard. No one knows exactly what caused the explosion but the US quickly accused Spain of this disaster. This is important because this was the last reason that the US declared war on Spain. -
US declares war on Spain
Due to the events leading up, Mckinley asked Congress if they could use forces against Spain. After about a week of debating, Congress agreed to declare war on Spain. This is important because this event was the official start of the Spanish War. -
Naval blockade of Cuba
Spain's response to when the US declared war was sending a Naval blockade to Cuba. This is important because it shows Spain's preparations for the war. -
US attack on Manila Bay
The first war action the US did was sending troops to the Philippines, which is a Spanish colony. On April 30, 1898, Commodore George Dewey commended US fleets to fire on Manila Bay, destroying every Spanish ship. Dewey gained support from the Filipinos and also wanted independence from Spain like the Cubans. This is important because the US gained more support and the Spanish lose some troops. -
US invades Cuba
Due to the naval force in Manila Bay, the US gained superiority. So the troops left were ill-prepared and largely inexperienced because people were willing to join the Spanish war(150,000 Americans volunteered). In June 1898, the US send these troops to Cuba. They trained in camps that lacked supplies and not in good shape. The US troops first stormed Santiago port. This is important because the invades in Cuba leads to Spain giving surrender Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The last battle in Cuba was the San Juan Hill. Two regiment African-American and Rough Riders (which was led by Theodore Roosevelt) fought the Spanish on the hill. This gave the US their Second victory in the Spanish War. This is important because it was a major battle that benefits the Cubans. -
Destruction of the Spanish fleet in Cuba
After the battle on San Juan Hill, Spanish fleets tried to escape the Americans. The naval followed the Spanish along the coast and ended up destroying the last of the fleets. This was important because this caused Spain to retreat/end the War. -
Capture Puerto Rico
Due to the destruction of the Spanish fleet, Puerto Rico was open to invade because Spain was recovering. On July 25, 1898, General Nelson A. Miles send US troops to invade Puerto Rico. This is important because the US was gaining new territory. -
Spanish surrender the Philippines
After the battle in Manila Bay that started in April, the Spanish surrender the Philipines to the US. What led to this was the US troops joining the Filipinos rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo that fought for independence from Spain. This is important because the Philipines got their independence from Spain and the US got a temporary territory. -
Armistice is signed between the US & Spain
The battle between the US and Spain fighting ended on August 12, 1898, when they signed and agreed on an Armistice. The fight lasted 15 weeks. This is important because the fight between them was temporality stopped and later would be settled. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
On December 10, 1898, Spain and the United States met in Paris to have a peace talk. The arrangement they agreed upon to end the Spanish American War was giving Spain freed Cuba and turned over the islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies to the United States. Also, Spain sold the Philipines to the US for $20 million. This is important because this event settled the year-long war.