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Spanish American War Facts

Spanish American War Facts
The Spanish-American War began on April 25th, 1898 and ended on August 12th, 1898, lasting three months, two weeks and four days. It was fought between Spain and the United States, after Spain declared war on the U.S. because the U.S. supported Cuba's desire to be independent of Spanish rule. Despite the fact that the U.S. president at the time William McKinley wished to avoid a war, political and public influence, and the sinking of a U.S. Navy ship off the coast of Cuba, led to the decision to go to war. The Spanish rejected the U.S. ultimatum to surrender its control of Cuba, and the Spanish-American war began.
Interesting Spanish American War Facts:
The Cubans were being treated horribly by the Spanish, which led to Cuba's desire for independence.
Cubans were forced into slavery and thousands of them died from both starvation and disease.
The U.S. supported the Cubans both for humanitarian and economic and trade reasons.
The U.S. battleship Maine sunk off the coast of Cuba on February 15th, 1898, killing 260 servicemen. It was believed that a submarine mine caused the explosion and sinking of the ship. This incident helped encourage the U.S. to go to war with the Spanish.
On April 25th, 1898, the U.S. declared war on Spain, and the first battle occurred on May 1st, 1898 at Manila Bay in the Philippines. The U.S. won.
On June 22nd, 1898 U.S. troops landed in Cuba.
On July 1st, 1898, the United States defeated the Spanish at the Battle of San Juan Heights, and on July 3rd, 1898, off Santiago Bay, the United States destroyed the Spanish fleet.
On July 17th, 1898, the Spanish surrendered to the United States at Santiago.
The Protocol of Peace was signed by Spain and the United States on August 12th, 1898. This put an end to the hostilities.
The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10th, 1898.
Approximately 306,760 American troops were engaged in the Spanish-American War.
3,000 Americans died during the Spanish-American war, but only approximately 385 died from battle itself. The rest died of disease. Typhoid and yellow fever was an enemy to both the Spanish and the Americans.
During the Spanish-American War there were 29 battles. 11 battles were won by the United States, 11 battles were won by the Spanish, and the remaining battles were considered inconclusive as to who actually won.
As a result of the Spanish-American war the Treaty of Paris was signed. Cuba became independent of Spanish rule. The United States purchased the Philippines for $20 million. Puerto Rico and Guam were both ceded by the Spanish to the United States.
Although Cuba gained its independence as a result of the Spanish-American war, the country was under U.S. military control for three years after the war ended, until May 20th, 1902.
Spain was once considered to be the most powerful colonial nation in the world, but lost much of its control as one country after another declared independence just as Cuba did in 1898.


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