Student Handouts
Working with Primary Sources: The Spanish-American War
Examine the introduction to Our Islands in Their People, written by Major-General Joseph Wheeler. The excerpt, which is about two-and-a-half pages long, is included here along with six questions about the text. Pupils can learn about the...
Curated OER
Debate: Should the U.S. Annex the Philippines?
Building an argument with supporting evidence is a vital skill. Learners engage in a debate over the annexation of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. They take on the perspective of an individual from that time period,...
Curated OER
History of Modern Cuba
Set the context for the often-strained relationship between the US and Cuba with this informative and entertaining presentation. From political cartoons to photographs of Fidel Castro and Fulgencio Batista, as well as heartbreaking...
Curated OER
American Becomes a Colonial Power
Exploring the idea of America joining "the imperialist club" at the end of the 19th century, this presentation presents reasons why America not only had the drive to explore the world, but the power and wealth with which to do so....
Curated OER
Imperialism
Students examine Imperialism by analyzing the collection of primary sources in the archives of the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial. They research photos and describe soldiers and their weapons involved in the Spanish-American War.
Curated OER
Spanish-American War
Middle schoolers view a video called Battling Beyond the Borders about the Spanish-American War. They discuss the role of newspapers in the war and then analyze political cartoons of the time, writing explanatory sentences about them.
Library of Congress
Loc: The World of 1898: The Spanish American War
The Library of Congress offers this detailed history of the Spanish American War from historical papers. Includes manuscripts, maps, and illustrations, and an excellent overview essay.
Library of Congress
Loc: The World in 1898: The Spanish American War: Cuba in 1898
Read about the Ten Years' War the Cubans fought against the Spanish beginning in 1868, the economic ties the Cubans had with the United States, and the eventual independence of Cuba.
Library of Congress
Loc: Stephen Crane
This Library of Congress site provides a brief description of Crane's life as a war correspondent during the Spanish-American War and then provides some excerpts from some of his war correspondences. A bibliography of related works of...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: The Platt Amendment, 1901
The complete text of the Platt Amendment with introductory material.
University of Virginia
Medical History: Yellow Fever and Walter Reed
Photographs and documents from the University of Virginia's Hench-Reed Collection tell the story of the work done in Cuba at the turn of the 20th century toward finding the cause of Yellow Fever. Hyperlinks to additional information.
War Times Journal
War Times Journal: The Battle of Manila Bay by Admiral George Dewey
A fascinating account of the famous naval battle by the American naval commander himself, Admiral Dewey.
Patrick McSherry
Spanish American War Centennial: Spanish American War Chronology
All the information you could want on the Spanish-American War. Both Spanish and American information. A chronology, first hand accounts, weapons profiles, medicine in the war and much more.
US Navy
Nhhc: Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898
A good overview of the Battle of Manila Bay and why it was so succesful. Use the links to find photographs of the battle and a biography of Commodore George Dewey.
US Navy
Nhhc: Oceanic Period (1890 1945)
Read about the build-up of the U.S. Navy after the Spanish-American War and how it was used to protech the country in World Wars I and II.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Platt Amendment (1903)
Find a copy of the Platt Amendment, written out in beautiful handwriting, which can be enlarged for easier viewing. In addiiton is a transcription of this document, and information about it. This was a document signed with Cuba after the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: De Lome Letter (1898)
This site features an online facsimile of the letter written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States in which he criticized American President William McKinley. Its publication generated public support for a war with Spain over...
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Theodore Roosevelt and the Spanish American War
What was Teddy Roosevelt's role in the Spanish-American War? Understand how Roosevelt functioned before and during this tumultuous time in the United States.
US Army Center
U.s. Army Center of Military History: Darkness and Light, the Interwar Years 1865 1898
This resource offers a good look at the reorganization and use of the U.S. military in the years betwee the end of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.
PBS
Pbs: Crucible of Empire, the Spanish American War
Although this is the companion site to the film, it still provides much information on the Spanish American war and era through an interactive timeline. You can also view and listen to songs that were popular during that time.
PBS
Crucible of Empire: Yellow Journalism
Discusses "yellow journalism" and its impact on the Spanish- American War.
PBS
Reporting America at War: Richard Harding Davis: The Battle of San Juan Hil
A journalist's dispatch to the New York Herald about the Battle of San Juan Hill. Richard Harding Davis reported on the Spanish-American War popularizing the war and Theodore Roosevelt.
Duke University
George Percival Scriven
This resource contains the history of the Philippine-American War. This article contains transcript of a soldier's diary with background information about both him and the war.
Other
Historical Thinking Matters: Spanish American War
This award-winning site has everything you need for online lessons or independent study about the Spanish-American War. Uses an inquiry-based approach with lots of primary sources, and the material can be used in conjunction with almost...