Spanish-American War

1. What connections did the U.S. have to Cuba in the late 1800s? List at least two.
The Americans had intrests in the sugar plantations that were owned by Americans and they were buying sugar from the plantations.
2. What were the Spanish “reconcentration camps”?
They were camps that the Spanish built so that the cuban civilians couldn't supply the rebels with food and shelter by sticking the civilians in the camps with limited food, shelter, and sanitation.
3. List three reasons why the United States went to war with Spain in Cuba.
a.The Da Lome Letter
b.The U.S.S Maine incedent
c.The American people wanted to go to war because they saw Cuba as the colonies and Spain as Great Britian and wanted European countries out of the western hemisphere
4. Which do you believe was the most important reason? Why?
The U.S.S Maine incedent was the most important reason because it was really the first truly hostile action in the American peoples' eyes. They thought the Maine was attacked by the Spanish and that the Spanish were wanting to go to war.
5. What did the Teller Amendment say?
It said that the U.S had no intrest in taking control of Cuba and that the Cuban people would control the government after the war.
6. Why was a portion of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?
It was because the Spanish Fleet was in the Philippines and if the Americans destroyed the Spanish fleet they would have a tactical advantage. The Americans also saw they could take the Philippines easily without much effort because of the fact that the Spanish control and their military there were crumbling.
7. Dewey’s victory in the Philippines sparked an outpouring of pride and volunteers in the United States.
8. Why did Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders want to fight in Cuba?
They wanted the pride of knowing they served their country.
9.
a. Why were many African-Americans eager to serve in the Spanish-American War?
They thought if Africa-Americans served in the war they would get more respect and help eliminate discrimination.
b. What forms of discrimination and prejudice did they encounter?
They were not allowed to become officers and they were segragated from white soliders.
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. The Americans thought that the Cuban rebels couldn't set up a stable government because they weren't white and so the American army set up martial law.
b. The Americans thought that all of the territories the Spainish handed over were to primative because of the fact that they weren't white and they weren't christianized so they wouldn't be able to set up a stable government.