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Chapter 27 Pg 633-640. THE CONFUSED INVASION OF CUBA The Spanish sent warships to Cuba, panicking Americans on the Eastern seaboard.
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THE CONFUSED INVASION OF CUBA The Spanish sent warships to Cuba, panicking Americans on the Eastern seaboard. The fleet, commanded by Admiral Cervera, found refuge in Santiago Harbor, Cuba where it was promptly blockaded by, again a much stronger American force! Cervera
American ground troops, led by General William R. Shafter, were ill-prepared for combat in the tropical environment (i.e. the woolen long underwear). Fat General William R. Shafter
The Rough Riders, a regiment of volunteers organized principally by Theodore Roosevelt and commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood, rushed to Cuba, battled at El Caney, and captured the Spanish defenses at San Juan Hill. Staff of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Regiment, the "Rough Riders" in Tampa—Lt. Col. Roosevelt on right, Leonard Wood is next to him and former Civil War Confederate general, and Joseph Wheeler is next to Wood. Taylor MacDonald is on the far left.
Charge of the Rough Riders at San Juan Hillby Frederic Remington
Admiral Cervera was finally ordered to fight the American fleet, and his fleet, like Spain’s in the Philippines, was utterly destroyed. Defeat of Cervera
July 5, 1898, after July 4 Celebration of the destruction of Admiral Cervara’s fleet
In Negotiations at Paris, America received Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines (along with the base at Manila) from the Spanish, and also freed Cuba. • The Philippines became a major problem, since America couldn’t honorably give it back to Spain after decades of misrule. Plus, the U.S. couldn’t just take it like an imperialistic nation without looking hypocritical….what to do. • Finally McKinley decided to keep the Philippines, regardless of criticism from anti-imperialists. • He did so because of popular public opinion and because it meshed well with U.S. business interests, not to mention that if the U.S. didn’t take the islands, another European power WOULD. • Quite simply, President McKinley justified American acquisition of the Philippines primarily by emphasizing that there was no acceptable alternative to their acquisition. • Ultimately, the U.S. paid $20 million for the islands.
America Received: Guam Puerto Rico
America Freed: Philippines…well, sort of CUBA
Upon the U.S. taking of the Philippines, uproar broke out, since until now, the United States had mostly acquired territory from only the American continental mainland. Even with Alaska, Hawaii, other scattered islands, there were relatively small populations living there. Not so with the Philippines. • The Anti-Imperialist League sprang into being, firmly opposed to this new imperialism of America. Its members included Mark Twain, William James, Samuel Gompers, and Andrew Carnegie • The argument? The Filipinos wanted freedom, and denying that to them was un-American.
Anti-Imperialist Mark Twain William James Samuel Gompers Andrew Carnegie
On the flip side, expansionists cried that the Philippines could become another prosperous eastern port and military base like Hong Kong was for the British. • British writer Rudyard Kipling wrote about “The White Man’s Burden,” urging America to keep the Philippines and “civilize them.” • In short, the wealthy Americans must help to uplift (and exploit) the underprivileged, underfed, and underclad of the world.
In the Senate, the peace treaty with Spain was actually almost defeated, but finally, even anti-imperialist William Jennings Bryan argued for its passage saying that the sooner the treaty was passed, the sooner the U.S. could get rid of the Philippines! The treaty passed by only one vote on February 6, 1899.
