De Lôme Letter Remember The Maine Dupuy de Lôme, Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. Criticized President McKinley as weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd, besides being a wouldwould-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party. To Hell With Spain Remember the Maine and to Hell with Spain! 1
The Dogs of War McKinley wanted peace Wall Street wanted peace Spain has larger navy So--who wants it? The People The Press Teddy Roosevelt Feb. 25, 1898 TR orders Navy to the Philippines How did the war start? William McKinley asks for permission on April 11, 1898 to intervene in Cuba with a clear objective of ending the war between Spain and Cuban revolutionaries. On April 13, 1898 two critical movements by Spain and the United States occur: A. The United States grants President McKinley permission to intervene, but will not recognize the new Cuban government B. Spain declares the sovereignty of Cuba has been threaten and sets aside funds for war expenses On April 19, 1898, the U.S. Congress by vote of 311 to 6 in the House and 42 to 35 in the Senate adopted the Joint Resolution for war with Spain. Included in the Resolution was the Teller Amendment, named after Senator Henry Moore Teller (Colorado) which disclaimed any intention by the U.S. to exercise jurisdiction or control over Cuba except in a pacification role and promised to leave the island as soon as the war was over. War is formally declared on April 25, 1898. The same day that Spain gives in to ALL US demands What are the two theaters of war? A Tiny Conflict The first action of the war actually occurred on May 1, 1898, in the Philippines, not in Cuba like most people believe. Admiral George Dewey, a brilliant naval commander, steamed into Manila Bay in the Philippines and destroyed Spain s entire Pacific fleet in a little over seven hours. Please note, why would America care about the Philippines? 2
Dewey Captures Manila! Emilio Aguinaldo Leader of the Filipino Uprising. July 4, 1946: Philippine independence Is He To Be a Despot? Philippines May 1st Dewey s navy attacks Manila Bay, Philippines Aug. 13th 1898 Filipino rebels take Manila by land The Rough Riders What are the two theaters of war? That Splendid Little War 3
CUBA & Puerto Rico San Juan Hill???? TEDDY RESIGNS TO FORM Rough Riders July 1st1898 San Juan and Kettle Hill taken. 17,000 US soldiers Vs. 200,000 Spanish--but only 2,000 show up to fight. July 3rd Spanish navy defeated. 500 dead Spaniards, one dead American. Puerto Rico--no Resistance at all August 12th 1898 Spain sues for peace. Theodore Roosevelt Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the McKinley administration. Imperialist and American nationalist. Criticized President McKinley as having the backbone of a chocolate éclair! Resigns his position to fight in Cuba. Filipino s Too?? What does she represent, and is it the same for all groups? Peace of Paris 1898 US Gets: Guam Puerto Rico Cuba (temp) LATER--US gives Spain $20,000,000 for Philippines. NO it IS NOT part of the treaty 4
A Case Study: The Platt Amendment After the war, President McKinley, in violation of the Teller Amendment, installs a military government in Cuba to ensure the economic markets sought by American businesses. Remember Teller??? Cubans are ticked-off because the United States did not follow up on its purpose of securing independence for Cuba, but rather it secured its own AMERICAN interest. Cuban Independence? Senator Orville Platt Platt Amendment (1903) 1. Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with foreign powers that would endanger its independence. 2. The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient, independent govt. 3. Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for naval and coaling station. 4. Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt. New Colonial Laws: 1898 1900 - Foraker Act. Limited Independence. 1901-19031903 the Insular Cases. 1917 Jones Act. gives Philippines territorial status, & promises future independence. American Casualties 400 dead from bullets 5,000 dead from embalmed beef tropical diseases woolen uniforms Our ideals???? What would we do with these islands? The Effects of the War The United States was certainly conscious of its military might and new global strength The army became frightfully aware of certain ineptitudes Fighting in a tropical climate 5,000 men died due to food poisoning, yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases Jim Crow entered into the army 5
Puerto Rico: 1900 limited self-gov t, 1917 becomes a US Terr with citizenship but w/out taxation. Philippines: Aquinaldoes forces have been fighting for 20 years and expect independence. Philippines becomes America s 1 st Vietnam The American Anti-Imperialist League Founded in 1899. Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, William James, and William Jennings Bryan among the leaders. Campaigned against the annexation of the Philippines and other acts of imperialism. Anti-Imperialist League before the war A very loose cooperation of mismatched special interest groups: Businessmen (become imperialist afte the war) Old Mugwump Republicans Idealists (Twain, etc) Racists DOVES: if we take this what s next? 6
William H. Taft, 1st Gov.-General General of the Philippines Great administrator. The Imperialist Tailor Our Sphere of Influence 7