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The United States had an interest in Cuba, which is only 90 miles south of Florida. President Franklin was suggested to purchase Cuba from the Spanish, to which they responded with distaste. -
Cubans were unsuccessful in their rebellion, but they forced the government to agree to abolish slavery and give some form of self-government. This was dubbed the "10 Years War" because it lasted 10 years (ended 1878). -
A Cuban poet, Jose Marti, began pushing for a rebellion against the Spanish government and launched Cuba's first war for independence. -
Spain responded to Cuban revolts by sending one of their best generals, General Weyler, to Cuba. He soon created a concentration camp in which no one could get in nor out. This was an attempt to root out insurgents but soon after the camps became death camps due to starvation and sickness. -
With Cuban news on the rise, stories of over-exaggerated events soon found their way to the American press. The "Yellow Press" blew events out of proportion and Americans soon wanted a piece of Cuba. -
Cuban insurgents intercepted a letter written by Don Enrique Dupuy de Lome and released it to the Hearst press, which published it in the New York Journal on February 9, 1898. -
After the explosion of the USS Maine and the death of 266 Navy soldiers, an official investigation was launched by the US. After the investigation, the U.S. Navy reported that the ship had been blown up by a mine and America soon blamed Spain. -
America declared war on Spain because US property was being destroyed in Cuba. Causes include the destruction of US sugar farms to the explosion of the USS Maine. One could argue that it was mostly an act of imperialism, that the US wanted more land and power. -
Hostilities began with Admiral William T. Sampson who sealed the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santigo de Cuba. The Spanish fleet was no match for the modern US navy. -
In the first major battle of the Spanish-American War, US Naval fleets destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet. It took just two hours. This led to the eventual transfer of the Philippines from Spain to the US. -
The victory at the battle of San Juan Hill marked is marked as one of the final battles of the Spanish American War. This was lead by US military officers William Rufus Shafter and Joseph Wheeler. -
American forces landed in Cuba in June of 1898 where they would start on Santiago. The army of 17,000 included four African-American regiments and the Rough Riders. This began the invasion of Cuba. -
Two days after the victory at San Juan Hill, the Spanish fleet attempted to escape the US naval blockade at the harbor of Santiago. This ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
On July 25th, 1898, US forces invaded Puerto Rico after the destruction of the Spanish fleet. They captured this with very little resistance and only seven deaths. -
After receiving the command to open fire from George Dewey on April 31st, his fleet completely wiped out the Spanish fleet at Manila. American troops landed in the Philippines to help the rebels fight the Spanish government. In August, Spanish troops surrendered in Manila. -
Cuba gained "independence". The US gained Guam, Puerto Rico, and purchased the Philippines for $20,000,000. Much debate took place over whether America should gain any countries from the war, but in the end imperialism won the debate. -
On August 12th, the United States and Spain signed an armistice, or a truce, ending the "splendid little war". Negotiations took place in Paris on December 10th, 1898.