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Interest in Cuba begins
The U.S. always had an interest in Cuba due to its location only 90 miles from Florida. In 1854, diplomats tried to persuade President Franklin Pierce to purchase Cuba from Spain. The Spanish responded by saying that they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean than be in the hands of the U.S. -
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Timeline
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Cuban Rebellion (Ten Years' War)
Independence from Spain was the motive for a rebellion in 1868 led by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. He was a sugar planter, and freed his slaves to fight with him for a free Cuba. On December 27th, 1868, he issued an order that abolished slavery. These slaves would be set free if they would join military service (the rebellion against Spain). This lasted until 1878, and known as the Ten Years' War. American sympathized for the rebelling Cubans. In 1878, the Pact of Zanjón ended the conflict. -
Abolishment of Slavery in Cuba
The Pact of Zanjón ended slavery for ONLY those that were in he war. It wasn't until October 7, 1886 that ALL Cuban slaves were set free. After the abolishment of slavery, U.S. capitlists began to invest millions of dollars in large sugar plantations in Cuba. -
The Second War for Independence
José Marti established the Cuban Revoltionary Party in New York. Marti used campaigns and destroyed sugar mills and plantations that were owned by Americans. Marti wanted a free Cuba, or "Cuba Libre". Marti knew the U.S. would not do anything to the Cubans because he knew the U.S. did not want to side with the evil ways of Spain. -
"The Butcher" Arrives in Cuba
Spain was not happy with the revolt that started in Cuba. To calm things down, they sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba. When Weyler got there, he got down to business right away. He put the rural populatin of central and western Cuba into concentration camps. This limited the help that the rebels could recieve from civilians. An estimated 300,000 people were forced into these camps, and thousands lost their lives. General Weyler became to be known as "The Butcher". -
CREATION OF PEPSI (Robo Cool Factor!)
This is for you, Murrdawg!
Pepsi-Cola was first born in New Bern, North Carolina in 1898 by Caleb Bradham who first named it "Brad's Drink". In 1903, it was later named to Pepsi-Cola because if the digestive enzyme pepsin kola nuts. -
The De Lôme Letter
On February 9, 1898, the New York Journal published the confidential letter of Spanish Ambassador Dupuy de Lome which criticized President McKinley. It called him weak and easily persuaded. The Spanish government apologized, but Americans were still angered. This letter's revelatin was one of the incidents to push Spain and the United States towards war. -
Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
The Maine was meant to bring American citizens back home. The ship exploded on the 15th, and Americans went from angered to outraged. They blamed it on the Spanish, yet the cause remains unknown. This was the final straw, and the United States now had a battle cry: "Remember the Maine!" -
Spanish Obey American Demands
Up to this point, there was no holding back the people that wanted to go to war with Spain. The Spanish listened to everything the U.S. demanded, and even agreed to a six-month cease fire. This did not stop the outraged Americans. They still favored war. -
Declaration of War
The Americans may have had a strong influence on the United States government. The people very much wanted war, and on April 11, President McKinley asked Congress to use military action against Spain. After a week of consideration and debates, Congress finally agreed. April 11, 1898 marked the beginning of the United States involvement in the war. -
The Battle of Manila Bay
After the declaration of war on April 20th, the Spanish thought that the Americans would invade Cuba immediately. Instead, on April 30th, the American Navy was sent to the Philippines. The next morning, May 1st, Commodore George Dewey gave the command to open fire on the Spanish fleet at Manila. Within hours, all major Spanish ships were destroyed or captured, without any significant damage occurring to the American Forces. This was the first victory for the United States in the war. -
Capture of Guantánamo Bay
The Battle of Guantánamo Bay was fought from June 6 to June 10 in 1898 when American and Cuban forces seized the strategically and commercially important harbor of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Capturing the bay from the Spanish forces was instrumental in the following Battle of Santiago de Cuba and the invasion of Puerto Rico. The establishment of the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay was important in the final Spanish defeat. -
The Battle of San Juan Hill
This battle, also known as the battle for San Juan Heights, was a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. The San Juan Hill was an elevation only two kilometers east of Santiago, the capital of Cuba. This fight for the heights was the bloodiest and most famous battle of the War. San Juan Hill was a great victory for the Rough Riders as they got most of the credit for the victory, although much of the heaviest fighting was done by two African American regiments. Victory gave U.S. momentum. -
Treaty of Paris
On August 12, 1898, the United States and Spain agreed to a cease-fire. Secretary of State John Hay referred to the war as "a splendid little war". On December 10, 1898, the U.S. and Spain met in Paris, France to agree on a treaty. As a result of the treaty, Spain freed Cuba, gave the U.S. Guam and Puerto Rico, and sold the Phillipines to the U.S. for $20 million. -
Foraker Act
As a result of the Treaty of Paris, the United States gained Puerto Rico to be apart of its dream of being an empire. Many Puerto Ricans were afraid that the U.S. would not give them the self-rule they had when they were under Spanish control. Since the beginning of the Spanish-American War, U.S. forces had occupied the island. They were to stay there until Congress decided what to do with the island. On April 12, 1900, Congress passed the Foraker Act. (Cont. on next one)... -
Foraker Act (Continued)
The Foraker Act eliminated military presence in Puerto Rico and set up a civil government. This act gave the president of the U.S. the power and control to appoint the governor of Puerto Rico and members of the upper house of its legislature. Puerto Ricans were only allowed to elect members of the lower house. -
Platt Amendment
In 1900, the Cuban government wrote a new constitution for Cuba. However, this new constitution didn't specify the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. The following year, 1901, the United States persuaded Cuba to add several provisions to its constitution. These were known as the Platt Amendment. Among these, they stated that: (1) Cuba cound't make treaties with another foreign power that might later control part of its territores, (2) The U.S. reserved the right to intervene in Cuba, . . . -
Platt Amendment Continued
(3) Cuba was not allowed to go into debt, and (4) The United States could buy or lase land on he island for naval station and refueling stations. -
Cuba becomes a U.S. protectorate
This marks the date when the Platt Amendment became part of a treaty between Cuba and the United States. It remained in effect for 31 years. Under the term of this treaty, Cuba became a U.S. protectorate. The United States eventually repealed this Amendment, but the U.S. retained its lease on the naval base at Guantánamo Bay.
