Flashback to February 12
American History

On April 21, 1898, the Spanish-American War began, marking a significant turning point in the history of both Spain and the United States. This conflict, fueled by tensions surrounding the Cuban struggle for independence, ultimately resulted in the emergence of the United States as a major world power.
At the end of the 19th century, Cuba was still a Spanish colony. However, the Cuban people had been fighting for independence from Spanish rule for several years. Their struggle gained attention and sympathy from Americans, who saw it as a fight for freedom similar to their own struggle for independence from Britain. American newspapers fuelled this sympathy by publishing sensationalized and often exaggerated stories of Spanish atrocities in Cuba.
The event that served as a catalyst for the outbreak of the war was the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The cause of the explosion remains a topic of debate to this day, but American newspapers were quick to blame Spain. The incident further intensified anti-Spanish sentiment in the United States and increased calls for intervention in Cuba.
On April 11, President William McKinley asked Congress for permission to use military force to intervene in Cuba. Although some members of Congress were initially hesitant, the sinking of the USS Maine and the pressure of public opinion eventually led to the passage of a joint resolution supporting Cuban independence.
The declaration of war on April 21, 1898, marked the beginning of a short but intense conflict between Spain and the United States. The war was fought not only in Cuba but also in the Philippines and Puerto Rico, both Spanish colonies at the time. The American military, bolstered by its modern naval fleet, quickly gained the upper hand in the conflict.
One of the most famous battles of the Spanish-American War was the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. Commodore George Dewey, leading the American Asiatic Squadron, destroyed the Spanish fleet in the Philippines within hours. This victory bolstered American morale and signaled the beginning of the end for Spanish colonial rule in the region.
In the Caribbean, the most significant engagement took place at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898. The US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, led by Admiral William T. Sampson and Commodore Winfield Scott Schley, successfully blockaded the Spanish fleet in Santiago de Cuba’s harbor. The Spanish attempted to break out of the blockade but were decisively defeated, leading to the surrender of the remaining Spanish fleet.
With victories in both the Pacific and Caribbean theaters, the United States emerged from the war as a global power. The Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, confirmed the end of the conflict and resulted in the United States acquiring several territories including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, effectively ending centuries of Spanish colonial influence in the Americas and the Pacific.
The Spanish-American War had far-reaching consequences for both Spain and the United States. For Spain, the loss of its colonies signaled the decline of its once-mighty empire. The war also had a lasting impact on the United States, as it propelled the nation onto the global stage and solidified its position as a major world power.
the Spanish-American War, which began on April 21, 1898, was a turning point in history. It erupted out of tensions surrounding the Cuban struggle for independence and ultimately led to the emergence of the United States as a global power. The war, fought in both the Pacific and the Caribbean, resulted in American victories and the acquisition of several territories from Spain. This conflict forever changed the course of both nations involved and had long-lasting implications for the geopolitical landscape of the world.
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