Causes of the Spanish-American War

Causes of the Spanish-American WarUS History | Spiconardi | 1The Cuban RevolutionCuba had been under the control of the Spanish since 1492.From 1868 to 1878, Cubans fought for independence, but were crushed.In 1895, under the leadership of Jos Mart, Cubans once again rebelled against the Spanish and sought U.S. assistance.

Marti was an expatriate who gathered Cuban-Americans to return to Cuba to fight for independence Insert a map of your country.2The Cuban RevolutionCauses of RevolutionEconomicSpain increased taxes on CubaU.S. placed a tariff on Cuban sugarCubas economy suffersCuban revolutionaries destroy American sugar plantations and mills in Cuba

This upset American business interests. Many called for the U.S. to become involved.The Cuban RevolutionIn order to suppress the rebellion, the Spanish instituted a policy of reconcentrationReconcentration The Spanish forced Cuban rebels into detention camps and fortified townsThe prisoners starved to death and many died due to the spread of disease

Insert a picture of one of the geographic features of your country.4

American ReactionAmericans were sympathetic to the suffering of CubansMany Americans called for U.S. intervention to protect trading interestsPresident Cleveland was against U.S. involvement, but his pro-imperialist successor President McKinleyWhat other imperialist issue did these two presidents disagree on?

President McKinley being sworn in as the 25th President of the United StatesThe outgoing president ClevelandYellow JournalismYellow Journalism Reporting the news in a sensational way that often bends the truth to sell more papers and shape public opinion

William Randolph HearstPublisher of the New York Journal

Joseph PulitzerPublisher of the New York World

blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood.FEEDING PRISONERS TO THE SHARKSExamples of Yellow Journalism

The DeLme LetterA personal letter from Spanish Minister to the United States from published in the New York JournalMcKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party.

Someone who believes in extreme patriotism and aggressive foreign policy

The New York Journal ran a headline: THE WORST INSULT TO THE UNITED STATES IN ITS HISTORYSinking of the MaineThe Spanish were unable to control the Cuban rebellion, so McKinley sends the battleship Maine to Cuba to protect American citizens

Then on February 15

Sinking of the Maine

Sinking of the MaineAn explosion kills 266 of the 354 crew members on boardSpain was blamed, despite lack of evidence, for setting a mine that cause the ships explosionAmericans increase the public pressure to go to war with Spain

War!On April 11, 1898, McKinley asks Congress to use military force against Spain for four reasonsThe cause of humanityProtection of American life and propertyVery serious injury to the trade of our peopleConstant menace to our peaceOn April 19, Congress declared Cuba independent and granted the presidents request for force