The United States officially went to war with Spain in 1898 over the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor and the desire to gain control of Spanish colonies in the Caribbean and Pacific.
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The United States officially went to war with Spain in 1898 over the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor and the desire to gain control of Spanish colonies in the Caribbean and Pacific. According to History.com, “American opinion had been aroused by lurid stories of Spanish brutality toward colonial subjects, including concentration camps, forced labor, and the spread of disease.”
One interesting fact is that the sinking of the USS Maine was a controversial event, with some people believing it was an accident and others believing it was a deliberate act of sabotage by the Spanish. Another interesting fact is that the war only lasted a few months and resulted in a decisive victory for the United States. The Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, resulted in Spain giving up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.
In the words of historian Frederick Jackson Turner, “The war with Spain…opened the eyes of the American people to the commercial possibilities and responsibilities of the Pacific.” This quote highlights the significance of the Spanish-American War in shaping American foreign policy and expanding its influence beyond the shores of North America.
Below is a table of key events leading up to the Spanish-American War:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 15, 1898 | USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor |
| April 10, 1898 | Congress passes a joint resolution declaring war on Spain |
| April 25, 1898 | US declares blockade of Cuba |
| May 1, 1898 | US Navy destroys Spanish fleet at battle of Manila Bay |
| July 3, 1898 | US Army defeats Spanish forces at battle of Santiago de Cuba |
| August 12, 1898 | Treaty of Paris signed, ending the war. |
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On the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on . The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on .
In 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Ma
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The United States declared war on Spain in 1898 due to the sinking of the USS Maine and the conflict in Cuba, with Congress passing a resolution authorizing military force. The Spanish-American War lasted for three months, resulting in US victory and the Treaty of Paris, which gave the US temporary control of Cuba and ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This marked the start of the US’s global power expansion and competition with other nations.
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On April 25, 1898, Congress approved a resolution declaring war with Spain.