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Proximity
The United States had interest in Cuba because it was only 90 miles away from Florida. We believed it was our right to own them because they were far closer to our land than they were to Spain. -
Sympathy for Cuba
The people of the United States sympathized with Cuba because we had been in their place 100 years earlier. We were trying to gain our independence from a world power, just like Cuba. Like Cuba, we were noticably the underdogs, and we wanted to find them a way to overcome it the way we had. -
Abolition of Slavery in Cuba
When slavery was abolished in Cuba, Americans grew interested in farming on their sugar plantations. Since we had already abolished slavery, we thought we should wait until they had abolished slavery to go and work on their plantations. -
The Yellow Press
The yellow press was a journal that over exaggerated events that were occuring before the war. They were the one's that put the idea into our heads that Spain was responsible for the explosion of the USS Maine. William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were two well-known journalists that pushed us into war. -
United States wanted to build their empire.
Although the United States never openly admitted that they wanted to have an empire, they were interested in becoming a world power. Because Spain was the United States' rival just made them want to take control of Cuba even more. -
The De Lome Letter
The De Lome letter was written by the Spanish Minister, but wasn't intended for the U.S. to see. The letter was stolen from th Havana post office by a Cuban rebel. The letter stated that President McKinley was weak and he agreed with issues brought up by people around him. Although Teddy Roosevelt said pretty much the same thing, it enraged us when the Spanish said it, which was another factor that led us into war. -
The explosion of the USS Maine
William McKinley sent the USS Maine to Cuba to bring home American citizens that were believed to be in danger. The USS Maine blew up in the harbor of Havana. There were 260 American men dead. The explosion happened two days after the De Lome letter, so we believed that Spain were responsible for the disaster and we wanted revenge. To this day though, we can't be certain what or who caused the explosion. -
Naval Battle After San Juan Hill
Two days after the famous U.S. victory at San Juan Hill, there was a naval battle along the Cuban coast. The Spanish fleet tried to escape the American blockade of the harbor at Santiago. The battle ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
Invasion of the Philippines
Under the command of Geaorge Dewey, the United States decided fight first ion Cuba, but to fight against the Spanish fleet in Manila. The fight lasted only a few hours, with the U.S. getting an easy victory. In the next two months, 11,000 Filipinos decided to join forces with the Americans to fight against Spain. -
San Juan Hill
The battle of San Juan Hill took place on Kettle Hill near Santiago. This battle featured a charge by the Rough Riders (Under Teddy Roosevelt). The battle of San Juan Hill was the most famous battle of the Spanish-American War, and it declared Teddy Roosevelt a hero. -
Fighting in Guam
The U.S. fleet under Captain Glass sailed on the USS Charleston to Guam and planned to capture the island. They shot a few cannon rounds at Fort Santa Cruz without return fire. Later, the U.S. sent men to meet the Spanish governor to arrange the surrendur of the island. 54 Spanish soldiers that were fighting on foot were taken back to the Philippines as prisoners of war. -
The Treaty of Paris
After meeting in Paris to talk about making peace, Spain and the U.S. decided on a treaty. Many arguements happened over the treaty because some Americans thought that we did not have the right to own Cuba. -
Filipinos Rebellion
The Filipions were outraged because of the Treaty of Paris because it called for American annexation of the Philippines. The rebels were lead by Emilio Aguinaldo. When Emilio and the rebles turned to guerilla tactics, the United States forced Filipinos in to designated zones. The living areas had very poor sanitation, people starved, and disease killed thousands. -
Platt Amendment
The Platt Amendment stated that Cuba could not make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory, the United States reserved the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba was not to go into debt, and the United States could buy or lease land on the island or naval stations and refueling stations. The United States army would not withdrawl until Cuba adopted the Platt Amendment.
