Spanish-American War (1898)

Causes: How did each of the following help to cause the outbreak of the Spanish-American War?

1. American business owners
American business owners and industries had an interest in Cuba for a long time, but when they tried to buy it, Spain responded that they'd see it sink before they sold it to the U.S

2. José Martí
Launched a Cuban resistance against Spain, in which he destroyed American property to provoke the U.S. to intervene.

3. Valeriano Weyler
Spanish response to revolt. He treated the Cubans brutally. He put them in concentration camps where many died, and this angered the U.S.

4. Yellow journalism
Over exaggerated the treatment of the Cubans, which got a lot of attention and got the U.S. very angry at Spain.

5. De Lôme letter
The Spanish minister insulted the President in the De Lôme letter, and it was stolen and released into the U.S. media, which greatly fueled the U.S.'s anger towards Spain.

6. U.S.S. Maine
The U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor on Cuba exploded due to an internal explosion, but the U.S. claimed that they believed it was a hostile act of Spain, but was likely just their perfect excuse to go to war with Spain.

Effects: What happened to each of the following territories as a result of the Spanish-American War?

7. Cuba


8. Puerto Rico
U.S. gained possession

9. Guam
U.S. gained possession

10. Philippine Islands
U.S. gained possession