Tension between the U.S. and Spain started to rise in 1895, when Cuba was struggling to gain independence from Spain. The United States supported Cuba’s desire for independence and helped them financially. The U.S. sent over goods and supplies, but when the Spanish government found out about it, they viewed it as a direct threat to the Spanish authority in Cuba (Britannica, 2025). On February 15, 1898, a huge explosion sank the U.S. ship, the Maine, in Havana, Cuba, and over 260 crew members were killed, but responsibility for this event was never determined. The U.S. naval board found evidence that an initial explosion from a mine or torpedo was the cause of the disaster. The United States suspected it was Spain that started the explosion, and the demand for intervention in the war grew steadily. The Spanish government became increasingly worried because it knew its navy was not prepared to take on the United States’ navy. The U.S. sent Spain an ultimatum on March 27, and basically, McKinley told Spain that if they didn’t grant Cuba independence, the U.S. would declare war on Spain (Office of the Historian). On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the U.S.; a day later, on April 25, the United States declared war on Spain. Neither side was prepared for a war, but since it depended heavily on sea power, the United States had the upper hand with its powerful navy (Britannica, 2025). At this point, the Spanish government was not doing well. Its army and navy were far from ready for a war, and they had not yet informed the Spanish public of the war they were about to enter, and they were worried the government or even the monarchy might be overthrown. 

The first battle of the Spanish-American War was the Battle of Manila Bay. On May 1, 1898, U.S. Commodore George Dewey led the United States Navy to destroy the Spanish fleet in the Philippines. This battle ended in a U.S. victory, establishing their dominance in the navy. Although this was significant for the United States, the war continued in Cuba. For example, the Battle of San Juan Hill and the Battle of Santiago de Cuba contributed to the eventual surrender of Spain. (History.com, 2010). The Siege of Santiago took place from July 3-16, 1898. It was a key event in the Spanish-American War. It began with a naval battle where the American fleet destroyed the Spanish fleet trying to exit Santiago harbor. After their victory in the naval battle, the United States Army, led by Major General William Shafter, began a siege of the city of Santiago. On July 16th, the Spanish forces in Santiago surrendered to the Americans. The final battle of the Spanish-American War was the Battle of Manila on August 13, 1898. This battle was more of a staged battle set up so that Spain could surrender. This was because the Spanish naval presence had already been eliminated from the first battle, the Battle of Manila Bay (Wonderopolis, n.d.). The Spanish-American War was the shortest in U.S. history, and the fighting lasted about ten weeks. Although the war was short, it was very impactful for the world.

In conclusion, the Spanish-American War was an important war that should not be overlooked. This war marked the end of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas and began a period of reformation and cultural renewal for Spain. And for the United States, it signified the beginning of its rise to global power. In present-day, the U.S. still has control over the territories it gained from the Spanish-American War. The U.S. is still considered a global power today, and it wouldn’t have the respect it received if it weren’t for the war. While the Spanish-American War led to many casualties, it was very impactful, and the world would not be what it is today if it had not happened.