1. Spanish-American War Who? When? Where? Spain v. United States 1898
Philippine Islands and Cuba

2. Background:
USA
Cuba
The Philippines

3. Why? Desire to help Cuba gain independence
Media portrayals of Spanish treatment of Cubans enraged many Americans
Desire to protect economic interests
Many of Cuba’s sugar plantations were owned by Americans.
Belief in Manifest Destiny
Many believe that American has a responsibility to bring “civilization” to less developed nations.
Desire to expand America’s power
Many saw an opportunity to increase America’s influence in international affairs
Yellow Journalism
Biased reports detailing “atrocities” committed by the Spanish persuaded many to support war against Spain
Sinking of the Maine
Many believed that Spain torpedoed the USS Maine

4. Which reason does this cartoon illustrate?

5. Yellow Journalism
“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war” William Randolph Hearst

6. Sinking of the USS Maine
February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Most Americans believe that it was Spain’s fault. April 19, 1898, Congress declares war on Spain. In 1976, the US Navy analyzed the sunken ship and determined that it blew out not in.

7. One headline of the Maine Explosion
Maine Explosion Caused by Bomb or Torpedo? 2/17/1898 New York World

8. Manila Bay, Philippines
May 1, in a surprise attack, the Spanish fleet in the Manila Bay, Philippines, is destroyed. Is this battle consistent with the idea that the war was being fought to free Cuba? Why or why not?

9. Battle of San Juan Heights
The decisive battle of the Spanish-American War
The most famous battle of the Spanish-American war
The Rough Riders, a volunteer cavalry unit commanded by Theodore Roosevelt, were given credit for the victory and Roosevelt became a war hero.
The Buffalo Soldiers, an African-American unit, actually did the bulk of the fighting and made the charge by the Rough Riders at the end of the battle possible.

10. Roosevelt and the Rough Riders

11. Rough Riders
What famous Battle did they participate in?
San Juan Hill

12. Teddy Roosevelt

13. Consequences Spain is defeated by the US. Cuba is freed.
Guam and Puerto Rico are ceded (given) to the United States.
The Philippines are sold to the US for $20 million.
The US becomes a world power.
Roosevelt is elected vice president in 1900 and becomes president in 1901 after McKinley is shot.

14. Question of the Day
Why independence for Cuba but not Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines?

15. HW Read the Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden.”
Summarize the main arguments of the poem.
Present 3 counter arguments against Kipling’s position.
Compare and contrast the two “White Man’s Burden” cartoons.