American Interest in Cuba  In 1854 diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce that the U.S. buy Cuba from Spain  In 1860, Democrats called for.

American Interest in Cuba In 1854 diplomats recommended to President Franklin Pierce that the U.S. buy Cuba from Spain In 1860, Democrats called for the admission of Cuba to the Union as a slave state Political Instability From 1868 â 1878, Cubans fought their first war for independence Failed to gain independence Sugar Plantations In 1884, tariffs were abolished on Cuban sugar, causing sugar production to skyrocket. American capitalists had invested millions in large sugar cane plantations after 1886. Cubaâs economy became dependent on sugar The U.S. became Cubaâs main market. High tariffs were restored in 1894, ruining Cubaâs economy. Second War for Independence Jose Marti, a Cuban poet, launched a revolution in 1895. Cuban guerrillas destroyed American sugar plantations hoping to provoke U.S. intervention The U.S. public was split on whether to get involved or not Concentration Camps Cuban General Valeriano Weyler Moved the entire rural population of central and western Cuba into concentration camps. Approximately 300,000 people were imprisoned Thousands died of disease and hunger Yellow Journalism Yellow Journalism â Reporting that exaggerates the news to lure new readers William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) printed exaggerated reports of Weylerâs brutality. They said that wells were poisoned and children were fed to the sharks American sympathy deepened Spanish authorities restricted the freedom of reporters and prevented them from entering combat areas. Many reporters gathered in bars and made up reports of battles that never took place. McKinley William McKinley became president in 1897 McKinley tried diplomatic means to resolve the crisis in Cuba Spain recalled General Weyler and offered Cuba limited self-government The De Lome Letter In February 1898, the New York Journal published a private letter written by Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to the United States The letter called McKinley âweakâ and âa bidder for the admiration of the crowd.â Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the navy, said McKinley had âno more backbone than a chocolate éclairâ The USS Maine Early in 1898, McKinley had ordered the USS Maine to Cuba to protect American lives and property. On February 15, 1898, the Maine exploded. 266 of the 350 men on board died. A naval court of inquiry determined it was sunk by a Spanish mine Yellow Journalists Cont. Yellow journalists held Spain responsible Hearstâs paper offered a $50,000 reward for the capture of the Spaniards who committed the outrage âRemember the Maine!â became the rallying call for U.S. intervention in Cuba War Breaks Out On April 11, McKinley asked congress for authority to use force in Cuba. After a week of debate, congress agreed. The Philippines The first battle of the war took place in the Philippines In 1898 Roosevelt had ordered the Pacific fleet to sail for the Philippines On May 1, George Dewey steamed into Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet. Spain lost 381 men, the U.S. lost 1 Blockade The U.S. blockaded Cuba Untrained Troops The U.S. army maintained a small professional army. About 125,000 Americans volunteered to fight. Training camps lacked the supplies and effective leaders to train troops properly. Not enough modern guns to go around Outfitted with wool uniforms that were unsuitable for Cubaâs tropical climate