Transcript U.S. History

The Spanish-American War
Chapter 16 Section 2
Words to Know
• Yellow Journalism: The publishing of
exaggerated or made-up news stories to attract
readers and influence their ideas.
• Imperialism: The policy of one nation gaining
control over other lands and using them to build
an empire.
Late 1800s
• Spain no longer a world
power:
▫ Empire grown smaller
▫ In Americas, only Cuba and
Puerto Rico under Spain’s
control
• American leaders interested in
affairs of Cuba:
▫ 90 miles off coast of Florida
• 1868: Cubans rebel against
Spain:
▫ Some Cuban leaders flee to
NYC
Cubans Revolt against Spain
• Many Americans sided with
the Cubans:
▫ Reminded people for their
fight for independence
▫ US newspapers practiced
yellow journalism
Explosion of the Maine
• 1898: Fighting began
in Havana, Cuba
▫ Pres. McKinley sent US
battleship Maine to
Havana
▫ McKinley wanted to
protect Americans in
Cuba
▫ 2/15/1898: the Maine
exploded in Havana
Harbor
 260 sailors killed
Explosion of the Maine cont.
• Most Americans
blamed Spain
▫ Believed bomb was
planted on the ship
▫ Americans’ had much
anger towards Spain
▫ 4/25/1898: US
declares war on Spain
 Year later it was
determined that the
explosion was an accident
War
• Spanish-American war
lasted less than 3 months
• War was fought in the
Philippines and Cuba
• Spanish Fleet was
destroyed in Manila Bay
(Phil)
▫ Commodore George Dewy
• Dewey sent weapons to
Emilio Aquinaldo
▫ Filipino leader
▫ US and Filipino forces won
almost all the islands
Cuba
• Theodore Roosevelt led
the “Rough Riders”
• Won at San Juan Hill
• US Navy defeated
Spanish fleet at
Santiago
• Treaty of Paris ended
the war in 1898
▫ Gave US control of Cuba
and Puerto Rico
▫ Philippines
US a World Power
• Victory over Spain made the
US a world power
• Some Americans wanted the
US to have an Empire like GB.
▫ Others were against
imperialism
Responsibilities
• US had to make decisions
about how they were going to
govern their new areas
▫ Often the decisions did not
please the people living in
those areas
Responsibilities
• Cuba:
▫ Large US Naval base built at
Guantanamo Bay
Responsibilities
• Puerto Rico:
▫ Jones Act of 1917 made it a
US territory
▫ Appointed a governor
▫ Could have reps. In
Congress, but couldn’t vote
Responsibilities
• Philippines:
▫ US govt. was set up there
▫ Filipino troops fought US
troops for years to gain
control
▫ Filipinos lost their fight in
1901