SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR PLAY Narrator #1 Jose Marti (Cuban Rebel) American #1 Theodore Roosevelt Joseph Pulitzer Narrator #2 Rough Rider #1 American #2 (Assistant Secretary of Navy) William Randolph Hearst Narrator #3 Rough Rider #2 American #3 Cuban Rebel #1 Emilio Aguinaldo (Filipino rebel leader) Narrator #4 Newspaper Boy American #4 Cuban Rebel #2 Commodore George Dewey Narrator #5 #3 Statement of Inquiry Global competition over resources and power led to American expansion and influence
Background From the time of Columbus in the late 1400s until the 1800s, most of the western hemisphere
south of the present-day United States was controlled by Spain. This part of the world, known as Latin America, includes present-day Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In the early 1800s, most of Latin America became independent from Spain, forming many of the separate nations that make up Latin America today. The United States, under the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, promised to protect these new nations from future European interference. The Monroe Doctrine also said, however, that the U.S. would not interfere with any colonies that European countries still had. Although Spain had lost most of Latin America by the 1820s, it still controlled Cuba and Puerto Rico. Spain also held the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific. The people of these colonies were not happy with Spanish rule, and by the late 1800s, rebellions had broken out in Cuba and the Philippines. The Spanish government responded by cracking down harshly on the people of these colonies, depriving them of basic rights and freedoms. In the 1890s, some Americans felt that the United States should get involved to help these colonies overthrow Spanish rule.
SCENE 1 - Years of Discontent and Tension in Cuba
Narrator #1 – Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida, had been under Spanish rule since Columbus came in 1492. Over the centuries, Cubans grew increasingly discontented (unhappy) with Spain’s harsh rule. In 1869, the Cubans began an uprising that was finally put down 10 years later. As a result, the Spanish began a policy of RECONCENTRATION which is the forced movement of large numbers of people into detention camps for military or political reasons.
Cuban Rebel #1 – I can’t believe this! I am outraged! Our government is terrible! The Spanish don’t give us any rights and never let us speak our minds. They oppress us!
Cuban Rebel #2 – We should revolt! It’s been too long that we’ve been ruled by a government that is thousands of miles away. Spain shouldn’t control us! We should have control over our own country!
Cuban Rebel #1 – YES! What a fantastic idea! Let’s revolt! No longer should we have to deal with these RECONCENTRATION CAMPS that the Spanish have put us.
Cuban Rebel #2 – These camps are miserable. How dare they treat us like dogs and force us to stay here against our will!
Cuban Rebel #1 – They are disgusting! I’ve heard over 200,000 Cubans have died already from the unsanitary conditions. They barely give us any food to survive!
Cuban Rebel #2 – And it’s all because we speak out against Spain and its unfair ways of governing. Cuba should not be ruled in this way. Cubans deserve a government made up of CUBANS! Narrator #1 – Some Cubans who disagreed with the government were exiled or banished from Cuba. Many fled to the United States. Jose Marti, a Cuban exile and poet living in the United States, urged the U.S. to help the Cuban rebels overthrow their oppressive government.
Jose Marti – We must help my Cuban friends. They are struggling to survive! Cuba needs the help of a strong ally like America to overthrow the Spanish and their control over Cuba.
American #1 – Why should Americans risk getting involved in a skirmish over Spanish rule? This is none of our business at all!!! Isolationism is the policy that we should continue to maintain.
American #2 –You can’t be serious! It is our duty to get involved! Cubans deserve independence from Spain…and don’t forget; Cuba has a lot of economic potential for us.
American #1 – I can’t believe what you’re saying! You’re an imperialist pig! We cannot interfere!
American #2 – You really are a fool! We have about $50 million invested in Cuban sugar and rice plantations, railroads and iron mines. We are crazy not to get involved!
Jose Marti – Can’t you be SYMPATHETIC to the Cuban cause? How could you allow another country to imperialize Cuba when you yourselves refused to be controlled by Great Britain? Americans should want to help us!
American #1 – I will not be sympathetic! If we interfere, we risk the chance of being pulled into a costly war! Settle your own problems!
American #2 – Senor Marti is right! What happens in Cuba directly affects us and our economic relations with Cuba. Call me selfish all you want, but if we get involved we will promote democracy and get our sugar and I can’t drink coffee without sugar!!!!
Narrator #1 – Jose Marti returned to Cuba in an attempt to lead a revolt there. He was later killed in a skirmish and did not live to see his dream come true.
SCENE 1 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
1a. Why were Cubans angry at the Spanish government? ______1b. Why did some Americans feel obligated to get involved in Cuba? Why were some against getting involved? ______
SCENE 2 – The Spanish-American War Approaches
Narrator #2 – In the United States, there were varying opinions about events that occurred in Cuba. Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World newspaper, and William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal, developed a style of reporting known as YELLOW JOURNALISM, which used sensational stories and Hearst headlines to persuade and spark interest in their newspapers. Headlines were usually exaggerated and sometimes without truth.
William Randolph Hearst – I cannot believe this! The United States government is just ignoring the horrors in Cuba. We must let the public know how bad it is. I hope my newspaper reaps all the benefits of this nasty situation in Cuba. Joseph Pulitzer – Well I know that my upcoming article is bound to get the attention of my readers AND yours!
William Randolph Hearst – Your article couldn’t possibly outdo my fantastic headline today “FEEDING PRISONERS TO THE SHARKS!” If that doesn’t get the public’s attention, I don’t know what can!
Joseph Pulitzer – Well, beat this Hearst....Tomorrow I plan to grasp America with this awesome headline: “BLOOD ON THE ROADSIDES, BLOOD IN THE FIELDS, BLOOD ON THE DOORSTEPS. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD.” Pulitzer William Randolph Hearst – Well Joe, as lame as that headline is, I have to admit that it would certainly convince Americans that we need to go to war with Spain, even if it isn’t totally true. Despite you being my biggest rival, this might persuade them! Heck, I might believe you too!
Narrator #2 – On February 15th at 9:40 p.m. a great explosion happened….
Newspaper Boy – EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
American #3 – (Yells out loud to the crowd) HOLY COW! THE U.S.S. MAINE WAS SUNK!
American #4 – WHAT?! How does an entire state get blown up!?
American #3 – Noooooo, the U.S.S. Maine is a ship that we had in Havana harbor to protect our American investments and American lives in Cuba during the crazy Cuban revolt.
American #4 – Who blew us up? Wait….What?
American #3 – They didn’t blow US up, someone blew up our ship! But no one really knows who is responsible.
American #4 – Those lousy Frenchmen did it. I know it!
American #3 – What? FRANCE? Are you even reading the newspaper headlines? Obviously, the Spanish blew up the U.S.S. Maine to prevent the United States from getting involved in Spain’s colony.
American #4 – Are you sure it was the Spanish who did it?
American #3 – That’s what the newspaper headlines say. It HAS to be true!
American #4 – I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if they just make it all up. American #3 – How could you NOT believe everything you read?
American #4 – I guess you’re right. I read the comics sometimes…they seem real to me.
Narrator #2 – To this day, no one knows what caused the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine. However, the press and the public blamed Spain. With cries of “Remember the Maine,” Americans demanded revenge.
SCENE 2 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
2a. What were the long-term causes of the U.S. going to war with Spain? ______2b. What was the immediate cause of the U.S. going to war with Spain? ______2c. How did the press (newspapers) play a role in causing this war? ______
SCENE 3 - The Spanish-American War Begins In the Philippines
Narrator #3 - After the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine, war fever swept the U.S. At first, President McKinley favored a peaceful settlement between the Spanish and the rebels, in order to protect American economic interests. By April of 1898, he gave into public pressure and asked for Congress’ permission to declare war. They agreed and the Spanish-American War began in the Philippines, an archipelago which Spain controlled in the Pacific.
Theodore Roosevelt (Secretary of Navy) - I knew that the Americans would expect war after the cowardly Spanish sunk the U.S.S Maine! They are foolish for thinking they can mess with the U.S. of A.!!!! I must order our navy to the Philippines. Roosevelt
Narrator #3 – Roosevelt quickly sent a telegram to Commodore George Dewey.
Commodore Dewey- Attack the Spanish fleet? With pleasure! This will be like taking candy from a baby!
Narrator #3 - Dewey and a small fleet of American warships sank the entire Spanish Dewey squadron in Manila Bay in the Philippines. The Americans did not lose a single ship or life.
Theodore Roosevelt- BOOYA!!! Aguinaldo Narrator #3- Commodore Dewey soon enlists the help of Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino rebel leader.
Aguinaldo- Commodore, I can be a major help to you Americans. I know these islands like the back of my hand…anything to help drive the Spanish off my islands and achieve independence!
Commodore Dewey- Whoa whoa buddy…cool your jets there. No one said anything about independence. We appreciate the help and all, but America is not about to let you guys run the show here…we have an empire to build!
Aguinaldo- What are you talking about!!?? I’m fighting for Filipino independence! You Americans are becoming as greedy as those creepy Spaniards!! Watch your step or we’ll be at war soon…
SCENE 3 SUMMARY QUESTION
3. What action did the U.S. government take with regard to the Philippines? Why? ______
SCENE 4 – The Spanish-American War Continues in Cuba Narrator #4 - The war’s focus now shifts back to Cuba. At first, the American forces that landed there were poorly equipped and undertrained. Strangely, one of the best known units was the Rough Riders, led by Theodore Roosevelt, who left his post as Assistant Secretary of Navy to join the fight. The Rough Riders were made up mostly of volunteers who Roosevelt knew from the past or found. They included Native Americans, college athletes, cowboys and college professors. The Rough Riders focused their fighting in Cuba where they became heroic for their charge up San Juan Hill led by Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt- HUZZZAHH!!! Let’s have at them boys! These Spaniards are holding out on top of this hill! Now is our chance!
Rough Rider #1- Is this guy for real? We’re all going to get killed!
Rough Rider #2- We got to trust him. He’s got some guts. He gave up his desk job in Washington to help us. If he’s leading us we can’t fail.
Rough Rider #1- No way! Is that Roosevelt running up the hill!!?? Who does he think he is?
Rough Rider # 2- I don’t know but we better follow him, let’s go!!
Narrator #4- Roosevelt and his Rough Riders successfully defeat the Spanish force at San Juan Hill within a day’s time. Meanwhile, U.S. ships destroyed the Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor—also in Cuba. Within two weeks the remaining 24,000 Spanish troops surrender.
SCENE 4 SUMMARY QUESTION
4. What role did Theodore Roosevelt play in the fighting of the Spanish-American War? ______
SCENE 5 – Results of the Spanish-American War
Narrator #5 – In December 1898, after only 4 months of fighting, Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty. Spain accepted Cuban independence. It granted Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island to the U.S. In return, the U.S. paid Spain $20 million. As a result the U.S. became the leading world power in the Caribbean. In 1902,
Cuba was still independent but Congress forced Cuba to include the Platt Amendment in its new Constitution. This limited Cuba’s power to make treaties or borrow money and it gave the United States the right to interfere in Cuban affairs. It also allowed the U.S. to keep a naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Cuba was now a protectorate of the U.S. This meant that Cuba was an independent country whose policies are controlled by an outside power.
American #1 – I really don’t agree with this whole Platt Amendment. How can we take over a country like Cuba, and impose our ideals on them? It completely violates the Declaration of Independence! This makes us look like hypocrites.
American #2 – Yeah, Cuba has very little say in what goes on in its own country now. America limits them so much!
American #3 – I think you’re both wrong. It’s important that we have control over these territories. Look at how much we benefit from them! We have new business opportunities, naval bases, and not to mention it is our duty to spread the idea of democracy to other parts of the world.
American #1 – What gives us this right to force democracy on countries who don’t want it?
American #3 – We got them away from the greedy hands of Spain, which is so far away. Cuba is practically our neighbor; we should keep watch over them.
American #2 – Well I don’t think the Cubans see the United States as being any different than Spain. One journalist wrote “Americans have made our country free...as free as a dog on a leash.”
American #1 – I’m pretty sure the Filipinos aren’t too happy with our “help” either. I heard Emilio Aguinaldo, the Filipino freedom fighter, is looking to fight against the United States for full independence.
American #3 – FREEDOM FIGHTER? ARE YOU JOKING?! THAT GUY IS A REBEL WHO SHOULD BE STOPPED!
American #2 – This is the price we pay for not allowing the Filipino people to have independence they so deserve! Now we are in a conflict that we don’t need to be involved in.
Narrator #5 – Led by Aguinaldo, Filipino rebels fought a three year war where about 4,000 Americans and 20,000 Filipinos were killed. In 1901, Aguinaldo was captured and the fighting ended. The Philippines would remain a U.S. territory until 1946, when it was finally given independence.
SCENE 5 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
5a. As a result of the Spanish-American War, ______replaced ______as a colonial power in the Caribbean and in the Pacific. The United States gained full control over ______, ______, ______, and Wake Island. Cuba gained its independence but America still limited Cuba’s power.
5b. After the war, a Cuban journalist wrote: “The Americans have made our country free...as free as a dog on a leash.” Explain how Cuba’s situation can be compared to being a “…dog on a leash.”. ______