Timeline of the Spanish-American War

1899

On September 6, 1899, President McKinley was shot twice. One bullet bounced off his button and the other one hit in his stomach. Eight days later, McKinley was pronounced dead.

In France, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally ending the Spanish-American War and granting the United States the first overseas empire.

1898

Teddy Roosevelt

On July 1, 1898, the United States military achieved the most significant land victory of the Spanish American War- The Battle of San Juan. After U.S. troops won The Battle of San Juan, the siege and Spanish surrender followed.

1898

1897

1895

1896

1893

1898

May 1, 1899, Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic Squadron defeated the Spanish fleet in Manilla Bay. George Dewey became the War's most celebrated hero's.

In 1896, General Weyler of Spain implemented the first wave of the Spanish "Reconcentracion Policy" that sent thousands of Cubans into concentration camps. Over 400,000 Cubans died as a result of the Spanish Reconcentration Policy.

The central leaders of the 1895 Cuban Revolution were, Maximo Gomez, Calixto Garcia, and Jose Marti. Gomez (1836-1905) who had dedicated half his life to make Cuba free, became a military leader of the Cuban Revolution in 1895. Spain responded by sending 100,000 soldiers to Cuba in 1895.

In 1897, President McKinley appointed Teddy Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Navy. Roosevelt was also one of the leaders of the First Volunteer Calvary, and was nicknamed the "Rough Riders".

On February 9, 1898, the contents of a seized Spanish letter caused an international scandal that fueled anti-Spanish and pro-war feelings in the U.S.. Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lome sent a personal letter to his friend in Cuba containing derogatory comments about President McKinley.

1898

Historian, Fredrick Jackson Turner had a thesis called "The Significance of the Frontier on American History." His thesis says, "American energy will continually demand a wider field for its exercise." Turner laid the intellectual groundwork for a new kind of U.S. foreign policy- one that led the United States into Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam during the Spanish-American War.

After months of tension, the U.S. public finally got what they wanted, war. On April 11, President McKinley asked Congress to use military force on Cuba. By the middle of April, the U.S.S. North Atlantic Squadron had already blockaded Cuba. The official declaration of war occurred April 25, 1899.

Timeline of the Spanish-American War

1896

1897

On March 4, 1897, William McKinley Jr. became the 25th president of the United States of America. President McKinley did not want to get involved in the situation with Cuba, but he was just 13 months after his inauguration.

In the fall of 1896, Filipino nationalists revolted against the Spanish rule that had controlled the Philippines since the 16th century. The revolt led to an anticipated war with Spain, but an unanticipated war with the U.S. By the end of the war, more 40,000 Filipinos and 4,000 American soldiers were dead.

1897

1868-1878

1898

December of 1897, President McKinley was deeply disturbed by the effects of the Spanish reconcentration policy. On January 8, he called for donations to the Red Cross. He then donated 5 thousand dollars to help with the diseases, famine, and other problems.

The Spanish-American War started in Cuba and lasted for ten straight years. The war engaged over 12,000 fighters and bred several powerful leaders.

On February 15, 1898, the Battleship U.S.S Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 268 men. Many Americans assumed that the Spanish were responsible for the explosion. The sinking of the Maine was a main reason that the U.S. went to war with Spain.

On March 17, 1898, Vermont Senator Redfield Proctor delivered one of the most significant speeches of the War. When he spoke, the pro-war feeling among the U.S. business community grew and the U.S. moved even closer to war.

William McKinley

1898

On May 15, 1898, Teddy Roosevelt resigned his post as Asst. Secretary of the Navy. Later he became the President of the U.S. when President McKinley was assassinated.

1898

On June 22, 1898, U.S. troops landed in Cuba. For months, 25,000 U.S. troops had been stationed in Tampa, Florida, because of its close proximity to Cuba, its railroads, and its deep bay.

1899

On July 17, 1898, the Spanish surrender Santiago to the United States.

Citations

The Treaty of Paris had to be ratified by at least two-thirds majority of the U.S. Senate.

1899

1898

-http://www.pbs.org/crucible/timeline.html

-http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/treaty-of-paris-ends-spanish-american-war

-google images

The United States Congress approved the Treaty of Paris on February 6, 1899. President McKinley signed the treaty, and the U.S. had control of Spain's former colonies- Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

On August 12, 1898, President William McKinley declared peace between the United States government and the Spanish government. It was called The Peace Protocol.

Spanish-American War