SECTION 2: The Spanish-American War
WITNESS HISTORY 
AUDIO
Remember the Maine!
On February 15, 1898, an explosion ripped through the hull of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, in the Spanish colony of Cuba. More than 250 American sailors died. The incident ignited a furor as Americans clamored for war with Spain. In newspapers, speeches, and songs, patriots implored their fellow citizens to remember the Maine:
“And shall our country let it pass, this deed of foul intent? And shall our country dare believe it was an accident? … Come arm, we all, and let us teach a lesson to bold Spain. We will avenge, by more than speech the destruction of the Maine!”
—H. W. Petrie, lyrics from “The Wreck of the Maine,” 1898
Objectives
- Explain the causes of the Spanish-American War.
- Identify the major battles of the war.
- Describe the consequences of the war, including the debate over imperialism.
Terms and People
- José Martí
- William Randolph Hearst
- Yellow Press
- jingoism
- George Dewey
- Emilio Aguinaldo
- Rough Riders
- Treaty of Paris
NoteTaking
Reading Skill: Identify Causes and Effects Note the causes, key events, and effects of the Spanish-American War.
Why It Matters American power and economic interests around the world were growing. Still, the United States remained reluctant to risk war with other powers to acquire colonies. That changed, however, in 1898, when America went to war against Spain. The United States acquired colonies and became a world power. Section Focus Question: What were the causes and effects of the Spanish-American War?
Causes of the War
At the end of the nineteenth century, Spain was an imperial nation in decline. Its formerly vast empire had dwindled to a small number of possessions, including the Philippine Islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Cubans Rebel Against Spanish Rule
By 1897, American entrepreneurs had invested $50 million in sugar cane plantations and other ventures in Cuba, which lay just 90 miles off the Florida coast. These businessmen saw Cuba as a growing market for American products. However, the island was very unstable. Yearning for freedom, the Cubans repeatedly rebelled against Spanish rule.
In 1895, Cuban patriot José Martí launched a war for independence from Spain. With cries of “Cuba Libre!” (“Free Cuba!”), rebel fighters used guerrilla tactics of hit-and-run raids against Spanish forces. In response, Spanish General Valeriano Weyler devised a
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