United States Becomes a World Power

1. United States Becomes a World Power

2. Spanish American War 1898

3. Reasons for the Spanish American War For hundreds of years, Cuba had been a colony of Spain. The Cubans had tried many times to gain their independence but each time they were defeated by a more powerful Spanish military. In the late 1800s. American business began to expand into Cuba and Americans became more sympathetic with the Cuban people and began to support a free and independent Cuba. • Protection of American business interests in Cuba • There were many American owned sugar-cane plantations in Cuba • American support of Cuban rebels to gain their independence from Spain. • Reminded Americans of their own fight for independence

4. Rising tension between Spain and the U.S. as a result of the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba • Sent to Havana Harbor, to protect American citizens living and working in Cuba, the USS Maine mysteriously explodes and sinks killing 266 American sailors. Spain is blamed and many Americans call for war with Spain. • 4. Exaggerated news reports (Yellow Journalism) of Spanish abuses towards the Cubans

5. Yellow Journalism In the late 1800s, newspapers were the primary source of information in America. People could be easily misled because there was no way to verify that a newspaper report was true. Yellow Journalism – exaggerated news stories that appealed to people’s emotions. Did not report all the facts and usually only gave one side of the story. “Please remain. You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war.” William Hurst to Frederick Remington prior to the Spanish American War.

6. American support for Cuban rebels in their fight for independence.

7. USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, Cuba on February 15th, 1898 killing 266 American sailors. Spain is blamed for the explosion.

8. American newspapers began to print stories that accused Spain of destroying the USS Maine and calling for the United States to declare war against Spain.

9. Spanish American War 1898 Feb. Apr. May June July Aug. Dec. Battleship USS Maine sent to Havana Harbor, Cuba to protect American citizens living there. An explosion sinks the Maine and 266 sailors are killed. Spain is blamed for sinking the Maine. U.S. Navy destroys Spain’s naval fleet in the Philippines. U.S. Army wins a decisive battle (San Juan Hill) near Santiago Harbor. The “Rough Riders” led by Theodore Roosevelt are the heroes of the battle. U.S. Navy destroys the Spanish fleet at Santiago Harbor. • Peace Agreement Reached: Results of the Spanish American War. • Cuba gains its independence. • The U.S. gets the following territories. • Puerto Rico • Philippines • Guam War is declared between the U.S. and Spain. U.S. Navy blockades the Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor, Cuba. A truce is signed between the U.S. and Spain ending the fighting. 3. U.S. emerges as a world power.

10. The United States destroys the Spanish fleet in the Philippines in May 1898.

11. Theodore Roosevelt leading the Rough Riders during the Battle of San Juan Hill.

12. United States Becomes a World Power Monroe Doctrine: In 1823, President James Monroe declared that all European countries should stay out of the western hemisphere. President Monroe did not want anymore European colonies in the either North or South America. However in 1823, the United States had a weak military and was in no position to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, therefore most European countries ignored it. Following their overwhelming victory in the Spanish American War, the United States began to challenge the other world powers in the Western Hemisphere and for the first time the U.S. could enforce the Monroe Doctrine.

13. Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine • The United States has the right to intervene in the economic matters of all nations in the Americas. • The United States has the right to exercise international “police power” in the Americas. The U.S. will act as a policeman to settle disputes between countries in the Western Hemisphere.

14. The United States advocated “Big Stick Diplomacy” in dealing with other countries in the Americas. • President Roosevelt believed the best way to deal with foreign countries (to include European countries) was through the threat of military force. “I speak softly, but carry a BIG STICK”- African Proverb

15. b. Using the threat of military force (Big Stick Diplomacy), President Roosevelt secured the land to build a canal across the isthmus of Panama. • c. The Panama Canal enabled American war ships and merchant ships to travel more quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans thus increasing American power in the Western Hemisphere.