4+Spanish+American+War

Home  • America wanted to free Cube from Spain's rule and try to insert U.S. power. • The initial spark of the war was the sinking of the USS Maine. This sparked the war because assumptions were made about the Spaniard and most Americans thought the the Spaniards purposely anchored The Maine over a fixed mine.
 * Causes**
 * The De Lôme letter criticized President McKinley by calling him weak.
 * Yellow journalism is a term that refers to the sensationalism that had become common in the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. In terms of the Spanish-American War, the press exaggerated what was happening and how the Spanish were treating the Cuban prisoners. The stories were based on truth but written with incendiary language causing emotional and often heated responses amongst readers. This would become very important as the United States moved towards war. " You furnish the pictures, i'll furnish the war." ~ William R. Hearst

• America • Spain • Cuba
 * Major Countries Involved

****Major Events** • The sinking of the USS Maine. • The Battle of Manila Bay took place on May 1, 1898. It was the first battle of the war was fought in the Philippines. The U.S. Navy destroyed an entire fleet of Spanish soldiers. Spain soon gave possession of the Philippines to the U.S. in June.
 * April 11, 1898 President McKinley ask congress to declare war saying that "God has told him to attack Spanish forces".
 * President Rosevelt takes San Juan Hill overlooking Santiago Harbor on June of 1898. His group of many were known as the Rough Riders.
 * Battle of Santiago de Cuba is fought. It is the largest Naval engagement of the Spanish-American War.
 * July 3, 1898 every Spanish ship is destroyed trying to run to open sea.

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 * Outcome**
 * The Treaty of Paris was signed December 10, 1898, which officially ended the spanish-american war.
 * We gain control of Puerto Rico, Cuba and Guam.
 * Cuba is free from spanish rule

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