1. What connections did the U.S. have to Cuba in the late 1800s? List at least two.
First and foremost, the US had vast amounts of money invested in Cuba's sugar industry. In fact. the US actually removed tariffs on Cuban sugar in order to lower the cost of sugar in America.
Also, during the Cuban revolt in 1868, many Cuban leaders had suggested joining the US after they gained their freedom. The US, although it refused to get involved this revolution, was open to the proposal, eager to gain another slave territory. Many Cubans saw joining the US as a move for security and protection at that time.
2. What were the Spanish “reconcentration camps”?
The Spanish reconcentration camps were created to cut off the nationalist forces from the general public. The Spanish thought that this would cut the rebels off from supplies and shelter. In order to do this, these camps were created. Thousands upon thousands of innocent Cuban citizens were herded into enclosed towns where a lack off food, adequate housing, and sanitation made living conditions horrible.
3. List three reasons why the United States went to war with Spain in Cuba.
a. Many US businessmen had interests in Cuba. Under Spanish rule, these interests were threatened. If the US went to war with Spain, they had the chance to gain Cuba and boost American profits there. They also had the chance to gain Spain's other territories. One reason the US went to war with Spain was to expand their control and gain more lucrative areas in the world for American use.
b. The Spanish ambassador to the US wrote a private letter to a friend insulting President McKinley. This letter was leaked to American newspapers, and tensions rose dramatically. Americans had been looking for an excuse to get angry at Spain, and this incident provided it. Combined with yellow journalism, the ambassador's insults were soon blown far out of proportion and anti-Spanish sentiments swelled throughout the country.
c. The final straw for the US was the explosion of the USS Maine. The ship had been anchored in Havana harbor on a peaceful errand; Spain had okayed the visit. When the ship was blown up, 260 American soldiers were killed in the blast. Although it could not be confirmed at the time, rumours quickly began flying. Americans became incensed, convinced that the Spanish had blown up a US ship for no good reason and killed hundreds of innocent men. The US felt that it could no longer wait - Spain had apparently taken one step too far and needed to be dealt with.
4. Which do you believe was the most important reason? Why?
Reason A was certainly the most important reason. It set a background for the other two reasons. If the US had not had an interest in Cuba in the first place, tension would never have been created between Spain and America. If American businessmen had never had interests in Cuba, the government never would have been pressured into protecting those interests above all others. If America had not been tempted to take over Spain's many other territories, there would have not been enough pros to push the US into war. Reason A set up a base argument for going to war - the other two reasons simply acted as catalysts.
5. What did the Teller Amendment say?
The Teller Amendment claimed that the US was not, in fact, interested in controlling the Cuban people or ruling them. It also stated that once the war was over, the Cuban government would be left intact and control of the island would be left to the Cuban people.
6. Why was a portion of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?
Although most were focused near Cuba, a portion of the Spanish troops were stationed in the Philippines. Also, though less so, the nationalists in the Philippines were seen as allies to the US. It was thought that defending them and supplying them with weapons would aid the US in its fight against Spain.
7. Dewey’s victory in the Manila Harbor sparked an outpouring of army volunteers in the United States.
8. Why did Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders want to fight in Cuba?
Like many other volunteers, The Rough Riders were encouraged to fight by Dewey's early victory at Manila. In a rush to defend their country and provide much needed man power, boys from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North and South Dakota poured in to join the Rough Riders. Teddy Roosevelt was especially passionate about their cause - he actually left his job in the McKinley legislation to take his position in the army.
9. a. Why were many African-Americans eager to serve in the Spanish-American War?
Many African-Americans saw the army as a way of moving up in the world. Not only was the army one of the few places that would take them, if they met military success, it would hopefully glean respect from the general public back home. Also, many blacks identified with the struggles of the Cuban slaves and were sympathetic to their cause.
b. What forms of discrimination and prejudice did they encounter?
First of all, they were unable to be promoted to the officer corps. At first, many blacks were actually denied when they volunteered to join the army. Many regiments were actually kept from fighting in Cuba, even though the government assumed that they would be more suited for a tropical climate and even that they would be immune to yellow fever.
2. What were the Spanish “reconcentration camps”?
The Spanish reconcentration camps were created to cut off the nationalist forces from the general public. The Spanish thought that this would cut the rebels off from supplies and shelter. In order to do this, these camps were created. Thousands upon thousands of innocent Cuban citizens were herded into enclosed towns where a lack off food, adequate housing, and sanitation made living conditions horrible.
3. List three reasons why the United States went to war with Spain in Cuba.
a. Many US businessmen had interests in Cuba. Under Spanish rule, these interests were threatened. If the US went to war with Spain, they had the chance to gain Cuba and boost American profits there. They also had the chance to gain Spain's other territories. One reason the US went to war with Spain was to expand their control and gain more lucrative areas in the world for American use.
b. The Spanish ambassador to the US wrote a private letter to a friend insulting President McKinley. This letter was leaked to American newspapers, and tensions rose dramatically. Americans had been looking for an excuse to get angry at Spain, and this incident provided it. Combined with yellow journalism, the ambassador's insults were soon blown far out of proportion and anti-Spanish sentiments swelled throughout the country.
c. The final straw for the US was the explosion of the USS Maine. The ship had been anchored in Havana harbor on a peaceful errand; Spain had okayed the visit. When the ship was blown up, 260 American soldiers were killed in the blast. Although it could not be confirmed at the time, rumours quickly began flying. Americans became incensed, convinced that the Spanish had blown up a US ship for no good reason and killed hundreds of innocent men. The US felt that it could no longer wait - Spain had apparently taken one step too far and needed to be dealt with.
4. Which do you believe was the most important reason? Why?
Reason A was certainly the most important reason. It set a background for the other two reasons. If the US had not had an interest in Cuba in the first place, tension would never have been created between Spain and America. If American businessmen had never had interests in Cuba, the government never would have been pressured into protecting those interests above all others. If America had not been tempted to take over Spain's many other territories, there would have not been enough pros to push the US into war. Reason A set up a base argument for going to war - the other two reasons simply acted as catalysts.
5. What did the Teller Amendment say?
The Teller Amendment claimed that the US was not, in fact, interested in controlling the Cuban people or ruling them. It also stated that once the war was over, the Cuban government would be left intact and control of the island would be left to the Cuban people.
6. Why was a portion of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?
Although most were focused near Cuba, a portion of the Spanish troops were stationed in the Philippines. Also, though less so, the nationalists in the Philippines were seen as allies to the US. It was thought that defending them and supplying them with weapons would aid the US in its fight against Spain.
7. Dewey’s victory in the Manila Harbor sparked an outpouring of army volunteers in the United States.
8. Why did Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders want to fight in Cuba?
Like many other volunteers, The Rough Riders were encouraged to fight by Dewey's early victory at Manila. In a rush to defend their country and provide much needed man power, boys from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North and South Dakota poured in to join the Rough Riders. Teddy Roosevelt was especially passionate about their cause - he actually left his job in the McKinley legislation to take his position in the army.
9. a. Why were many African-Americans eager to serve in the Spanish-American War?
Many African-Americans saw the army as a way of moving up in the world. Not only was the army one of the few places that would take them, if they met military success, it would hopefully glean respect from the general public back home. Also, many blacks identified with the struggles of the Cuban slaves and were sympathetic to their cause.
b. What forms of discrimination and prejudice did they encounter?
First of all, they were unable to be promoted to the officer corps. At first, many blacks were actually denied when they volunteered to join the army. Many regiments were actually kept from fighting in Cuba, even though the government assumed that they would be more suited for a tropical climate and even that they would be immune to yellow fever.
10. How did racism influence American perceptions of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines? Give two examples of events where racism affected U.S. policy after the war.
a. In the negotiations with Spain, the Cuban rebels and the Cuban people in general were largely ignored. The US assumed that the apparently stupid savages were unable to create good diplomatic policies - how could such unintelligent people possibly govern themselves, they thought?
b. Although the US had claimed that they were fighting for Filipino freedom, after the war, control was not relinquished to the Filipinos as promised. The US decided to remain in the Philippines until "things could be worked out" - it was very clear to the Filipinos that "things" would not be worked out for a very long time.
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