Spanish-American War
Build up to War
Feb. 24, 1895- Cuba begins a war for
independence against Spain
U.S. and Spain had been at odds over
the treatment of Cuban’s by Spain.
January 1898- President McKinley
orders the U.S.S. Maine
(battleship) to Cuba to protect
American interests (arrives in
Havana, Harbor Jan. 25, 1898)
Spanish feelings toward
America
Build up to War
Feb. 9, 1898- Spanish minister to the US has
to resign after a private letter to a friend in
Cuba is published in the New York Journal.
In the letter he calls President McKinley
“feeble-minded”
Feb. 15, 1898- U.S.S. Maine explodes.
266 dead only 94 survivors (16 of those
uninjured)
No one is sure what happened some say a
mine struck the ship, others say an
accident
U.S.S. Maine
Before
After
Yellow Journalism
The use of incendiary language causing
emotional reactions. “Remember the Maine”
becomes the rallying cry.
Newspaper publishers Hearst and Pulitzer decided the
Spanish were to blame for the loss of the Maine
and publish it in there papers. Along with stories of
how the Spanish were treating Spanish prisoners.
One of Hearst’s illustrators claimed that conditions in
Cuba were not bad enough to go to war. Hearst
replied “You furnish the pictures and I’ll
furnish the war”
Not common outside of New York City
Moving Toward War
Feb. 25, 1898- Asst. Sec. of the Navy
Theodore Roosevelt sends a secret order
to Com. George Dewey commander of
the Asiatic Squadron “be prepared to
attack the Spanish in the Philippines if
there is an outbreak of War”
Mar. 9, 1898- McKinley asks Congress for $50
million dollars for defense. Navy is in good
shape, the Army is no where near ready for
war.
Moving Toward War
March 19, 1898- The battleship U.S.S.
Oregon is ordered to sail from San
Francisco to Key West. Takes 67
days to sail around Cape Horn.
Strengthens calls for a canal through
Central America
April 25, 1898 War is formally
declared between Spain and the
United States