1890s: The U.S….

• A rapid growth in industry after the Civil War results in national wealth

• The western frontier had closed up (no more land left to discover)

• “Manifest destiny” is questionable now• Now the U.S. will look to foreign markets to

sustain our economy

Teddy Roosevelt says

• 1897• “I should welcome almost any war, for I think

this country needs one”

1893 World’s Columbian Exposition

• Chicago• 400th anniversary of discovery of the new world• 27 million: ¼ of nation’s population visit

fairgrounds (largest tourist attraction in history)• Inspires visitors to indulge in America’s glorious

past/ delve into glorious future?...

Where do we draw the line between achieving “manifest destiny” and bullying?

(remember The Bully conversation)

SPAM(Spanish American War)

- Cuba: Spanish-ruled island 90 miles off coast of Florida- Cuban patriots revolted against harsh Spanish rule- American citizens wanted President McKinley to take

action to help

SPAM– U.S. papers covered stories of brutality/ cruelty daily• Exaggerated or made up to stir American anger• Sound familiar?... (yellow journalism!)

– Under growing public pressure, McKinley signs declaration of war against Spain on April 25th, 1898

Tensions in Cuba• Jose Marti led Cuban rebels in their fight against Spain,

coining the battle cry, “Cuba Libre!” (Free Cuba).• Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to be a governor to

Cuba (Uses brutal tactics to crush revolt)

Cuba Libre!!!

…..NO!

Tensions in Cuba– Reconcentration: policy of moving large numbers of

people into camps for political or military purposes• 100,000 Cubans in revel reconcentration camps died from

starvation & disease

Yes…those are real bones!

American Opinion• Americans had invested $50 million in Cuba– Rice & sugar plantations, railroads, tobacco, mines– Trade with Cuba = $100 million per year

Why do we invest?..

American Opinion• Opinions were split over whether U.S. should

intervene in Cuba or not– THE NO ARGUMENT: it could hurt our foreign trade– THE YES ARGUMENT: It’s our duty as Americans to help

Cubans achieve their freedom like we did during the American Revolution

Henry Cabot Lodge (Senator Massachusetts)

“They have risen against oppression, … which led us to rebel against England …they should have the sympathy

of the people of the U.S.”

Americans Call for War

• Pulitzer & Hearst compete to print the most grisly stories about Spanish atrocities: wartime acts of cruelty & brutality – War sells more newspapers – Yellow journalism: reporting that relied on sensational stories

and headlines that were biased or untrue.

• Still, McKinley wanted to stay neutral

“Remember the Maine”

• 1898- fighting broke out in Havana; capital of Cuba• McKinley sent U.S. battleship Maine to protect U.S.

citizens & property there• While anchored in the harbor, an explosion destroys the

Maine– 260 died of the 350 U.S. crew

“Remember the Maine”

• The real cause of the explosion remains a mystery. Maybe…– Boiler blew up– Accident in ship’s ammunition room

“Remember the Maine”

RESULT:SPAM: Spanish American War: 1898 war between

Spain & U.S. that lasted 4 months

(SPAM Continued…)

• Teddy Roosevelt is now Assistant Sec. of Navy– He realizes that a war with Spain would span into wherever

Spanish sea power lay– Philippine Islands: Spanish colony & Spain’s main naval

base in the Pacific– The major U.S. military objective = Teddy wants to attack

here as soon as war broke out

…BY SEA….

Teddy contacts George Dewey: U.S. commander of Pacific Fleet• Dewey’s ships slip into Manila Bay (main city) during the night• At dawn, they bombarded the surprised Spanish ships &

destroyed their fleet

Your duty is to see that Spanish fleets do not leave their port in the

Philippines

Cool!

George Dewey

Summer 1898

• U.S. ground troops land in the Philippines• Locals had been fighting for independence from

Spain for years (remember Cuba)• Native rebels are led by Emilio Aguinaldo &

helped U.S. troops to capture Manila

…BY LAND….

“Hey…it worked for Jose Marti, it may work for me

too!”

Emilio Aguinaldo

Meanwhile, Back in Cuba…• Teddy resigns as Assistant Secretary of Navy &

organizes the 1st volunteer cavalry regiment– Cavalry: soldiers or warriors who fought on

horseback

–Rough Riders: military unit organized by Teddy during SPAM• Ranged from cowboys to college students &

adventurers• Symbol of multicultural troops (why could this be

AWESOME for boosting morale?)

Buffalo Soldiers: African American members of the 9th & 10th U.S. Cavalry

“Whites, blacks, regulars & Rough Riders—representing the young manhood of the North & South, fought shoulder to shoulder,

unmindful of race or color…just mindful of their common duty as Americans”

• Finally the Spanish army in Cuba surrenders & buckles under pressure from the U.S.

• The U.S. then traveled to Puerto Rico & claimed the island while Spain was still intimidated

A Quick End—Fall 1898• Spain & U.S. agree to end fighting– U.S. losses: 380 killed from battle/ 5,000+ killed from

yellow fever, typhoid & malaria

The Peace Treaty—Winter 1898– Spain grants Cuba its freedom– Spain gives the U.S. Puerto Rico (Caribbean) & Guam (Pacific)

– Spain trades the Philippines to U.S. for $20 million!

CUBA

PUERTO RICO PHILIPPINES

Ruling an EmpireWhen war had begun with Spain, the U.S. had

promised to “leave the government & control of Cuba to its own people”

Cuba• BUT…. the U.S. soldiers stayed in Cuba after the war

ended because they felt Cubans were “not ready” for independence– Sound like the ‘White man’s burden’?...– Business leaders in the U.S. were afraid that an

independent Cuba might threaten their investments– U.S. let Cuban people write their own constitution, but

Cubans first had to accept the Platt Amendment

Cuba

• Platt Amendment: allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba as they pleased & gave U.S. control of naval base at Guantanamo Bay• In effect, the amendment made Cuba an

American protectorate• Protectorate: a nation whose independence is

limited by the control of a more powerful country

Puerto Rico• U.S. set up a new government under the Foraker

Act of 1900• Foraker Act: gave Puerto Ricans only a limited say

in their own affairs• The U.S. set up schools, roads, and health care on

the island

Philippines

• REMEMBER… Philippine natives had been fighting for independence long before SPAM

• When the U.S. took over after SPAM, Philippine natives felt “owned” without their own identity

• Emilio Aguinaldo (remember him?) leads natives to fight for freedom against a NEW imperial power: the U.S.– He tells the U.S. that “you’ve forgotten your beginnings”

RAWR!!!

Emilio Aguinaldo

Philippines– Revolt in the Philippines resulted in a war that killed 4,000

U.S. troops & 20,000 Philippine natives & 200,000 Philippine civilians too

– 1902- U.S. set up a government similar to that in Puerto Rico & finally granted the Philippines independence in 1946