The Spanish-American War (1898)
- Created by: mel.maharjan
- Created on: 16-10-14 20:06
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- The Spanish-American War (1898)
- Outcomes
- Spanish defeat/US victory
- Admiral Dewey's fleet captured Spanish colonies in the Philippines by August
- American warships blockaded Spanish fleet in Santiago de Cuba
- Spanish fleet destroyed and 474 Spanish sailors killed
- US victories at battles of El Caney Hill and San Juan Hill
- Cuba
- Granted independence when war ended but US occupied for 4 years
- July 17th 1898 - Spain asked for peace
- Treaty of Paris signed and ended war in December
- American investments after war increased to $500 million
- Cuba reliant on America
- US Gains
- Buys the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam for $20 million off of Spain
- US public supported government for being much more active
- High point of American history
- Secretary of State John Hay: "A splendid little war"
- Platt Amendment (1901)
- Cuba promised not to make any treaties with foreign powers that would limit independence
- US reserved the right to interfere with Cuban affairs
- Deaths
- 5,000 Americans died from diseases (e.g. malaria) and poor training, equipment, and conditions
- Only 379 died in battle
- Naval bases
- US established naval base at Guantanamo Bay
- Bases in Guam and the Philippines as well
- Spanish defeat/US victory
- Causes
- Treatment of people
- 1895 - José Marti led revolt against Spain fighting for Cuban independence
- Spanish came down hard - 200,000 Cubans died in unsanitary concentration camps
- Yellow Press/public opinion
- US public opinion behind rebels encouraged by lurid newspaper stories about concentration camps
- "Sights that Sicken Strong Men"
- Press circulation war going on between Hearst ('The Journal') and Pulitzer ('The World')
- Sensationalised stories of appalling treatment of Cubans
- 1898 - De Lome described McKinley as weak
- US public opinion behind rebels encouraged by lurid newspaper stories about concentration camps
- USS Maine
- 1898 - USS Maine sent to Cuban capital of Havana
- Feb 15th - 266 American sailors killed and Spanish blamed
- "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!"
- Teller Amendment (1898)
- April 1898 - Congress recognised Cuban independence and authorised McKinley to send troops
- US didn't want 'sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control' of Cuba
- There to help it gain independence NOT to take over
- Appeals to pro- and anti-imperialists
- Geo-political
- Cuba 150 km south of Florida
- Within 'sphere of influence' according to the Monroe Doctrine
- Need to defend Monroe Doctrine or it looks weak
- Economic
- US had investments of $50 million in Cuba
- Imported $100 million dollars worth of produce from island
- 86% of Cuban exports went to US
- Treatment of people
- Outcomes
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