Spanish-American War (1898)

Directions: As you read about the Spanish-American War, write notes to answer the questions about its causes and effects.

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

1. American business owners- Many business owners wanted America to support Spain to protect their investments but it was a cause because other Americans were enthusiastic about the rebellion.

2. José Martí- Marti launched a revolution in 1895 and he organized Cuban resistance against Spain. Marti deliberately destroyed land, mostly American owned sugar cane plantations, he provoked U.S. intervention of Cuba. This was a cause because he revolted against both the Spanish and the Americans.

3. Valeriano Weyler- Weyler was a Spanish General that was sent to Cuba to restore order. He put an estimated 300,000 Cubans in concentration camps where thousands died. It was a cause of the Spanish-American war because it caused bad blood between the Americans and Spanish over news paper circulation.

4. Yellow journalism- Yellow journalism was a cause of the Spanish-American war because it exaggerated the news to lure and enrage readers of the horrors that the Spanish did and it turned people against the Spanish.

5. De Lôme letter- The Spanish minister of the United States wrote a letter that criticized the U.S. president (McKinley). The letter called him "weak" and a "bidder for the admiration of the crowd." This was a cause of the war because it angered Americans that their president was being insulted by the Spanish.

6. U.S.S. Maine- The U.S.S. Maine was a cause of the war because the ship blew up in Havana, newspapers reported the cause of the blow the Spanish so Americans became outraged and were infuriated by the Spanish.


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

7. Cuba- Cuba was freed by Spain after the Treaty of Paris.

8. Puerto Rico- Puerto Rico was turned over to the United States by the Spanish at the Treaty of Paris.

9. Guam- Guam was turned over to the United States by the Spanish at the Treaty of Paris.

10. Philippine Islands- The Philippine Islands were sold to the United States by Spain for twenty million dollars at the Treaty of Paris.