THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 1898

John Hay: “Splendid little war”

COMPETITION FOR EMPIRE

AFRICA, THE PACIFIC AND ASIA

WHY WAS THE U.S. SLOW TO ENTER THE RACE?

PRE-OCCUPIED WITH THE WEST. INDUSTRIALIZATION ASSIMILATION OF IMMIGRANTS AMERICAN IDEAL OF SELF-

DETERMINATION. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

WHY DO NATIONS SEEK EMPIRE?

FOR RESOURCESFOR CONTROL OF MARKETSFOR NATIONAL PRIDE

IN THE 19TH CENTURY DID THE US SEEK EMPIRE?

WE BOUGHT LOUISIANA FROM FRANCE

WE ANNEXED TEXAS WE SEIZED NORTHERN MEXICO WE TOOK CONTROL OF

OREGON COUNTRY.

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR WAS A TURNING POINT

IT EXTENDED AMERICAN INFLUENCE

GAVE US CONTROL OF AN OVERSEAS EMPIRE.

GAVE US BASES FOR OUR NAVY THE PHILIPPINES, PUERTO RICO,

SAMOA, GUAM, AND CUBA

BUT IT CAUSED PROBLEMS TOO.

RULING SUBJECT PEOPLEVIOLATED OUR BASIC IDEALSPROBLEMS OF DEFENSEECONOMIC BURDENS.

WHY THE CHANGE IN POLICY?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTNATIONAL PRIDEA NEW MANIFEST DESTINYTHE “WHITE MAN’S BURDEN.”JINGOISM

Rudyard Kipling

WHAT WERE THE STEPS TO EMPIRE?

1867 ALASKAPACIFIC ISLANDS: MIDWAY, SAMOAN

ISLANDS

HAWAII

1893 AMERICAN LEAD REVOLTPRES. CLEVELAND REFUSES TO

ANNEX1898 PRESIDENT MCKINLEY AGREES

TO ANNEX

President William

McKinley

THE CAUSES OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

HISTORICAL INTEREST IN CUBAOSTEND MANIFESTO 1854SYMPATHY FOR REBELS 1868 INFLUENCE OF “YELLOW

JOURNALISM”

YELLOW JOURNALISM

WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST NEW YORK JOURNAL

JOSEPH PULITZER NEW YORK WORLD– Both tried to out do each other; lesser competitors also

involved Hearst send artist Frederic Remington to Cuba to draw sketches When Remington reported conditions not bad enough to warrant

hostilities, Randolph replied, “You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war.”

Remington depicted Spanish customs officials as brutally disrobing and searching an American woman.

PUBLIC DEMAND FOR INTERVENTION

Atrocities in Cuba were Sensationalized by YP

Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894 and Spanish misrule damaged Cuba’s sugar-based economy– Cuban Rebellion in 1890s resulted in American

property losses, as well as Cuban and Spanish Re-concentration:

– About 100,000 died between 1896 and 1898– Spanish leader in Cuba: Valeriano Weyler seen as

“Butcher Weyler”

JINGOISM

WAR IS GLORIOUSWAR IS AN INSTRUMENT OF

NATIONAL POLICYU.S. IS A GREAT POWERSPAIN IS A PREFECT TARGET

THE DE LOME LETTER FEB. 1898

SPAIN’S MINISTER TO U.S.– February 9, 1898: Hearst sensationally headlined a

stolen private letter written by Spanish minister in Washington, Dupuy de Lome that portrayed McKinley as corrupt and indicated Spain lacked good faith in instituting reforms in Cuba.

PRIVATE LETTER CALLS MCKINLEY A WEAK POLITICIAN

PUBLIC IS OUTRAGED– U.S. uproar forced Dupuy de Lome to resign before

U.S. called for his recall

THE SINKING OF THE USS MAINE

6 DAYS AFTER DE LOME LETTERTHE USS MAINE BLOWS UP IN

HAVANA HARBOR– Feb. 15, 1898– Sent as a “friendly visit”

260 MEN KILLED.WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE?

The Explosion:– Spanish investigation announced explosion as

internal, presumably accidental– American version reported blast caused by a

submarine mine – 1976 U.S. Navy report showed blast inside the ship was accidental

– American accepted the submarine mine view and said Spanish Government was responsible.

– Yellow Press Helped…– AMERICANS CRIED: “Remember the Maine! To

HELL WITH SPAIN!”

DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE

MCKINLEY RESISTS CALL FOR WAR

BUSINESS INTERESTS DID NOT WANT WAR

NEWS PAPERS CLAIM SPAIN DESTROYED THE MAINE

U.S. SENDS DEMANDS TO SPAINSPAIN AGREES TO MOST DEMANDS

MCKINLEY YIELDS TO JINGO PRESSURE

APRIL 24, 1898 CONGRESS DECLARES WAR. STATED REASON: TO LIBERATE CUBA FROM SPAIN AND TO

END THE BARBARIC INHUMANE TREATMENT OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE.

POLITICALLY, MCKINLEY WAS AFRAID NOT TO GO TO WAR.– Mark Hanna and Wall Street did not want to go to war: might

interfere with trade in Cuba– Demands of preserving Republican Party biggest factor in

decision for war.

SENT WAR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ON APRIL 11, 1898

KEY EVENTS OF THE WAR

FIRST BATTLE OF THE WAR TO FREE CUBA TAKES PLACE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

NAVAL SUCCESSES– US army small and weak compared to

Spain; US navy slightly less powerful than Spains.

MANILA BAY – GEORGE DEWEY- 6 DAYS AFTER DECLARATION– Dewey victorious at Manila Bay– While Secretary of War was away, Undersecretary of

War Roosevelt cabled Dewey to attack Spain's Philippines in the event of war….McKinley confirmed

– May 1898 Dewey’s 6 warships sailed into Manila Harbor and destroyed all 10 of Spain’s ten warships; 400 Spaniards killed and wounded; 1 American death (heat stroke)

– Germans arrived with 5 warships; more powerful than Dewey

Dewey threatened German commander with war “as soon as you like”

False story emerged that British prevented Germans from destroying U.S. fleet

– Three months later, American troops finally arrived and captured Manila in August – Aided by Filipino insurgents commanded by their well-educated, part-Chinese leader; Emilio Aguinaldo (Brought from exile)

– US annexation of Philippines, Aguinaldo led an insurrection against the U.S.

ADMIRALS: SAMPSON AND SCHLEY “BATTLE OF SANTIAGO BAY” DEFEATS SPANISH FLEET– July 1st, Spanish fleet completely destroyed– USS Oregon used more firepower than Spain’s 4

armored cruisers combined – About 500 Spaniards killed; only one American

– Santiago surrendered by Spain shortly thereafter– US casualties; about 379 dead in battle; over 5,000

dead due to disease.

LAND WAR.

ARMY ILL PREPARED FOR WAR. TEDDY ROOSEVELT RESIGNS AS ASS. SEC. OF

NAVY JOINS “THE ROUGH RIDERS” BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL AND KETTLE HILL.

– San Juan Hill: “Rough Riders” charged up after the hill had been largely won by the

– The RR first took Kettle Hills; and there were heavy causalities– Heavy fighting at El Caney as well

GENERAL MILES TAKES PUERTO RICO– US sought to take the island before the war with Spain ended– Most of population regarded U.S. soldiers as liberating heroes– Spain signed Armistice on August 12, 1898

THE PHILIPPINES

U.S. TAKE MANILA, BUT NOT THE REST OF THE PHILIPPINES

FILIPINOS VIEW US AS LIBERATORS.WAR ENDS JULY 16, 1898ONLY 400 AMERICANS KILLED BY THE

WARBUT MORE THAN 4000 DIE FROM DISEASE

& BAD MEAT.

TREATY OF PARIS DEC. 1898

U.S. GETS GUAM, PUERTO RICO– Cuba freed from Spain– U.S. received Pacific island of Guam which they had

captured early in the war.– US gained Puerto Rico, the last vestige of Spain’s

American empire. OCCUPIES CUBA Anti-Imperialist League Insular cases

TELLER RESOLUTION PASSED BEFORE THE WAR: PROMISES CUBAN INDEPENDENCE. U.S. WILL NOT ANNEX CUBA– Proclaimed to the world that when the U.S.

had overthrown Spanish misrule, it would give the Cubans their freedom – Europeans skeptical

Us Took Manila the day after Spain sued for peace– Philippines thus not one of the spoils of war

U.S. PAYS SPAIN $20 MILLION FOR THE PHILIPPINES

McKinley’s dilemma– Valuable Philippines larger than British Isles; population of 7

million– Did not feel US should give islands back to Spain, esp. after

fighting a war to free Cuba– If left alone, Philippines might fall into anarchy – Perhaps

Germany would then seize it creating a world War.– Least of evils was to take Philippines and leave independence

for later.

ELECTION OF 1900

KEY ISSUE IMPERIALISM– Anti-Imperialist League

Formed to oppose McKinley’s expansionism Group includes presidents of Stanford and Harvard

Universities, philosopher William James, and Mark Twain; Samuel Gompers and Andrew Carnegie

Filipinos wanted freedom and annexation violated philosophy in the DOI

Democrats tended to be Anti-Imperialist – William Jennings Bryan

BRYAN VS. MCKINLEY

REPUBLICANS MAKE T.R. VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

BRYAN: “IMPERIALISM IS THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE”

SHOULD WE KEEP THE PHILIPPINES?

MCKINLEY’S ANSWER COMES FROM GOD.– Told him to take all the Philippines and

Christianize and civilize them after he had knelt seeking divine guidance

WE HAVE A DUTY TO UPLIFT AND CHRISTIANIZE THE PHILIPPINES.

THE PLATT AMENDMENT

CUBA IS INDEPENDENT, THE U.S. CAN INTERVENE WHENEVER WE DEEM IT NECESSARY.

Protect Cuba Forced into the Platt Amendment Provisions:

– Cuba my not contract a debt beyond their resources– U.S. might intervene to restore order and to provide

protection– US control Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

Post War Nationalism after the Spanish American War

Established America’s first overseas empire US got more respect Monroe Doctrine given a significant boost. Britain ally with US Philippines drew US into Asian affairs Mahan’s view of necessity for larger navy prevailed Elihu Root improved War Department War served to further heal the rift between North and South Nationalism the result of an urban, mass-culture, industrial

society.

THE OPEN DOOR POLICY AND “BIG STICK”

DIPLOMACY.

VICTORY OVER SPAIN GIVES U.S. AN EMPIRE.

• THE PHILIPPINES WELCOME LIBERATION• U.S. DECIDES TO STAY• THE PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION 1899 – 1902

• Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippines independent

• 4,300 Americans and 57,000.• WILLIAM TAFT U.S. GOVERNOR.

• McKinley appointed Philippine Commission to make recommendations in 1901

• Taft: called Filipinos his “little brown brothers”• Got Independence July 4, 1946

CHINA & THE OPEN DOOR POLICY.

• U.S. INVOLVEMENT STARTS IN 1830’S• THE CHINESE EMPIRE IS IN DECLINE.• EUROPEAN “SPHERES OF INFLUENCE”• 1899 BRITISH WANT A JOINT US

/BRITISH DECLARATION• MCKINLEY REFUSES

SEC OF STATE JOHN HAY

• CIRCULATES AN OPEN DOOR NOTE UNILATERALLY.(Summer of 1899)

• Issued by Secretary of State John Hay

• DECLARES CHINESE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY SHOULD BE RESPECTED.

• CHINA SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL.

• Open Door gained wide acceptance in US• Policy did not gain international acceptance

THE “BOXER REBELLION.”

• 1900 THE UNIVERSAL FIST OF HARMONY= THE BOXERS.• DEMAND CHINA FOR THE CHINESE.• WANT TO EXPEL THE “FOREIGN DEVILS.”• ALLIED ARMY BREAK THE SIEGE.

• Millions of Chinese enraged over Open Door Policy

• Multinational force of 18,000 arrived to put down rebellion

• Victorious they assessed an indemnity of $333 million (US got $24.5 mil)

HAY ISSUES A 2ND OPEN DOOR NOTE.

• U.S. IS TOO WEAK TO UNILATERALLY ENFORCE THE DEMAND.

• BUT CLEVER DIPLOMACY WORKS.• Sought to eliminate carving up China with

Boxer outrages as a pretext• Hay did not ask for formal acceptances• China thus spared partition during these

years.

MCKINLEY’S ASSASSINATION

• PRESIDENT VISITS PAN AMERICAN EXPO IN BUFFALO, N.Y.• SHOT BY AN ANARCHIST LEON CZOLGOSZ, SEPT. 6, 1901

• From Poland• DIES SEPT. 14TH.• THEODORE ROOSEVELT BECOMES PRESIDENT.

• TR became the youngest president thus far in US History at 42.

• Pledged would carry out policies of her predecessor• 1st president to play significant role in world affairs• “Speak softly but carry a big stick and you will go far”• Major proponent of military and naval preparedness

THE US. AND LATIN AMERICA

• US VIEWS THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AS OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.

• WE MAKE HEAVY USE OF THE “BIG STICK.”

• AFRICAN SLOGAN: “SPEAK SOFTLY BUT CARRY A BIG STICK.”

THE PANAMA CANAL

• CLAYTON BULWER TREATY OF 1850: U.S. AND BRITAIN WILL CREATE A CANAL AND JOINTLY RUN IT.

• THE FRENCH MAKE THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THEY BUILT THE SUEZ CANAL.

• THE FRENCH FAIL.

1898 VOYAGE OF USS OREGON

DEMONSTRATES THE NEED.

• TR IS PRESIDENT, WANTS THE U.S. TO BUILD THE CANAL.

• HAY PAUNCEFORTE TREATY 1901: RELEASES US FROM THE CLAYTON TREATY.

• HAY/ HERRAN TREATY 1903: WITH COLOMBIA

COLOMBIAN SENATE REJECTS THE TREATY.

• TR CALLS THEM BANDITS• TR HELPS ENGINEER THE PANAMA

REVOLUTION OF 1903• HAY /BUNAU-VARILLA TREATY 1903• TR Role• Canal Completed in 1914 at initiated

cost of $400 million

PANAMA CANAL

• 50 MILES LONG• STARTED BY FRENCH COMPLETED

ABOUT 1/3RD OF THE WORK• 20,000 FRENCHMEN DIED IN THE

EFFORT• AMERICANS BEGIN WORK 1904 AND

COMPLETE IT IN 1914.

ROOSEVELT COROLLARY 1904

• MONROE DOCTRINE BAR EUROPEAN INTERVENTION IN LATIN AMERICA

• SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES HIDE BEHIND IT.

• TR ANNOUNCES U.S. WILL BE POLICEMAN OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

• CUBA: US kept high tariffs against Cuban sugar at behest of US sugar owners

THE DRAGO DOCTRINE

• INTERVENTION IS WRONG, A VIOLATION OF SOVEREIGNTY.

• IN 20TH CENTURY U.S. WILL INTERVENE OFTEN.• DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1905• CUBA 1906• NICARAGUA 1911• HAITI 1915• DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1924

RELATIONS WITH JAPAN

• 1853 COMMODORE MATTHEW PERRY FORCES JAPAN TO OPEN TO THE WEST.

• JAPAN QUICKLY MODERNIZES• RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR 1904

• TR eager to prevent either side from gaining a monopoly in Asia but did not seek war

• TR MEDIATES TREATY OF PORTSMOUTH 1904

• JAPAN CONTROLS KOREA & PART OF MANCHURIA

• TR WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.1906

MORE ON JAPAN

• SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF EDUCATION INCIDENT 1906

• FEAR OF “THE YELLOW PERIL”• 1907 “GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT.”• ROOT-TAKAHIRA AGREEMENT 1908

• AGREE TO AFFIRM OPEN DOOR TO CHINA• STATUS QUO IN THE PACIFIC.

• Lansing-Ishii Agreement 1917

THAT’S ALL….