Unit 12 Lesson 2: The Spanish-American War

Question 1

Despite its name, the Spanish-American War had little to do with foreign affairs between the U.S. and Spain. Then what was it about

Answer 1

Instead, it was mostly fought over Spanish control of Cuba.

Question 2

Spain had once dominated Central and South America. How did that change

Answer 2

Spain had once dominated Central and South America. By 1890, however, the only Spanish colonies that had not yet gained independence were Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Question 3

How was Cuba vs Span going

Answer 3

. On several occasions prior to the war, Cuban independence fighters from the Cuba Libre (Free Cuba) movement had tried to end Spanish control of their lands. In 1895, another revolt erupted in Cuba. Spanish forces under the command of General Valeriano Weyler suppressed the insurrection. Spanish troops forced rebels into military-controlled camps, where many Cubans died from harsh conditions.

Question 4

Why did many Americas support Cuba

Answer 4

Americans sided with the Cuban rebels. Many Americans rallied to support the Cuban fight for freedom in response to Spain’s brutal tactics.

Question 5

Why did Shippers and other businessmen support Cuba

Answer 5

. Shippers and other businessmen, particularly in the sugar industry, supported American intervention as a way to safeguard their interests in the region.

Question 6

President William McKinley hesitated to commit his forces to a war. Why was that

Answer 6

Although the new navy was powerful, the ships were largely untested. American soldiers were also untested and poorly trained. The country had less than 30 thousand soldiers and sailors, mostly inexperienced.

Question 7

Why did Mickinely order the battleship U.S.S. . Maine to Havana Harbor in January of 1898

Answer 7

As Spanish control tightened, however, McKinley became concerned about the well-being of American lives and property in Cuba. He ordered the battleship U.S.S. Maine to Havana Harbor in January of 1898 to protect U.S. interests in Cuba.

Question 8

What event led America to declare war on Spain

Answer 8

. On February 15th, an explosion sank the U.S.S. Maine and three-quarters of the ship’s 354 crew members died. The navy began an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Its findings were inconclusive, and historians today still don’t know exactly why the Maine sank. However, many Americans had already decided that the Spanish were to blame.

Question 9

When did Congress declare war on Spain

Answer 9

When urgent negotiations with Spain failed to produce a settlement, Congress officially declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898.

Question 10

How many voluntered in the begning for the war

Answer 10

At the start of the war, over one million American men answered McKinley’s recruitment call.

Question 11

Where did the term “yellow journalism” come from?

Answer 11

The term came from a fight over a popular comic called The Yellow Kid that helped increase newspaper sales.

Question 12

What methods did journalists use to garner support for Cuban independence?

Answer 12

Journalists used bold headlines, anti-Spanish rhetoric, and embellished interpretations of events.

Question 13

What did yellow journalism show about the power of the press?

Answer 13

Yellow journalism showed that the press had the power to influence public opinion.

Question 14

Why did newspapers publish sensational headlines and stories without having all of the facts?

Answer 14

They published sensational headlines and stories without all of the facts because the priority was to sell as many newspapers as possible rather than to follow journalistic ethics.

Question 15

When did congress officaly recongnize Cuba’s independence

Answer 15

On April 19, 1898, Congress passed a resolution that officially recognized Cuba’s independence.

Question 16

What authorized McKinlry to use mililtary force to romve Spanish forces

Answer 16

On April 19, 1898, Congress passed a resolution that officially recognized Cuba’s independence. The resolution authorized McKinley to use military force to remove Spanish forces from the island. President McKinley recruited over one million men to join in the fight against Spain.

Question 17

What was the Teller Amendment

Answer 17

. At the same time, Congress passed the Teller Amendment to the resolution, which stated that the United States would not annex Cuba following the war.

Question 18

What were the befnits of the Teller Amendment

Answer 18

The Teller Amendment appeased Americans and Cubans who opposed expansionism. . Cuba did not want the U.S. to take control of its territory.

Question 19

annex

Answer 19

To annex is to add a territory to an existing state or country.

Question 20

Military strategists did not view the battle with Spain as just a battle for liberation and the protection of American interests in the Caribbean. What did they view the battle as

Answer 20

. They sought to further Alfred Thayer Mahan’s vision of establishing naval bases in the Pacific Ocean, reaching as far as mainland Asia. An expansionist strategy would also benefit American industrialists, who sought to expand their markets into China. The Philippines, ideally situated to allow American ships in the Pacific to resupply, suited these purposes nicely.

Question 21

Why did America want the Philpeans

Answer 21

. They sought to further Alfred Thayer Mahan’s vision of establishing naval bases in the Pacific Ocean, reaching as far as mainland Asia. An expansionist strategy would also benefit American industrialists, who sought to expand their markets into China. The Philippines, ideally situated to allow American ships in the Pacific to resupply, suited these purposes nicely.

Question 22

As a result, the first significant military confrontation of the Spanish-American War took place not in Cuba, but halfway around the world in the

Answer 22

Philippines

Question 23

How did the first win of the Spanish America war go what was the Battle of Manila Bay

Answer 23

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt ordered navy ships to attack Spain’s Pacific fleet there. On May 1, 1898, Admiral George Dewey led the U.S. Navy to victory, sinking all of the Spanish ships with few American losses. This confrontation was known as the Battle of Manila Bay.

Question 24

How did US win the war for the Philippines

Answer 24

With Spain’s Pacific fleet destroyed, the U.S. Army landed troops to take the Philippine Islands from Spain within a month. By August of 1899, the troops had succeeded and the Philippines was no longer under Spanish rule.

Question 25

How did gaining control of the Philippines further Alfred Thayer Mahan’s vision?

Answer 25

Mahan’s vision was to establish a network of bases to support the expanding navy. The Philippines are in a strategically ideal location to resupply naval ships.

Question 26

Victory in Cuba didn’t come quite so easily. What wre some stuggles at the begnning of the war

Answer 26

In June of 1898, 17 thousand American troops landed in Cuba. Although they initially met with little Spanish resistance, by early July, fierce battles ensued near the Spanish stronghold in Santiago, Cuba’s second largest city. To make matters worse, spoiled supplies and outbreaks of disease meant many suffered from malnutrition and malaria as they fought.

Question 27

What were the Rough Riders made up of

Answer 27

The unit was made up of adventure-seeking young men, veterans, and cowboys from the Southwest.

Question 27

Who were the Rough Riders

Answer 27

The Rough Riders played a key role in this campaign. The Rough Riders were an all-volunteer cavalry unit formed by Theodore (also known as Teddy) Roosevelt.

Question 28

What impact did the Rough Riders have on the Juan Hill and Kettle Hill battles

Answer 28

t. In early July, 1898, Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in a risky charge to take control of Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill. By winning the Battle of San Juan Hill, the Rough Riders enabled U.S. forces to surround Santiago.

Question 28

How did the Rough Riders affect Thodore Roosevelts image

Answer 28

Theodore Roosevelt became famous for his involvement with the Rough Riders. Their victories are the best-known part of the battles in Cuba, due partly to newspaper coverage and Roosevelt’s own accounts of them. He wrote a book called The Rough Riders about his experiences during the war. In addition, reenactments of the battles further cemented the cavalry’s celebrity.

Question 29

What impact did Africna Americans and NAtive Americans have on the Rough Riders

Answer 29

In large part, however, the Rough Riders owed their success to the veteran African American regiments that joined them in battle. Nearly 10 thousand African American men had volunteered for service, despite segregated regiments and hostility from white troops. Many of these units were made up of buffalo soldiers who had fought in the Indian Wars during the late 1800s. Their battlefield experience helped offset the relative inexperience of many of the Rough Rider volunteers.

Question 30

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When U.S. troops surrounded the city of Santiago in early July how did Spain respond and what battle did it lead to

Answer 30

Spain’s Caribbean fleet made a last-ditch effort to break the blockade and escape to the sea. This led to the naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba, during which U.S. warships intercepted and totally destroyed the fleet.

Question 31

What was the outcome of The land Battle of Santiago de Cuba

Answer 31

The land Battle of Santiago de Cuba came to an end two weeks later. After Santiago fell to U.S. forces, most fighting in Cuba came to an end.

Question 32

What marked the end of the Spansih American war

Answer 32

After losing its Caribbean fleet at the naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba, Spain quickly lost control of Puerto Rico as well. Without naval support, Spanish forces in Puerto Rico offered little resistance when U.S. forces attacked in mid-1898. By mid-August, the fighting had ended. The Spanish-American War was over.

Question 33

What were the outcomes of the Spansish-American war

Answer 33

Less than 400 Americans had died in battle in a war that lasted about 15 weeks. Despite its short duration and low number of casualties, the war was significant in the development of the American empire. The war ended Spanish colonization in the Americas, established Roosevelt as a hero, and sparked the quest for an American empire.

Question 34

Who were the Rough Riders?

Answer 34

The Rough Riders was a volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt. The Rough Riders’ victories in the war established Roosevelt as a war hero.

Question 35

What groups were involved in the success of the Battle of San Juan Hill?

Answer 35

Several African American regiments helped liberate Cuba from Spain. They supported the Rough Riders in the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Question 36

Why did Spain lose control of Puerto Rico as well?

Answer 36

After losing the naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba, Spain did not have any ships left to support its forces in Puerto Rico. As a result, Spanish forces in Puerto Rico were unable to resist the invading U.S. forces.

Question 37

When did the cease-fire between Spain and US happen and when did Sapin finazlie the Treat of Paris

Answer 37

Spain and the U.S. agreed to a cease-fire on August 12, 1898. The U.S. and Spain finalized the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898.

Question 38

What was the Treaty of Paris about

Answer 38

This treaty ensured international recognition of a new American empire spanning the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Congress nearly failed to pass the treaty, however, because of disagreements about its stipulations annexing new territories.

Question 39

Many prominet leaders elt strongly that the country should not be building an empire in Latin America and the Pacific. Who were these leaders

Answer 39

Many prominent Americans, including Jane Addams, former president Grover Cleveland, businessman Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, Senator George F. Hoar, and labor leader Samuel Gompers, felt strongly that the country should not be building an empire in Latin America and the Pacific. I

Question 40

What was the Anti-Imperialist League

Answer 40

In 1898, they formed the Anti-Imperialist League to oppose expansionism.

Question 41

In 1898, they formed the Anti-Imperialist League to oppose expansionism. They presented four main arguments for their opposition:

Answer 41

• Empire building went against the principles of democracy and freedom upon which the U.S. was founded.
• Expansion would introduce competition with foreign workers.
• Assimilation of citizens from other countries would hurt the country.
• The U.S. should only fight wars to defend itself, not to acquire new territories.

Question 42

What impact did the Anti-Imperialist League have

Answer 42

The group had a strong influence on policy. Foreign treaties require a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Senate to pass, and the Anti-Imperialist League’s pressure led the Senate to a clear split. The defeat of the peace treaty seemed imminent.

Question 43

Despite the influence of the Anti-Imperalist LEague what led voters to vote for the treaty of PAris

Answer 43

Less than a week before the scheduled vote, however, news of a Philippine uprising against American forces reached the United States. Undecided senators were convinced of the need to maintain an American presence in the region. In addition to maintaining control of uprisings, they could preempt the intervention of other European powers.

Question 44

When did the Senate formally ratifiyt the treaty

Answer 44

The Senate formally ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899, solidifying America’s expansionist intentions.

Question 45

Seeking an expanded international presence, as well as control of maritime routes and naval stations, the U.S. grew. Elaborate

Answer 45

The nation overthrew the independent government of Hawaii in 1893. Hawaii was granted territorial status in 1900, and Alaska, purchased from Russia decades earlier, became a recognized territory in 1912.

Question 46

The Foraker Act of 1900

Answer 46

• The act established Puerto Rico as an American territory with its own civil government.
• Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship in 1917, though Puerto Ricans still do not have the right to vote or congressional representation in the U.S.
• Gaining Puerto Rico as a territory further solidified U.S. dominance in Latin America.
• Guam and Samoa, which had also been taken as part of the war, remained under the control of the U.S. Navy.

Question 47

The Teller Amendment

Answer 47

• This amendment prohibited the United States from annexing Cuba.
• As a result, Cuba was technically an independent country after the war, but adopted a constitution based on the U.S. Constitution

Question 48

The Platt Amendment

Answer 48

• This amended the Teller Amendment.
• It secured the U.S.’s ability to interfere in Cuban affairs if threats to a stable government emerged.
• It guaranteed the U.S. its own naval coaling station on the island’s southern Guantanamo Bay.
• It prohibited Cuba from making treaties with other countries that might eventually threaten its independence.
• It proved that while Cuba was an independent nation on paper, the U.S. still governed Cuba’s foreign policy and economic agreements in practice.