Call to Order

Imagine that someone calls you and tells you that they have just fought a “splendid little war”. What type of war do you think they would be fighting? Why might they describe it as “splendid”?

Objective

HWBAT evaluate whether the Spanish-American War deserved to be called “A Splendid Little War”.

Why was it called the Splendid Little War?

Did it deserve its name?

Causes of the Spanish American War

HUMANITARIAN: Americans sympathized with the Cuban Revolution because they felt like it was like their own. They also had seen pictures of Cubans in military camps, where 30% of Cubans died from starvation.

EXPANSIONIST: Americans realized they could seize land from Spain, who was weak. New colonies = new naval bases.

ECONOMIC: Spain had imposed taxes on Cuba and Cuba had experienced an economic collapse.

Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine

Yellow Journalism

Jingoism = intense patriotism

Effects of the Spanish-American War

United States defeats Spain in less than four months

2,446 Americans died (400 in combat, the rest from disease)

Spain recognizes Cuba’s independence. United States begins to control Cuban politics and economy.

Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam become United States territories.

United States is recognized as a world power.

Coding your notes

Put a star next to “immediate causes”

Put an underline under “underlying causes”

Put a plus sign next to positive effects of the war for the U.S.

Put a minus sign next to negative effects of the war for the U.S.

Song, Rap, Poem, or Formal Letter

Secretary of State John Hay wrote to the President saying that the war had been a “splendid little war”. Finish his letter in either the form of a song, rap, poem, or formal letter. Explain:

What had caused the war

What the effects of the war were

Why it should be called “splendid and little”