spanishamericanwar

Spanish American War media type="youtube" key="y1f_1TF3rA8" height="317" width="389" align="center"

**Introduction**
The Spanish-American War took place from May to August 1898 and ended with the signing of a peace treaty in December 1898.

The U.S. occupation of the Philippines after the war resulted in the Philippine-American War and marked a change for the United States in foreign affairs.

The events leading up to the war caused the United States to have a larger role in international affairs. One such event occurred in Chile when a mob attacked and killed 2 American sailors and injured 2 others.

The War

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The United States used the Monroe Doctrine as a way to help Cuba and, later, to declare war with Spain.

The Monroe Doctrine, signed in 1823, stated that if any European country interfered with any country in the Americas It would be viewed as an act of agression and the United States would have to intervene.

There were many riots occuring in Cuba among Pro-Spanish and Pro-independence Cubans so the United States, to protect it's interests, Sent the USS Maine to Cuba. On Febuary 15, 1898 the USS Maine exploded and sank.

The Spanish were blamed for this and this pushed many Americans over the edge.



The war's first offensive occurred on May 1, 1898 in Manila Bay in the Phillippines when the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish Fleet. The Spanish lost all of their pacific fleet and the United States had only 1 man killed.

The United States and the Filipinos had taken the Phillippines from the Spanish by June 20, 1898 but the Spanish still held Intramuros, a walled in district of Manila.

On August 13, 1898 United States Forces captured Manila from the Spanish but they wouldn't let Filipino forces into Manila. This sparked the Phillipine-American War.

Guam was captured without a fight. The USS Charleston fired a few times upon Ft. Santa Cruz and the Spanish interpreted it as a salute.

When the Spanish met the Americans on the Charleston the were told they were at war and they surrendered.



On June 22 and 24 United States troops landed East of Santiago, Cuba. This was the beginning of land campaign in Cuba.

Multiple battles were fought here including the now famous battle of San Juan Hill. The last large naval battle in Cuba was the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.

This battle marked the end of Spain's naval power in the New World and it made it only a matter of time before Spain surrendered.

Fighting in Puerto Rico lasted until the Treaty of Paris was signed and the war ended. Puerto Rico was attacked initially by 12 U.S. Naval Vessels on May 10.

Land forces were sent in on July 25. The United States won the war after only a few months. This led to it being called "the splendid little war."

The U.S obtained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillippines and Cuba obtained independence.

​ ​ Aftermath

During the war the United States and it's allies sustained about 15,000 casualties. Over 10,000 were Cubans for independence. The

spanish Suffered about 20,000 casualties. After the war the Spain's role in world affairs declined and America began to take on an

increasingly larger role in world affairs.