Spanish-American War (1898)

Causes: How did each of the following help to cause the outbreak of the Spanish-American War?


1. American business owners
American Business Owners were interested in buying Cuba from the Spanish. The Spanish said that they would rather see Cuba sunk in the ocean than in American hands. The business owner liked Cuba for its large sugar cane production.

2. José Martí
Jose Marti was a Cuban Poet who was exiled to new york for being a traitor. He launched a revolution for Cuban independence in 1895. He used Guerrilla tactics to destroy sugar mills in the U.S. in hopes that it would provoke the U.S. to help the Cubans win independence.

3. Valeriano Weyler
In 1896, Spain responded to the Cuban's revolt by sending General Valeriano Weyler, to make peace and restore order. He put all the revolter's in concentration camps to try and stop the revolution, and thousands died in the camps.

4. Yellow journalism
To make civilians angered by Weyler's brutality, stories began spreading about children being thrown down poisoned wells, etc. This became known as yellow journalism.

5. De Lôme letter
This angered Americans because it insulted their president, making Spain seem more evil and Cuba "good."

6. U.S.S. Maine
This ship was sent to get American citizens to safety. But it blew up mysteriously, causing hundreds of people's deaths.


Effects: What happened to each of the following territories as a result of the Spanish-American War?


7. Cuba
Fighting for independence, Cuba looked harmless and got American sympathies, and caused general hate towards Spain.

8. Puerto Rico
Imperialism was the real issue here, and the U.S. wondered if they had the right to annex them. The U.S. now owned Puerto Rico.

9. Guam
The U.S. now owned Guam.

10. Philippine Islands
The first battle happened here instead of Cuba, as Spain suspected. Americans took over Spain's main city and destroyed every one of their ships.