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U.S's Attempt to Purchase Cuba, In 1854, diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce that the United States should attempt to buy Cuba from Spain.
The Spanish responded by saying that they "would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean." But the United States still had an eye on Cuba. -
10 October 1868 – 28 May 1878,
The Ten Years' War (1868–1878), also known as the Great War this war was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain.
The uprising was led by Cuban-born planters and other wealthy natives. This war did not accomplish all of what Cubans wanted and did not result in their independence.
The war did however in 1886 force Spain to abolish slavery. Even though this was after the initial 10-year war. -
This picture shows what many people in the United States would see in newspapers and in articles, at and during the time of the 10-year war. Many Yellow Press Journalists would make these photos and write articles to try and persuade Americans' perception about the war. -
Yellow Press, Stories of poisoned wells and of children being thrown to the sharks deepened American sympathy for the rebels.
This sensational style of writing, which exaggerates the news to lure and enrage events, these tales became known as yellow journalism. Most of the public in America took these stories to heart and wanted to help the cubans. -
In 1896, Spain responded to the Cuban revolt by sending
General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to restore order.
Weyler tried to crush the rebellion by herding the entire
rural population of central and western Cuba into barbedwire concentration camps. Here civilians could not give aid
to rebels. An estimated 300,000 Cubans filled these camps,
where thousands died from hunger and disease. -
In February 1898, the New York Journal published a private letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish minister to the United States. Cuban rebels had stolen the letter and leaked it to the newspaper, which was thirsty for scandal. The de Lôme letter criticized PresidentMcKinley, calling him “weak” and “a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.”The embarrassed Spanish government apologized, and the minister resigned. Still, Americans were angry over the insult. -
War in the Caribbean, hostilities began with a naval blockade of Cuba. Admiral William T. Sampson effectively sealed up the Spanish
fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. This event was very effective for the U.S. -
When the U.S.S. Maine exploded in the harbor of Havana, newspapers like the New York Journal, were quick to place the blame on Spain.
“Remember the
Maine!” became the rallying cry for U.S. intervention in Cuba.
On February 15, 1898, the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana. More
than 260 men were killed -
In due to the USS Marine explosion the U.S. wanted war with Spain.
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. -
Commodore George Dewey gave the command to open fire on
the Spanish fleet at Manila, the Philippine capital. Within hours, Dewey’s men
had destroyed every Spanish ship there. Dewey’s victory allowed U.S. troops to
land in the Philippines. -
125,000 Americans had volunteered to fight in the war, the united state's main focus was on their Naval department and Navy ships. At the time the United States had one of the best Naval programs, with the best working ships and crew. -
The most famous land battle in Cuba took place near Santiago on July 1. The
first part of the battle, on nearby Kettle Hill, featured a dramatic uphill charge by
the Rough Riders and two African-American regiments, the Ninth and Tenth
Cavalries. Their victory cleared
the way for an infantry attack on
the strategically important San
Juan Hill. Although Roosevelt
and his units played only a minor
role in the second victory, U.S.
newspapers declared him the
hero of San Juan Hill. -
Admiral William T. Sampson effectively sealed up the Spanish
fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. -
American troops invaded Puerto
Rico on July 25.
At the peace talks of the Paris Tready, Spain freed Cuba and turned over the
islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies to the United
States. -
The United
States and Spain signed an
armistice, a cease-fire agreement,
on August 12, ending what
Secretary of State John Hay called
“a splendid little war.” The actual
fighting in the war had lasted
only 15 weeks. -
The United
States and Spain signed an
armistice, a cease-fire agreement,
on August 12.
On December 10, 1898, the
United States and Spain met in
Paris to agree on a treaty. At the peace talks, Spain freed Cuba and turned over the
islands of Guam in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the West Indies to the United
States. Spain also sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. -
U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Caribbean squadron on July 3 as it attempted to escape the U.S. naval blockade of Santiago.
Spain also agreed to sell the Philippines to the United States for the sum of $20 million.