Question

The Spanish American war quick check

Answer 1

Sure! Here’s a quick overview of the Spanish-American War:

### Overview:
- **Duration**: April 1898 - August 1898
- **Combatants**: United States vs. Spain

### Causes:
1. **Cuban Struggle for Independence**: Cuba was fighting for independence from Spanish colonial rule, and the U.S. sympathized with the Cuban plight.
2. **Yellow Journalism**: Sensationalized news reporting, particularly from newspapers like those owned by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, fueled public outrage against Spain.
3. **Sinking of USS Maine**: The explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898, blamed on Spain (though the cause was likely an accident), stirred public sentiment for war.

### Key Events:
- **Declaration of War**: The U.S. declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898.
- **Battle of Manila Bay**: A decisive naval battle on May 1, 1898, where Admiral George Dewey led the U.S. Navy to victory over the Spanish fleet in the Philippines.
- **Invasion of Cuba**: U.S. forces, including the Rough Riders led by Theodore Roosevelt, fought key battles, such as the Battle of San Juan Hill.
- **Puerto Rico**: The U.S. invaded and occupied Puerto Rico in July 1898.

### Outcomes:
1. **Treaty of Paris (1898)**: Signed on December 10, 1898, it ended the war and resulted in Spain ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million.
2. **U.S. Emergence as a World Power**: The war marked a significant point in U.S. foreign policy, signaling the country’s emergence as an imperial power.

### Consequences:
- **Philippine-American War**: Following the war, conflict arose as Filipino nationalists sought independence from U.S. rule, leading to a bloody conflict from 1899 to 1902.
- **U.S. Territories**: The acquisition of territories expanded U.S. influence in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

This summary captures the essential details of the Spanish-American War. Let me know if you need more specific information!