The Spanish American War was caused by American sympathy for Cuban rebels fighting for independence from Spanish rule, America's interest in expanding its influence outlined in the Monroe Doctrine, and economic interests in Cuban sugar plantations. Yellow journalism in American newspapers exaggerated Spanish atrocities and stirred up pro-war sentiment, culminating in calls for war after the mysterious sinking of the USS Maine. The war resulted in Spain losing control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, with Cuba gaining nominal independence as a US protectorate and the others becoming US territories.

1. Spanish American War
Learning Target: Identify the Causes
and Effects of the Spanish American
War

2. Causes of Spanish American War
• American Sympathy towards
Cuban Fight for Freedom
against Spanish Rule
– “Butcher” Weyler forced 300,000
Cuban Rebels into concentration
camps
• Monroe Doctrine – chance to get
Spain out of Western Hemisphere
• Economic Interests – sugar
plantations
• Yellow Journalism – American
Press got American’s behind
going to war
• Spark: Sinking of the USS Maine

3. Valeriano (“Butcher”) Weyler
• February,1895, - Cuba
• Spanish send Valeriano
("Butcher") Weyler to Cuba to
put down Cuban rebellion
• Cuban towns turned into
concentration camps, rebels
are tortured.

4. McKinley
• November,1896, - US
• McKinley elected
president
• There was two campaign
promises:
– 1) Protect American
business and
– 2) Free the Cuban
people.

5. Yellow Journalism
A type of journalism that distorts and exaggerates the
news to create sensations and attract readers
William Randolph Hearst vs Joseph Pulitzer.
New York Journal New York World

6. U.S.S. Maine
• February 15, 1898-
Havana Harbor
• U.S.S. Maine was blown-
up
• 260 American sailors
were killed after
mysterious explosion.
Yellow Journalism called
for war against Spain
("Remember the Maine"),
offer rewards for proof of
Spanish plot.

7. 1.What is most
noticeable about the
example?
2. How is this media
making people feel?
3. How would this
influence or change
peoples mind?

8. Characteristics of Yellow
Journalism
Characteristics of Yellow Journalism:
• Headlines in huge print, often of minor news
• Many pictures, or imaginary drawings
• use of faked interviews, misleading headlines,
and false information from so-called experts
• dramatic sympathy with the "underdog" against
the system.
• Emotional words and symbols; scare tactics

11. God Has Told Me
• April,11, 1898, - Washington D.C.
• President McKinley asks Congress to declare
war on Spain
• Although Spain agrees to all American
demands, McKinley tells Congress that God has
told him to attack the Spanish forces.

12. Important Events
• Sinking of the USS Maine
– 266 US Servicemen are killed
– Blamed on a Spanish mine
• Admiral Dewey – Surprise attack on the Spanish
Fleet in Manila Harbor
– All Spanish Ships are Sunk
• Spanish Defeated in Battle of San Juan Hill
– T. Roosevelt led the “Rough Riders” to victory
• Spain signs Treaty of Paris Ending the War

13. Effects of the Spanish American
War
• US becomes an Imperialist Power
• Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines
become colonies of the US
• Cuba gains its independence from Spain,
but becomes a US Protectorate
– US will “protect” and partially control Cuba
• Philippine rebels wanting independence
declare war on US

14. Quick Write
• Do you think there is any such thing as a
"splendid little war"? What other wars
might some people remember as
"splendid little" ones? Who might think
these wars were not so splendid? Who
usually suffers most in a war? Who has to
bear the long-term effects of a war?