Chapter 23 - Becoming a World Power

The Spanish-American War

     The Spanish-American War started when the Cubans were struggling for independence from Spain.  Cuba was one of Spain's last islands in the Caribbean.  In fact, Spain once had a very large empire across the globe, but it had slowly been diminishing for a while.  This began in February of 1895.  Spain was treating the Cubans really badly.  Americans then wrote many newspaper articles about the continuing cruelty coming from Spain.  This was called yellow journalism.  Many Americans were feeling sorry for them.  Not only this, but trade with Cuba was worth $100 million per year.  Americans were pressuring the government to intervene.  More pressure was added to the situation when the USS Maine was mysteriously sunk in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898.  Theodore Roosevelt was already making preparations to attack the Philippines.  Then on April 9th, Spain accelerated its program to grant a set of limited right to Cuba.  The Untied States congress however declared Cuba's right to independence.  Soon following this Spain declared war on the United States on April 24, 1898.  The U.S. responded with a declaration of war on April 25.  The fight in the Caribbean was terrible for the Americans because they only had spoiled food and malaria was a big concern.  The peace treaty was signed in Paris on the 10th of December 1898.  Once Spain gave up Cuba and gave Guam, and Puerto Rico to the U.S., the United States were now a world power having conquered Spain.  Look at the map below to get an idea of where in the Caribbean the war was fought.  Further down there is also a cool video that explains everything I have here in more detail, and with lots of pictures!  After the U.S. won the war with Spain, they had to figure out what to do with Cuba and Puerto Rico.  The U.S. allowed Cuba to make their own constitution, as long as they accepted the Platt Amendment.  Cuba then became a territory.  In 1917, Puerto Ricans became American citizens.  The Platt Amendment, according to http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/platt.htm, states the following:

The President of the U.S. is hereby authorized to 'leave the government and control of the island of Cuba to its people' so soon as a government shall have been established in said island under a constitution which, either as a part thereof or in an ordinance appended thereto, shall define the future relations of the United States with Cuba, substantially as follows:

I. That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreigh power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodgment in or control over any portion of said island.

II. That said government shall not assume or contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which, and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which the ordinary revenues of the island, after defraying the current expenses of government, shall be inadequate.

III. That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the Treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba.

IV. That all acts of the United States in Cuba during its military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated, and all lawful rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected.

V. That the government of Cuba will execute, and, as far as necessary, extend, the plans already devised or other plans to be mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation of the cities of the island, to the end that a recurrence of epidemic and infectious diseases may be prevented, thereby assuring protection to the people and commerce of Cuba, as well as to the commerce of the southern ports of the United States and the people residing therein.

VI. That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto being left to future adjustment by treaty. VII. That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its defense, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points, to be agreed upon with the President of the United States.

VII. That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its defense, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points, to be agreed upon with the President of the United States.

VIII. That by way of further assurance the government of Cuba will embody the foregoing provisions in a permanent treaty with the United States.
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