2. A. Cubans rebel against Spanish rule 1. Cuba is located 90 miles away from US; US investors invested $50 mill. in sugar Plantations 2. Cuba very unstable – Cubans wanted independence 3. Jose Marti – 1895 – led fighters against Spanish 4. General Valeriano Weyler used cruel tactics (concentration camps 1,000s died)

3. Yellow Press Inflames Opinion Newspapers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer ran extreme headlines and photos– greatly exaggerated the Cuban suffering to sell more papers 1. McKinley orders the battleship Maine to Havana, Cuba to protect American interests 2. de Lome letter – Spanish ambassador’s letter is published, critical of McKinley 3. Jingoism – aggressive nationalism (extreme patriotism) – US angry @Spain

4. Spanish Cannibalism! Inhuman Torture! Death Camps!

5.  De Lome letter : New York Journal publishes secret letter from Spanish diplomat insulting President McKinley  “weak” & “low” “The Worst Insult to The United States in its History!”

7.  A few days later American ship U.S.S. Maine explodes in Havana harbor  “You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the War”-Hearst

8. C. The Maine blows up, 266 US sailors died, “To Hell with Spain, Remember the Maine!” D. April 11, 1898, McKinley asks Congress to declare war on Spain (Spain agreed to all demands) 1. Teller Amendment – stated US had no intention of annexing Cuba 2. 200,000 Americans volunteer to fight

9. Commodore George Dewey defeats Spanish navy in the Philippines 1. freedom fighter Emilio Aguinaldo defeats Spanish army US forces win in Cuba under US General William Shafter 1. troops poorly trained 2. had obsolete weapons 3. only had wool uniforms (in Cuban heat) 4. given contaminated food (more soldiers died from food poisoning, heat and malaria stroke than from battle) 5. Teddy Roosevelt forms the Rough Riders – becomes famous 6. African American 9 th and 10 th cavalries also fought bravely

10. A. Sec. of State John Hay called it “A splendid little war” B. what to do with our new “territory” C. Spain sold US the Philippines for 20 million (but Filipinos want freedom!) D. Americans debate IMPERIALISM 1. supporters wanted Philippines as ‘stepping stones’ to Asian markets 2. US could “civilize and Christianize” natives

11. E. in Treaty of Paris -1898-US gains Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines & will control Cuba for years F. Anti-Imperialists Mark Twain and William Jennings Bryan said imperialism was a crime G. America assumes a new role in the world 1. McKinley defeats Bryan in presidential election (1900) 2. US is now an empire and world power