The Spanish- American War (April 20- August 12, 1898) & US Foreign Policy in the Early 20th

Century

“A Splendid Little War”

Who was Valeriano Weyler? Get this answer from the following video!

Jose Marti and the Cuban Revolution Against Spanish Rule

1:33

Why is he significant in Cuba’s desire for independence?

A. Yellow journalists exaggerated Weyler’s cruelty.B. People in the US were shocked about these stories and wanted the US to intervene.

Yellow Journalism• William Randolph Hearst–

New York Journal• Joseph Pulitzer– New York

World• These men tried to outsell

each other by exaggerating the facts.

• Whipped up anti-Spanish sentiment in their readers.

• Because of the stories, readers called for the US to step in.

The Spanish American War Begins

2:19

The Spanish- American War

• Cuba: The US set up a blockade around Cuba

• 125,000 poorly trained & equipped US volunteers fought the Spanish

• Biggest battle was at San Juan Hill

• Disease killed more men than combat did

• The Philippines: George Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet at Manila (capital of the Philippines)

• Filipinos supported the US & helped our soldiers defeat the Spanish

The War in the Philippines and the Caribbean

3:02

The Rough Riders• Most famous

unit of the war• Led by TR• Get credit for

famous charge up San Juan Hill

• Didn’t actually do that much– “Buffalo Soldiers” were responsible for much of the key fighting

Treaty of Paris• Ended the Spanish- American

War• Turned over Guam and Puerto

Rico to the US• US also bought Philippines for

$20 mil.• Controversial because it made

the US an imperial power– some felt we shouldn’t take colonies (violated the Dec. of Ind., US should focus on problems at home first, would create competition for jobs)

Importance of Puerto Rico• Good location for a US naval base– would

be able to protect the building & maintenance of the Panama Canal

18.3

Rights of Puerto Ricans Today

• US citizenship

• Cannot vote in US Presidential elections

• Subject to military draft

• Elect members of their own legislature

• Can move freely from PR to US

• Have protection of US

Post- War Relations: US & Cuba• Relationship not good

after US forced Cuba to adopt rules that favored the interests of the US (Platt Amendment)

• Set up rules to protect US businesses in Cuba

• Cubans did not appreciate this treatment

Filipinos Rebel

• US had promised Filipino independence

• Filipinos revolted when they discovered they were to be an American territory

• Filipinos now turned against US

• Used guerilla tactics to fight US

The War Ends: The Treaty of Paris

2:23

US Handles Filipino Rebellion• US forced Filipinos

to live in designated zones where conditions were very bad

• Done to keep track of guerillas

• Cost: 20,000 Filipino rebels died; 4,000 Americans; $400 million

The Open Door Policy

• Stated that China should not be controlled by foreign nations but should be open to trade with any nation

• US insisted on this so no European nation would gain a trade advantage over the US

China & the Open Door Policy

3:28

Boxer Rebellion• Group in China

(the Boxers) who wanted to get rid of all foreigners

• Killed hundreds of foreigners & Chinese Christians

• International army put down the rebellion

“The Canal Zone”• To gain the land to

build the canal, the US sponsored a rebellion against Columbia (Panama was a province of Columbia)

• US sent warships to Panama on the day it claimed independence

• US purchased the canal zone for $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000

18.4

Construction of the Panama Canal• Very expensive

• Many men died due to disease

• 75% of the workers were blacks from the West Indies, some from Spain & Italy

• 5,600/ 43,400 died from accidents or disease

The Roosevelt Corollary• An add- on to the Monroe Doctrine

• Stated that if necessary, the US would act as the international police if anyone threatened our economic interests in Latin America

Dollar Diplomacy• President Taft (came after TR) guaranteed

any loan given by American businesses to foreign nations.

• In other words, if an American business gave a loan to a Latin American nation and that nation could not pay, the US government would cover the loan

• This was an incentive for US businesses to give $$$ to Latin America• This would allow the US to have more power in LA & keep European nations out!

Foreign Policy

5:24

US & the Mexican Revolution of 1911

• President Wilson wanted to get rid of Mexican Dictator Victoriano Huerta

• When some US sailors were arrested in Mexico, Wilson sent in the Marine to occupy Veracruz.

• Fighting broke out and almost led to war

• Venustiano Carranza became president

Pancho Villa• Opposed Carranza’s US- backed government• Villa’s men killed some US engineers• President Wilson sent John J. Pershing to hunt down Villa. • He was difficult to find.• Almost led to war bet. Mexico & the US