The Spanish-American war began in 1898 and it lasted for only four months. It was between the United Sates and Spain. It ended the Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and the United States gained territories in the Western Pacific and Latin America. There were fewer than 500 American deaths related to the war. The wars occurred in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
February 1895:
Conflict began between Spain and Cuba. Spain controlled the economy and they were not fair with Cuba. Cuba wanted to be independent from Spain. The United States supported Cuba on being independent from Spain. Cuba had a closed economy in which the United States wanted access to. The US wanted access to Cuba's sugar, fruit, and tobacco.
January 1898: Because of yellow-journalism that sparked in the US, they decided to send the USS Maine to Cuba's Havana Harbor to show power to Spain.
February 15th 1898: USS Maine sunk and explodes. This kills 266 of the 354 crew on board. Investigators said a mine blew it up and historians say that it was in fact an internal explosion. Many yellow-journalists would say that Spain blew it up.
Yellow Journalism: Journalism that is exaggerated or distorted news that will create sensation that will attract readers and draw attention.
February 25th 1898: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt came up with a plan to attack the Philippines if the war with Spain breaks out.
April 24th 1898: McKinley approves war with Spain and on April 24th Spain then declares war on the United States.
May 1st 1898: Battle of Manila Baby with the Philippines. This battle took place in the Philippines. Dewey defeated the Spanish at Manilla during a surprise attack. The US were able to fight well because the Spanish ships were old and the US had new steel ships that make it a lot easier. Almost 400 Spain sailors were killed with only 6 Americans wounded.
May of 1898: Congress responds to McKinley's war speech with the Teller Amendment. The Teller Amendment was a resolution that the Congress made in 1898. Congress decided to write an agreement with Cuba that promised Cuba that they would become independent after the war was over and they would not make Cuba become a State.
July 1st 1898: San Juan Hill taken by "Rough Riders". The Rough Riders were supported by two black regiments and they charged together at the hill. The Rough Riders had several people die but because they charged at the hill people saw this as success and not a loss.
July 3rd 1898: The Battle of Santiago
This battle took place in the harbor of Cuba. America's navy defeated the Spanish. There was only one American casualty and one American sailor wounded. America either burned, sunk, or beached all Spain's ships.
July 17th 1898: City of Santiago surrenders to General William Shafter which ends the war.
August 12th 1898: The US and Spain agree to stop fighting Spain decides to sign the agreement with the US that they will cease-fire.
August 13th 1898: United States troops capture Manila.
December 10th 1898: Treaty of Paris signed-United States annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines. Spain disowns Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba to the United States. Spain gives authority over of the Philippines to the United States for a total of $20,000,000.