A FORCE IN THE WORLD 1880-1910 The “Splendid Little War”

A FORCE IN THE WORLD 1880-1910

The “Splendid Little War”


• War Fever rises

• Alleged abuses of Cubans by Spain


• Newspapers jumped on story


• William Randolph Hearst


• Joseph Pulitzer


• Printed stories of abuse

• Greatly exaggerated or lied about severity of abuse

• Became known as Yellow Journalism


• DeLome Letter

• Spanish Minister to the United States


• Wrote McKinley was a weak bidder for the admiration of the crowd

• Meaning that he would bow to pressure


• Despite the Spanish apology and the resignation of the minister

• U.S. was still outraged demanded more action


• February 15, 1898

• Battleship Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor


• 260 sailors were killed

• Spain was blamed

• Actually the explosion was probably an accident


• “Remember the Maine to hell with Spain”

• Became the slogan for a response from America


• Spain offered peace

• Too late

• America demanded War!!!!!!!!!!!!!


• April 11,1898 McKinley asked for a declaration of War


• Congress approved and passed the

• Teller Amendment

• Stated after war was over the United States would give control of Cuba to the Cubans


• Battle of Manila Bay


• Philippines

• Admiral Dewey defeated the Spanish Navy without losing a single sailor


• Seized the Philippines

Cuban Campaign

American Army was ill prepared and ill equipped


• Issued wool uniforms to troops in a tropical country


• Rough Riders lead by Theodore Roosevelt

• Charge up San Juan hill

• Santiago Roosevelt became a national hero

http://www.ngb.army.mil/gallery/heritage/images/roughriders.jpg


• Truth be told

• 10th Negro Cavalry led by John J Pershing did the fighting


• Spanish fleet tried to leave Cuba

• Destroyed by American gunboats


• Next Puerto Rico was invaded

• Little or no resistance

• Took over island


• War was perceived as a great success

• 400 American battle casualties


• 5,000 died from disease

• Treaty of Paris ended war

• Terms of treaty

• 1. Cuba gained Independence from Spain


2.Guam (a small island in the Pacific)

3. United States received Puerto Rico

4.Spain sold Philippines to U.S. for 20 million dollars

The Debate over Imperialism


• Arguments for Imperialism1.New Markets

2.Places for investments

3.New sites for naval bases

4.Civilize the natives


• Arguments against Imperialism

1. Too much money spent to defend

2. Other races and countries were entitled to life liberty and pursuit of happiness


• Filipino Uprising

• Upset over trading Spanish rule for American rule

• Emilio Aguinaldo led rebellion


• He helped U.S. drive Spain out of the Philippine Islands

• Now he is leading the uprising against the U. S.


• U.S. fought a guerilla war

• Took 3 years and 7,000 American casualties

• 20,000 Filipinos died in the fighting


• Along with 200,000 Filipino citizens

• Agreement in 1934 Philippines would become independent in 1944


• Why did this not happen?

• World War II


• On July 4, 1946 Republic of the Philippines was born


• Puerto Rico and Cuba


• Cuba had problems1.no strong government

2.starvation of their people

3.Disease

4.crime


• 1902 Platt Amendment–Stated United States had the

right to intervene in Cuba’s affairs if necessary for the

–Protection of life liberty and individual liberty


• Leased naval base around Guantanamo bay

Big Stick America and the World 1901-1917

Roosevelt Corollary and Big Stick Diplomacy

• “speak softly and carry a big stick”

• Based on Monroe Doctrine

• Monroe Doctrine

• Europe to stay out of Latin America

• United States will stay out of European wars and business

• Annual message to Congress

• Reinforced Monroe Document and added that if Latin American countires default United States will intervene

• Military action would be last resort

Dollar Diplomacy

Utilizing of financial strength and clout rather than military force

Taft did not like war

Nicaragua

Concern of a rival canal being built by an European power

United States assisted (private sources not government)

Overthrew government

Taft’s administration pushed for a loan to Nicaragua to pay for debt to Britain

Also American was appointed collector of customs to insure payment of debt to United States

In 1912 to calm situation United States sent 2,500 Marines to protect United States interest in Nicaragua thus calming the situation

Canada

Taft proposed a reciprocal agreement on trade with Canada

Some thought this was as disguised as the beginnings of annexing Canada

This led to a new government in

Canada and the treaty was rejected

Mexico and Latin America

•Intervention in Mexico•Revolution in Mexico•Victoriano Huerta

•Wilson refused to recognize

•Vera Cruz operation•Sailors arrested

•Wilson sent Marines•United the entire Mexican Population behind Huerta

•19 Americans were killed and Wilson was in an no win situation

•A Negotiated settlement was arranged

•Mexico would still be a thorn in Wilson’s side

•United States recognized new government after Huerta was forced out

•Pancho Villa •Rebel against new government and was originally a U. S. supporter

•Any Similarities ?

–Villa attacked border town–Columbus New Mexico–18 Americans were killed

•U. S. forces drove off attack

•General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing

•Sent to hunt Villa down in Mexico

A FORCE IN THE WORLD 1880-1910 The “Splendid Little War”

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