The Spanish American War

The Spanish American War

Nationalists in Cuba had been resisting Spanish rule since 1895. The Americans had become increasingly sorry for the Cubans mainly because of the numerous news reports about Spanish brutality. Local New York newspapers like the New York Journal and New York World exaggerated and even made up stories about the Spanish military coming down on the Cuban rebels. These intense newspaper writings, called yellow journalism, convinced much of the American public to side with the rebels, and to pressure the government into action against Spain. In April 1898, President McKinley got the perfect chance to start a feud with Spain. A U.S. ship, the Maine, had exploded in Havana. The cause of the explosion was unknown, but the U.S. government blamed Spain. McKinley, with approval from Congress, was given permission to use force in order to aid the Cubans in their fight for independence.

The Spanish-American War lasted only two months. Before the war, Spain had been feared as a dangerous enemy. But Spain's strength had been overestimated, and the U.S. easily defeated the Spanish forces on land and by sea. One of the most famous battles was the U.S. capture of San Juan Hill in Cuba, an attack led by Theodore Roosevelt. America's easy victory established the U.S. as a significant military force, and brought on Spain's downfall as a military powerhouse.

With the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war in December 1898, Cuba gained its independence, and Spain sold the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the U.S. for twenty million dollars.