The Spanish-American War was a brief conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with Cuban revolts against Spanish rule and was exacerbated by American newspapers publishing sensationalized stories of Spanish atrocities. When the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, public opinion turned strongly against Spain. Congress declared war on Spain in April 1898 and American forces quickly defeated Spanish forces in Cuba and the Philippines. The Treaty of Paris ended the war, with Spain ceding control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.

1. Spanish-American War
"It has been a splendid little war, begun with the highest
motives, carried on with magnificent intelligence and spirit
favored by that fortune which loves the brave."
-John Hay, United States Ambassador to the United
Kingdom

2. Spain and Cuba
• 1895: Cuban
revolt against
the rule of Spain
Columbia (the American people) reaches
out to help oppressed Cuba in 1897 while
Uncle Sam (the US Government) is blind.

3. U.S. Sympathizes with Cubans
• William Hearst’s New York Journal
and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York
World publish atrocity stories
(some true, some created)
• Men like Hearst and Pulitzer
created what would be known as
Yellow Journalism- is a type of
journalism that presents little or
no legitimate well-researched
news and instead used eye-
catching headlines to sell more
newspapers.

4. U.S. War Fever was Incited
• USS Maine visited Cuba
and mysteriously
exploded in Havana
Harbor February 15, 1898
• A Spanish letter critical of
President McKinley
angered Americans
• President McKinley asked
Congress for a declaration
of war

5. Congress’s Declaration of War
• Issues a four part statement on April 19, 1898
- They declared Cuba free
- They stated that Spain must withdraw
- They stated that armed forces would be used
to achieve the above two items
- They declared that the U.S. had no intention
of annexing Cuba (Teller Amendment)

6. Time Line and Events of the War
• May 2, 1898: Commodore
George Dewey defeated
the Spanish in the
Philippines
• August 13, 1898: American
troops capture Manila in
the Philippines
• July 3, 1898: Spanish fleet
destroyed in Cuba
• August 12, 1898: armistice

7. Events to Consider during the War
• The U.S. preparation for war with
Cuba was poorly coordinated. Troops
were poorly trained and conditions
in the camps were very poor
• The most famous of the troops were
known as the Rough Riders. They
were organized by Teddy Roosevelt
and commanded by Col. Leonard
Wood.
• 5000 Americans died in the war, but
only 500 died in battle. The
remainder died of disease.

8. Treaty of Paris
• U.S. received Guam
and Puerto Rico from
Spain
• Cuba was freed
• U.S. paid Spain 20
million for the
Philippines John Hay, Secretary of State, signing the
memorandum of ratification on behalf of
the United States

9. Opposition to American Imperialism
• Anti-imperialists argued against acquisition of
the Philippines:
-it violated the American ideal of “consent of the
governed” as found in the Declaration of
Independence
-despotism abroad might lead to despotism at
home
-annexation would propel the U.S. into the
political and military cauldron of the Far East

10. McKinley’s Decision
• The President decides to keep
control of the Philippines
• This decision was followed by a
rebellion in the Philippines led
by Emilio Aguinaldo
• The rebellion lasted 3 years,
cost more than 170 million
dollars, and resulted in the
lives of 4000 Americans and
20000 Filipinos
• With the Philippines as a base,
the U.S. now sought an Open
Door Policy in China
Emilio Aguinaldo
in the field.
Filipino soldiers outside
Manila in 1899.

11. McKinley’s Decision continued…
• Cuba was freed, but
the U.S. imposed the
Platt Amendment
which gave the U.S.
the right to intervene
in Cuba and to
guarantee a U.S. base
in southeast Cuba
(Guantanamo Bay)

12. McKinley’s Considerations
• He considered commercial
interests: a base for trade in
Asia; the need to keep other
countries from seizing it
• He considered what was the
“White Man’s Burden”: to
develop, educate, and uplift
less fortunate peoples
• He considered the need for
refueling bases for the growing
U.S. Navy (Alfred Thayer
Mahan’s book, “The Influence
of Sea Power Upon History,
1660-1783”)
The white man's burden – The
Journal, Detroit, 1898.