Spanish American War

1. What connections did the U.S. have to Cuba in the late 1800s? List at least two.

a. The sugar industry

b. Buying Cuban sugar

2. What were the Spanish “reconcentration camps”?

Reconscentration camps were towns where the Spanish put Cuban peasents so they could not aid rebels.

3. List three reasons why the United States went to war with Spain in Cuba.
a.Yellow journalism

b.The De Lome letter

c.The sinking of the USS Maine


4. Which do you believe was the most important reason? Why?

I beleive yellow journalism was the most important factor in the Spanish American war because the newspapers blew everything out of proportion in order to sell papers. The De Lome letter would not have mattered if the newspapers had not called it "the worst insult to Aerica in its history."


5. What did the Teller Amendment say?
America had no jurisdiction over Cuba and America would allow Cuba to govern itself after the war.

6. Why was a portion of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?
Because Spain had a fleet in Manila because it was a Spanish territory.


7. Dewey’s victory in the _____Philippines_______________________ sparked an outpouring of ___pride______________ in the United States.



8. Why did Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders want to fight in Cuba?
Because of national pride after Dewey's victory in the Philippines.

9. a. Why were many African-Americans eager to serve in the Spanish-American War?
They thought it would prove their loyalty to America and elevate their status.

b. What forms of discrimination and prejudice did they encounter?
Black volunteers were rejected in all but three states in the first call for volunteers, and in the second they were rejected in all but 5 states. Also, in only 3 states were black officers put in charge of these volunteer units.

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.
It was believed that the natives of those islands could not fend for themselves because they were not Caucasian.

a. Because Cubans were considered inferior to whites, they were not included in the negotiations about Cuba's future.

b. During the negotiations in Paris, the US and Spanish governments worked out a treaty but the Filipinos were not invited because they were considered inferior.