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Spanish-American War Textbook
Spanish-American War Textbook
USS Maine
Tensions between Spain and the United States rose out of the attempts by
Cubans to liberate their island from the control of the Spanish. The first
Cuban insurrection was unsuccessful and lasted between 1868 and 1878.
American sympathies were with the revolutionaries, and war with Spain
nearly erupted when the filibuster ship Virginius was captured and most of
the crew (including many American citizens) were executed. The Cuban
revolutionaries continued to plan and raised support in the United States.
The Philippines
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The first battle was at Manila Bay where, on May 1, 1898, Commodore
George Dewey, commanding the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron aboard the
USS Olympia, in a matter of hours, defeated the Spanish squadron under
Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón. Dewey managed this while sustaining
only one fatality, that of a heart attack.
Following Dewey's victory, Manila Bay was filled with the warships of Britain,
Germany, France, and Japan; all of which outgunned Dewey's force. The
German fleet of eight ships acted provocatively—cutting in front of American
ships, refusing to salute the United States flag (according to customs of
naval courtesy), and landing supplies for the besieged Spanish. The
Germans, with interests of their own, were eager to take advantage of
whatever opportunities the conflict in the islands might afford but they had
to back down.
On August 13, with American commanders unaware that the cease fire had
been signed between Spain and the United States on the previous day,
American forces captured the city of Manila from the Spanish. This battle
marked an end of Filipino-American collaboration, as Filipino forces were
prevented from entering the captured city of Manila, an action which was
deeply resented by the Filipinos and which later led to the Philippine-
American War.
The Caribbean/Cuba
Land campaign
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Between June 22 and June 24, the U.S. V (Volunteers’) Corps under General
William R. Shafter landed to the east of Santiago, and established the
American base of operations. On July 1, a combined force of about 15,000
American troops in regular infantry, cavalry and volunteer regiments,
including Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders", and rebel Cuban forces
attacked 1,270 entrenched Spaniards in dangerous Civil War style frontal
assaults at the Battle of El Caney and Battle of San Juan Hill outside of
Santiago. When the “Rough Riders” got into a dangerous situation, black
soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment came to their rescue. More than 200
U.S. soldiers were killed and close to 1,200 wounded in the fighting.
Supporting fire by Gatling guns was critical to the success of the assault.
Cervera decided to escape
Santiago two days later.
Naval operations
The major port of Santiago de Cuba was the main target of naval operations
during the war. The U.S. fleet attacking Santiago needed shelter from the
summer hurricane season. Thus Guantánamo Bay with its excellent harbor
was chosen for this purpose. The 1898 invasion of Guantánamo Bay
happened June 6–June 10, with the first U.S. naval attack and subsequent
successful landing of U.S. Marines with naval support.
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898, was the largest naval
engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of
the Spanish Caribbean Squadron (also known as the Flota de Ultramar). In
May 1898, Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete, was first spotted in
Santiago Harbor where his fleet had taken shelter for protection from sea
attack. For two months there was a stand-off between the Spanish naval
forces and American. When the Spanish squadron attempted to leave the
harbor on July 3, the American forces destroyed or grounded five of the six
ships. Only one Spanish vessel, the speedy new armored cruiser Cristobal
Colón, survived, but was captured later.
Peace treaty
With defeats in Cuba and the Philippines, both of its fleets incapacitated, and
land forces in a hopeless situation, Spain sued for peace.
Hostilities were halted on August 12, 1898 with the signing in Washington of
a Protocol of Peace between the United States and Spain. The formal peace
treaty was signed in Paris on
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December 10, 1898 and was ratified by the United States Senate on
February 6, 1899. It came into force on April 11, 1899. Cubans participated
only as observers.
The United States gained almost all of Spain's colonies, including the
Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Cuba, having been occupied as of July
17, 1898, formed its own civil government and attained independence on
May 20, 1902, with the announced end of USMG jurisdiction over the island.
However, the United States imposed various restrictions on the new
government, including prohibiting alliances with other countries, and
reserved for itself the right of intervention. The US also established a
perpetual lease of Guantanamo Bay.
Aftermath
The United States annexed the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the
Philippines, and Guam. The notion of the United States as an imperial power,
with colonies, was hotly debated domestically with President McKinley and
the Pro-Imperialists winning their way over vocal opposition led by Democrat
William Jennings Bryan, who had supported the war. The American
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public largely supported the possession of colonies, but there were many
outspoken critics such as Mark Twain, who wrote The War Prayer in protest.
Little by little the people of the new lands got more civil rights. Puerto Ricans
became the US citizens in 1917, and in 1947 the island formed a
commonwealth with the United States. The Philippines became an
independent nation only after the Second World War, in 1946.
Roosevelt returned to the United States a war hero, and he was soon elected
governor and then vice president. Later he became one of the most famous
presidents of the USA.
Above: A presidential campaign poster featuring McKinley (as the Republican candidate for
the US Presidency and Roosevelt as the candidate for the vice-president’s position.
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