“The Spanish-American War” Chapter 12 Section 2

The Coming of War The Cuban Rebellion Begins In 1868 Cuban rebels declared independence and launched a civil war against Spain Jose Marti While exiled in New York City, he was able to unite different exile groups Launched a new rebellion and the revolutionaries were able to seize eastern Cuba The U.S. caused an economic crisis in Cuba by passing a tariff on sugar

The Coming of War Americans Support the Cubans Calling Out for War American support for the rebels in Cuba was fueled by sensational stories published by rival newspapers Yellow journalism Calling Out for War In 1898 President McKinley sent the battleship Maine to Havana to evacuate Americans if necessary the Maine exploded killing 266 sailors A Cuban agent intercepted a letter from Enrique Dupuy de Lome, a Spanish Ambassador, that insulted U.S. President McKinley McKinley asked Congress to declare war because American opinion strongly favored it

A War on Two Fronts The U.S. Takes the Philippines On May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led a squadron into Manila Bay in the Philippines and destroyed the outgunned Spanish warships American troops seized the capitol of the Philippines but refused to relinquish control to the Pilipino people American Forces Battle in Cuba A combine force of infantry men and the “Rough Riders” captured San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill American ships guarding the exit from the harbor sank or breached every Spanish vessel On August 12, 1898, Spain and the U.S. agreed to a cease-fire

An American Empire is Born The Debate over Annexation Supporters of annexing the Philippines believed the islands would provide the U.S. with a naval base in Asia, represent a large market for American goods, and to teach “less civilized” people how to live properly Treaty of Paris Cuba became an independent country, the U.S. acquired Guam and Puerto Rico, and purchased the Philippines for 20 million dollars Rebellion in the Philippines The U.S. stopped the rebellion and Howard Taft was appointed the civilian governor The Philippines have been an independent country since 1946

An American Empire is Born Governing Puerto Rico Foraker Act Made Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory Cuba and the Platt Amendment The Platt Amendment effectively made Cuba into an American protectorate Stated that Cuba could not make any treaty with another nation Allow the U.S. to purchase naval stations Cuba had to keep their debts low to prevent foreign invasion