Covers the causes, key events, and outcomes of the Spanish-American War, including the acquisition of new territories and the subsequent debates over imperialism.
What is 'yellow journalism,' and how did it contribute to the Spanish-American War?
It was a style of sensationalized, often exaggerated newspaper reporting. Publishers like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer used it to inflame American public opinion against Spain's atrocities in Cuba, creating war fever.
What two events in February 1898 served as the immediate catalysts for the U.S. declaring war on Spain?
1) The publication of the de Lôme letter, in which the Spanish minister to the U.S. insulted President McKinley. 2) The mysterious explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, which was blamed on Spain.
What was the purpose of the Teller Amendment, passed just before the declaration of war?
The Teller Amendment was a self-denying resolution stating that the United States had no intention of annexing Cuba and would leave control of the island to its people after the war.
Where did the first major battle of the Spanish-American War take place?
The first battle took place in the Philippines, where Commodore George Dewey's fleet destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, far from the war's initial focus in Cuba.
Who were the 'Rough Riders' and what was their most famous battle?
The Rough Riders were a volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt. They became famous for their role in the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba, a victory that cemented Roosevelt's status as a war hero.
What territories did the United States acquire from Spain as a result of the 1898 Treaty of Paris?
The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico and Guam, and purchased the Philippines for \(\$20\) million. Spain also relinquished its claim to Cuba.
What was the Platt Amendment and how did it affect Cuba's sovereignty?
Forced into the Cuban Constitution, the Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs, limited Cuba's ability to make treaties, and granted the U.S. a naval base at Guantanamo Bay, making Cuba a U.S. protectorate.
What was the Philippine-American War (1899-1902)?
It was a brutal and costly war fought between the U.S. military and Filipino nationalists, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, who were angry that the U.S. had annexed their country instead of granting it independence.
Who were the Anti-Imperialist League and what were their main arguments against expansion?
A group of prominent Americans (including Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie) who opposed annexation of the Philippines. They argued that imperialism violated the principles of democracy and self-government found in the Declaration of Independence.
What did the Supreme Court rule in the *Insular Cases* following the war?
The Court ruled that the 'Constitution does not follow the flag'—that inhabitants of U.S. territories, like Puerto Rico and the Philippines, did not automatically receive the full rights of U.S. citizens.
