1. Spanish-American War

2. Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was declared in a few paragraphs of President James Monroe's seventh annual message to Congress on December 2, Monroe warned European countries not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere, stating "that the American continents. . .are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." The Monroe Doctrine became a cornerstone of future U.S. foreign policy.
Actually written by John Quincy Adams (6th U.S. President, son of John Adams, 2nd U.S. President)

3. Spanish Colonies Puerto Rico Cuba
Philippines IslandsCarolina, Marshall, and Mariana Islands (including Guam) in Micronesia.

4. Cuba U.S. interest in purchasing Cuba had begun long before 1898.
American sugar interests bought up large tracts of land in Cuba.
The U.S. had more than $50 million invested in Cuba and annual trade, mostly in sugar, was worth twice that much.

5. Rebellion in Cuba 1895 Cuba’s economy collapses
Cubans rise up in protest
Spain sends 150,000 troops to quell the protestors
Cubans are forced into concentration camps
Over a two year period over 200,000 Cubans die in the camps of disease and starvation
Cuban guerillas use a bold tactic to get America’s attention
Attack sugar plantations

6. Don’t Mess with the Prez
President William McKinley
inaugurated on March 4, 1897
anxious to become involved in Cuba, particularly after the New York Journal published a copy of a letter from the Spanish Foreign Minister criticizing the American President on February 9, 1898

7. WAR
Battleship Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898.
On March 28, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry finds that a mine blew up the Maine. (Historical Question Mark?)
On April 21 President McKinley orders a blockade of Cuba
four days later the U.S. declares war.

8. Remember the Maine

9. War in the Phillippines
April 27, 1898 Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong with Emilio Aguinaldo on board.
Fighting began in the Phillipines Islands at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1
where Commodore George Dewey reportedly exclaimed, "You may fire when ready, Gridley,"
Spanish fleet under Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo was destroyed.
Dewey did not have enough manpower to capture Manila so Aguinaldo's guerrillas maintained their operations until 15,000 U.S. troops arrived at the end of July.
On the way, the cruiser Charleston stopped at Guam and accepted its surrender from its Spanish governor who was unaware his nation was at war.

10. War in Cuba
War actually began for the U.S. in Cuba in June when the Marines captured Guantánamo Bay
U.S. troops attacked the San Juan heights on July 1, 1898.
Dismounted troopers, including the African-American Ninth and Tenth cavalries
Rough Riders commanded by Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt

11. Rough Riders San Juan Hill

12. 10th Calvary

14. Peace
Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898
Established the independence of Cuba
Ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States
Allowed the U.S. to purchase the Philippines Islands $20 million.
The war had cost the United States $250 million and 3,000 lives, of whom 90% had perished from infectious diseases.
Food poison caused a lot of those deaths, also Malaria, typhoid fever, and Yellow fever