American Interest in Cuba

In 1854 diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce that the U.S. buy Cuba from Spain

In 1860, Democrats called for the admission of Cuba to the Union as a slave state

Political Instability

From 1868 – 1878, Cubans fought their first war for independence

Failed to gain independence

Sugar PlantationsIn 1884, tariffs were abolished on Cuban

sugar, causing sugar production to skyrocket.American capitalists had invested millions in

large sugar cane plantations after 1886.Cuba’s economy became dependent on sugarThe U.S. became Cuba’s main market.High tariffs were restored in 1894, ruining

Cuba’s economy.

Second War for Independence

Jose Marti, a Cuban poet, launched a revolution in 1895.

Cuban guerrillas destroyed American sugar plantations hoping to provoke U.S. intervention

The U.S. public was split on whether to get involved or not

Concentration Camps

Cuban General Valeriano Weyler Moved the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into concentration camps.

Approximately 300,000 people were imprisoned

Thousands died of disease and hunger

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism – Reporting that

exaggerates the news to lure new readersWilliam Randolph Hearst (New York Journal)

and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) printed exaggerated reports of Weyler’s brutality.

They said that wells were poisoned and children were fed to the sharks

American sympathy deepened

Spanish authorities restricted the freedom of reporters and prevented them from entering combat areas.

Many reporters gathered in bars and made up reports of battles that never took place.

McKinley

William McKinley became president in 1897McKinley tried diplomatic means to resolve

the crisis in CubaSpain recalled General Weyler and offered

Cuba limited self-government

The De Lome LetterIn February 1898, the New York Journal

published a private letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to the United States

The letter called McKinley “weak” and “a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.”

Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the navy, said McKinley had “no more backbone than a chocolate éclair”

The USS Maine

Early in 1898, McKinley had ordered the USS Maine to Cuba to protect American lives and property.

On February 15, 1898, the Maine exploded.266 of the 350 men on board died.A naval court of inquiry determined it was

sunk by a Spanish mine

Yellow Journalists Cont.Yellow journalists held Spain responsibleHearst’s paper offered a $50,000 reward for

the capture of the Spaniards who committed the outrage

“Remember the Maine!” became the rallying call for U.S. intervention in Cuba

War Breaks Out

On April 11, McKinley asked congress for authority to use force in Cuba.

After a week of debate, congress agreed.

The Philippines

The first battle of the war took place in the Philippines

In 1898 Roosevelt had ordered the Pacific fleet to sail for the Philippines

On May 1, George Dewey steamed into Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet.

Spain lost 381 men, the U.S. lost 1

Blockade

The U.S. blockaded Cuba

Untrained TroopsThe U.S. army maintained a small professional

army.About 125,000 Americans volunteered to fight.Training camps lacked the supplies and effective

leaders to train troops properly.Not enough modern guns to go aroundOutfitted with wool uniforms that were

unsuitable for Cuba’s tropical climate