“Splendid Little War” Spanish American War

1. “Splendid Little War”Spanish American War Imperialists vs. Anti-Imperialists

2. Cuban RebellionFebruary 1895 • General Weyler “The Butcher”, 50,000 troops, Jose Martí, junta • Spanish colonies, reconcentration camps, Civil War • Cuba – rural, Caribbean • Protect Spanish empire, quell revolts/rebellion • “The old, the young, the weak, and the crippled” – NY World Cubans “inspired by our glorious example of beneficent free institutions and successful self-government” Over 320,000 Cubans died

3. Hearst Purchases the Journal1895 • Hearst The Journal vs. Pulitzer The World • Yellow Journalism - sensational press, biased and exploits suffering & death • New York • to sway public and to ↑ newspaper sales • Encouraged American involvement: rallies, fundraisers, intervention

4. DeLôme Letter published in the JournalFebruary 1898 • Spanish Minister to the US Dupuy DeLome • Personal letter intercepted, referred to McKinley as “weak” and hypocritical • Published in The Journal Hearst • “the worst insult to the United States in its history” • McKinley pressed toward war & public supports junta

5. USS Maine ExplodesFebruary 1898 • U.S. Navy & yellow journalists • U.S. Battleship sent to protect American interests in Cuba following revolts exploded killing 272 men • Havana Harbor, Cuba • “Remember the Maine …to Hell with Spain!” – internal defect • Sunk “by an act of dirty treachery on the part of the Spaniards”…no action “chocolate éclair” –T.R.

6. US Declares War on SpainApril 1898 • President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. Congress • Declaration of War & Teller Amendment – US has no intentions of annexing Cuba ☺ • Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico • Political pressure (press/public) “the most honorable single war in all history,” [without] “the slightest though or desire of foreign conquest or of national gain.” Sen. Hoar • vs. European view: “American-Brit Society for International Theft and Warmongering…to snatch Cuba from Spain.” –Kaiser Wilhelm

7. Dewey in the PhilippinesMay 1898 BRING IT! • Assistant Sec. of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, Aguinaldo • Fleet sent by T.R. (before dec. of war) to ensure “the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast” • Manila Bay, Philippines • Split/weaken Spanish • No Americans died in battle, easy victory!!

8. Roosevelt in CubaJune 1898 • (former Asst. Sec. of Navy) Theodore Roosevelt & Rough Riders • Charge up Kettle Hill to defeat Spanish forces • Kettle Hill near Santiago • Colonel Roosevelt sought excitement of battle & political glory & expansion • African American troops cleared the hill first & protected T.R.’s flank T.R. became NY Governor

9. Peace TreatyNovember 1898 • McKinley, Senate, Spain • U.S. gained Puerto Rico & Guam, paid $20million for 7,000 islands of Philippines, Platt Amendment – declared Cuba as U.S. protectorate • Caribbean, S.E. Asia • “Splendid Little War” Sec. State John Hay, Naval Victories easy, land war 385 battle deaths, ↑ 5,000 disease 4 months long • US Empire…Spain epic loss

10. Teller Amendment Platt Amendment

11. Philippines Annexation Imperialists vs. Anti-Imperialists

13. Philippines War FACTS • 1899-1902 • 126,000 American troops served, 4,234 died, 2,800 wounded • 18,000 Filipinos died in combat, ↑ 200,000 Filipino casualties from famine/disease • “the more you kill and burn, the better you please me.” – General Jacob H. Smith • ↑ Racism • Following war: Taft appointed Governor – established gov., courts, hospitals, immunization, schools…etc. • Philippines liberated post-WWII

14. And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets. We will not retreat from either. We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not abandon our opportunity in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world... And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets. We will not retreat from either. We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not abandon our opportunity in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world... The Arguments • Against Annexation • “…extinguish the spirit of 1776 in those islands. We deplore the sacrifice of our soldiers and sailors, whose bravery deserves admiration even in an unjust war. We denounce the slaughter of the Filipinos as a needless horror. We protest against the extension of American sovereignty by Spanish methods…” • -American Anti-Imperialist League • “…whether Congress may conquer and may govern, without their consent and against their will, a foreign nation, a separate, distinct, and numerous people, a territory not hereafter to be populated by Americans, to be formed into American states and to take its part in fulfilling and executing the purposes for which the Constitution was framed…” • -Senator George Hoar Pro-Annexation • Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child. “The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling • And just beyond the Philippines are China's illimitable markets…We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not abandon our opportunity in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world..they are not capable of self-government…” Senator Albert J. Beveridge

15. The Arguments • Against Annexation • They were fighting for their freedom against Spanish tyranny two years ago, and they continued to fight up to the time when Aguinaldo left the islands and went to Singapore; they continued to fight, as our own consul said, after he left; they never did cease, some of them; there never was peace; and now the question which addresses itself to every American who loves his flag and loves his great country and loves the great principle upon which that flag rests and that country is founded is this: Are we to take the place of Spain as their taskmasters and oppressors? Do “governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed…?”-Senator Benjamin Tillman Pro-Annexation • I hope and believe that we shall retain the islands, and that, peace and order once restored, we shall and should reestablish civil government.... We should give them honest administration, and prompt and efficient courts. We should see to it that there is entire protection to persons and property…All men should be protected in the free exercise of their religion, and the doors thrown open to missionaries of all Christian sects…we should, as rapidly as conditions permit, bestow upon them self-government and home rule… • -Senator Henry Cabot Lodge

18. Do you agree with the President’s decision below? Explain. “There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and to uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace to do the very best we could by them as our fellow men for whom Christ also died…” -President William McKinley