|
You are here: Year 5 and 6 History Compendium > The Spanish American War (1898)
AO Year 5The United States Goes to War with Spain (1898)**Discussion Topic** The Spanish American War Abstract: The U.S. battleship Maine sinks in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. Tensions rise between the United States and Spain and on April 24, 1898, Spain declares war on the U.S. The following abstract was written by Carol Hepburn, 2005. Source: What Everyone Should Know About the 20th Century: 200 Events that Shaped the World by Dr. Alan Axelrod and Charles Phillips, published by Adams Media Corporation, 1995; 1998. Background Information The post-Civil War economic trouble was leading to civil unrest and class warfare at home. Labor disputes and growing economic hardships led many US policy makers to look abroad for ways to improve big business and stave off further internal instability. Throughout the 19th century, American's were considered politically to be isolationists (i.e., they maintained a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries), however, as the new century approached many elite businessmen and those in power, sought to expand America's holdings (i.e., expansionist, to encourage our nation's practice or policy of territorial or economic expansion). The causes of the Spanish American war are many but the initial dispute focused on Spain's territorial hold over the tiny island of Cuba (90 miles south of Florida). Cuban rebels had been fighting Spain's territorial government for over a year and the tension was escalating. Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler, the new colonial governor, to Cuba to put an end to the rebel fighting and establish peace. Weyler was worried that the Cuban citizens would covertly supply the rebels and instead of trying to resolve the conflict, he rounded up the local people and placed them into camps. His action prompted those in the U.S. who sought American expansion to begin to attempt to sway public opinion against Spain and in favor of Cuba. President Grover Cleveland didn't want the U.S. to become involved in a conflict between Spain and her colonial interest, Cuba. William McKinley, who succeeded Cleveland in 1896, felt the same way. However, as the months of fighting continued, political sentiment in the U.S. changed and more and more people wanted to help the people of Cuba. Spain continued to wage war against the Cuban rebels and eventually in January of 1898, President McKinley sent the warship, Maine, to Havana Harbor in order to protect U.S. Citizens who lived and worked in Cuba. Suddenly and without warning, the ship blew up and was sunk, killing 266 crewmen. Most American's blamed the Spanish for sabotaging the harbor (believing that they had laid mines in the waters to defend themselves against possible outside threats). The killing of American service men outraged the American public and in April of 1898, President McKinley asked Congress to send forces to Cuba. In addition to this request, Congress passed a resolution acknowledging Cuba's independence from Spain. On April 24, 1898, Spain reacted to this news by issuing a declaration of war against the United States. Major Events The first battle with Spain occurred in Manila Bay, Philippines. Admiral Dewey attacked ten Spanish ships anchored in the bay on May 1, 1898. The U.S. gained a decisive victory and later eleven thousand troops were dispatched to the Philippines and on August 13, 1898, the U.S. along with the Philippine irregulars defeated the Spanish forces. On May 29, 1898, the U.S. defeated the Spanish fleet at Santiago Harbor, Cuba. The fighting in Cuba was especially fierce and on July 1, the U.S. forces led by Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders captured San Juan Hill. On August 12, 1898, Spain agreed to withdraw from Cuba and also ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States. Formal peace talks resulted in the United States purchasing the Philippines from Spain for $20 million dollars. The United States had little difficulty setting up a territorial government in Puerto Rico but tensions with Cuban rebels led President McKinley to grant Cuban independence in 1902. The Philippines would gain their independence from the United States at the end of World War II. Political Outcome of the Spanish American War The United States gained tremendous world power and prestige with it's victory over Spain. President Roosevelt (who assumed office after McKinley was shot) created an international policy that was later known as the "Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine" (i.e., the Monroe Doctrine was an American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western hemisphere from outside power), whereby the United States would serve as an international police force to the Caribbean Islands and Latin American region. Key Words and Definitions i·so·la·tion·ism Isolationist aDS : of or relating to isolationism [syn: isolationistic] n : an advocate of isolationism in international affairs ex·pan·sion·ism Expansionist aDS : of or involving or guided by expansionism Key People (for further research)
Websites with more information on this topic
Reference (Encyclopedias and Dictionaries) Educational Films
Other Resources If you know of any other books, videos, websites or articles that cover this topic and you think they would be appropriate for a Year 5 student, please contact the webmaster with details!
Copyright and Disclaimer: This list was created with permission from the Ambleside Online Advisory Board in an effort to assist parents and students in the Year 5 and Year 6 program. You are welcome to read and print this resource list and use it either in it's entirety or in part. We do kindly ask that you do not copy and redistribute this list in any form without obtaining permission from the Advisory Board and the volunteers who assisted in it's creation. The list contents will change from time to time so it is preferable that you bookmark this page and check back to see revisions and editions. Copyright 2005. Carol Hepburn. All rights reserved.
|