Ch. 18 Sect. 2
The Spanish-American War
Objectives:
1.  Describe the ways in which the U.S. took advantage of several
incidents in Latin America to reaffirm the Monroe Doctrine.
2.  Analyze the events leading up to and following the SpanishAmerican War.
3.  Identify the areas after the war where the U.S. gained influence and
new territories.
Main Idea:
A swift American victory in the Spanish-American War confirmed the
nation’s status as a world power, but it left some people arguing over
how to govern newly acquired territories.
"
U.S. Annexation Of Hawaii
•  The U.S. signed its first trade treaty with Hawaii in 1875. In
1887, the U.S. leased Pearl Harbor as a refueling and repair
station.
•  In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani wanted to reduce U.S. power in
Hawaii. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was forcefully removed
from power by the U.S. Marines and Sanford Dole (pineapple
planter).
•  Dole requested that Hawaii be annexed by the United States. In
1896, President McKinley supported the annexation of Hawaii
and Congress officially annexed Hawaii in 1898.
Queen Liliuokalani – out
Sanford Dole - in
Entering The Spanish-American War
•  The Spanish - American War begins in April 1898, after
President McKinley asks Congress to declare war.
•  The U.S. entered the war because Cuba wanted independence from
Spain, the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Cuba, and pressure from
yellow journalism.
•  Yellow journalists blamed Spain for the explosion of the U.S.S.
Maine, which killed over 250 U.S. sailors and wrote about
Spanish concentration camps in Cuba.
•  The U.S. wants to American business (Sugar Plantations) in
Cuban and increase its influence on Cuba.
A Destroyed USS Maine
Fighting The War
•  The war began when Admiral George Dewey attacked the
Spanish in the Pacific Ocean in the Philippine Islands (May).
•  One of the most famous battles of the war occurred at San Juan
Hill, Cuba. A group led by Theodore Roosevelt and an African
American cavalry called the Buffalo Soldiers defeated the
Spanish. The final major battle was when the Spanish fleet tried
to leave Cuba. Every Spanish ship was sunk.
•  The U.S. had 2,500 soldiers die but only 400 die in battle. Most
died from malaria, yellow fever, food poisoning, and poor
medical care.
Admiral George Dewey
“Remember The Maine”
The Hero Of Manila
Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
& Buffalo Soldiers
Results Of The War
•  In December 1898, Spain signs a peace treaty giving Cuba
independence and selling the U.S. for $20 million the islands of
Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
•  The U.S. controlled Cuba until 1900 and the Philippines until
1946 (after WW II). These islands became territories of the U.S.
and its citizens are not U.S. citizens. We still control Guam and
Puerto Rico today.
•  The U.S. will increase its world power following the war by
working with European powers to create an Open Door Policy
in China, gaining access to millions of Chinese consumers.
Father U.S. & “The New Kids On The Block”
Puerto Rico, Philippines, Cuba, and Hawaii