Ch. 18 Section 2 The Spanish-American-Cuban War

Ch. 18 Section 2 The Spanish-American-Cuban War

Overview
Objectives
To contrast American opinions regarding the Cuban revolt against Spain.
To identify events that escalated conflict between the United States and Spain.
To describe the course of the Spanish-American-Cuban War and its results.

Focus & Motivate
Starting with the Student
Have you ever been shocked or angered by something you read or heard?
How did it make you want to act?
Did you wonder if your opinion was being manipulated?

Objective 1 Instruct
American Interest in Cuba
Discussing Key Ideas
Investments in sugar cane plantations give Americans an economic interest in Cuba.
Some Americans support Spanish control of Cuba while others sympathize with Cuban revels.

Key Player
Jose Marti
Critical Thinking:
Analyzing Issues
Why did Marti seek U.S. intervention in Cuba, yet was wary of a U.S. presence in Cuba?
Answer: Marti felt that U.S. help was needed to overthrow the Spanish, but he was worried about the United States’ imperialistic tendencies.

Objective 2 Instruct
The Threat of War Escalates
Discussing Key Ideas
Spanish leaders employ harsh tactics in an attempt to crush the Cuban revolt.
Several incidents, along with yellow journalism, arouse American sympathy for Cuban rebels.

History From Visuals
Reading the Graphic
Who represents the U.S. in the cartoon?
Uncle Sam.
What does he appear to be doing to Cuba?
Swallowing the country.

More About. . . .
Yellow Journalism
One of Hearst’s gimmicks to boost newspaper sales was a color comic strip. The term yellow journalism comes in the form of the comic strip’s main character, “The Yellow Kid.” Hearst’s and Pulitizer’s role in sensationalizing events such as the sinking of the Maine prompted this response from the editor of the New York Evening Post: “Nothing so disgraceful . . . has been known in the history of American journalism.”

Objective 3 Instruct
War Breaks Out
Discussing Key Ideas
The Unites States defeats Spanish forces in the Philippines and in Cuba.
As a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, Cuba becomes independent and the U.S. annexes the Philippines.

History From Visuals
War in the Philippines, 1898
The map should orient students to the location of the Islands.

History From Visuals
War in the Caribbean, 1898
Reading the Map
The row of small triangles signals the extent of the U.S. naval blockade.

Extension
Alfred T. Mahan’s argument for a strong U.S. navy is in his book, “The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783 (p. 528). How did Mahan’s ideas play a role in the U.S. victory in the Caribbean. A list of the possible effects of a naval blockade can be developed in a chart.

Effects of a Blockade
1.
2.
3.

More About. . . .
Battle of San Juan Hill
Twenty years after the battle, Roosevelt stated, “San Juan was the great day of my life.” He believed that he deserved the Congressional Meal of Honor for his part in the war, but the award was denied him.

Historical Spotlight
Rough Riders
Critical Thinking:
Analyzing
What are the characteristics of the Rough Riders? What would a movie about this group be like? Who would be cast in the leading roles?

Close
The Spanish-American-Cuban War demonstrated the superiority of U.S. naval forces and added Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to America’s empire.