Section 2

Rebellion Against Spain

        -Several of Spain’s colonies were demanding independence

                -Cuba started revolt

                        -Spain crushed rebels (200,000+ killed)

                        -US concerned (had businesses in Cuba)

-US newspapers started printing exaggerated stories about Spanish cruelty

                                -Yellow journalism (site) (another site)

                                -Made Americans mad at Spain

US Gets Involved

        -McKinley did not want war

                -Public demanded US do something

        -USS Maine sent to Cuba to protect US interests

                -Sat in Havana harbor

                        -February 15, 1898àMaine explodes

                                -Newspapers blame Spain (torpedo)

                                        -“Remember the Maine”

                                -Engine exploded

        -US declares war on Spain (April 20, 1898)

War in the Philippines

        -Philippines was a Spanish colony

                -Filipinos also revolting

                        -Had US fleet nearby (just in case)

                                -When war began, ships went to Philippines

        -George Dewey in charge of US forces

                -Destroyed Spanish fleet (May 1, 1898)

                        -No US sailors killed

War in the Caribbean

        -US totally unprepared to fight a war

                -Only had 28,000 soldiers in Army

                        -New recruits were hastily trained

        -Theodore Roosevelt starts “Rough Riders”

                -Volunteer cavalry unit

        -Battle of San Juan Hill (July 1, 1898)

                -By evening, capture the hill

        -July 2, 1898àSpanish Caribbean fleet obliterated

        -US captured Puerto Rico (no threat)

        -Spain surrenders August 12, 1898

        -“Splendid little war”

Consequences of the War

        -5,400 US soldiers killed (400 battle deaths; 5,000 diseases)

-Spain gave up Philippines

                -Filipinos wanted independenceàrevolted against US

                        -US squashed rebellionàMade it a colony                               -William Taft was first governor of Philippines

        -Cuba got semi-independence

                -Platt Amendment

                        -US could intervene in any Cuban affair at any time

                        -US establish military base

        -Puerto Rico

                -Became US territory

                -Allowed citizens to be US citizens in 1917

                -Became “commonwealth” in 1952

Anti-Imperialist League

-Some people believed US should not deny other people’s independence

                -US was in same boat in 1776

        -Not a big groupàPeople excited about huge victory