Spanish-American+War

=Spanish-American War= Angela Ly


 * Brief Summary:**
 * Began on April 25, 1898 and ended on August 12, 1898
 * The countries that were involved in the war was Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, America, and Spain
 * America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines vs. Spain
 * This was a war in which America got involved with Spain because it wanted to help the Spanish islands gain their independence from Spain.
 * It resulted with a win for America, the American control over these Spanish islands, and the Philippines War.


 * Causes:**
 * It all started with the Cuban revolts against Spain's rule. Cuba was tired of the Spanish rile and control over them and they wanted to gain their own independence. At first America didn't intervene because it wasn't their problem, but they felt bad for Cuba. Later on when the American battleship //Maine// was blew up in Havana harbor, America decided to make a move. America started to get involved to help Cuba gain their independence. Then this slowly turned into helping Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines gain their independence from Spain.


 * Timeline:**
 * Cuban Revolt (1895): The Cubans began to revolt to break free from Spanish control, but they failed. This incident was reported on American newspaper and created yellow journalism. In yellow journalism, people exaggerated the story and it caused many Americans to want to help the Cubans out.
 * The //Maine// (March 1898): The American battleship //Maine// was blew up in Havana harbor with a loss of more than 260 people. This ship was ordered to Cuba in January to protect American lives and property against the attacks from Spain. When this ship exploded, the Americans blamed it was the Spanish fault for this incident. This caused an uproar and the Americans began to prepare for war against Spain.
 * Declaration of War (April 25, 1898): President McKinley finally declared war against Spain for the damage they have done to America. President McKinley tried to negotiate with Spain to agree to an armistice, permanent peace, and an end to the concentration camps. Spain agreed to stop the fighting and eliminate the concentration camps, but it refused to negotiate with Cuba and so this angered McKinley.
 * Dewey's Victory (May 1, 1898): George Dewey sailed to Manila and completely destroyed the Spanish fleet. From this only one American soldier died. This became a wonderful victory for Dewey because he successfully destroyed the Spanish fleet and didn't experience a tremendous lost.
 * Battle for Cuba (June-July 3, 1898): American continued war with Spain to help Cuba. During this war, a Spanish fleet slipped past the American navy and headed into the Santiago harbor. The American Atlantic fleet quickly went to surround the Spanish fleet. The U.S. Army left Tampa and went to attack at Santiago. Spain lost at the attack at Santiago and failed to defend the port. America destroyed the Spanish fleet and at the same time the American army occupied Puerto Rico.
 * End of War (August 12, 1898): The war ended on August 12, 1898 and Spain finally recognize Cuba as an independent nation.
 * Treaty of Paris (December 1898): This treaty was a formal, official end to the war and that Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam were independent nations separated from Spain.


 * Effects:**
 * Annexation of Puerto Rico: Puerto Rice's control shifted from Spain to America and the American military forces occupied this island during the Spanish-American War. Even when the war ended, America still controlled Puerto Rico. Later on America began establishing large sugar plantation there and grew sugar as a cash crop. This later on created tension between Puerto Rico and America. When the prices of sugar fell down, many became poor and lived in poverty.
 * The Philippines: After the annexation of Puerto Rico, America also wondered if they should annex the Philippines as well. Because America believed that they were superiors, they decided to annex the Philippines and help better the country. They didn't want to give the Philippines to the other imperialist powers and so they decided to take the Philippines in.
 * Treaty of Paris: This was signed on December 1898 stating the Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam no longer are under Spain's control. America also demanded Spain to cede the Philippines to America by offering them $20 million. Spain gave in and accepted the money and gave the islands to America.
 * The Philippines War: This was a group of revolutionaries of the Philippines against America. The Philippines didn't enjoy being under the control of America. It made no difference to them after the Spanish-American War because they're still under the control of another country.The Philippines fought and eventually gained their independence from America and became its own nation.


 * Sources:**
 * "A Survey American Survey" Twelfth Edition by Alan Brinkley, Chapter 20