Spanish-American War

1898 conflict between Spain and the United States

War & ConflictPolitics & Government
Spanish-American War
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Overview

What happened

1902: Cuba declares independence in Havana, with Tomás Estrada Palma as its first president, after decades of struggle and a death toll of over 20,000

Date

May 20, 1902

Location

Havana, Cuba

Key people

Tomás Estrada Palma, José Martí

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and nuanced account of the Cuban independence movement, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of the event.

What was Spanish-American War?

The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the U.S. acquiring sovereignty over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and establishing a protectorate over Cuba. It represented U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence and Philippine Revolution, with the latter later leading to the Philippine–American War. The Spanish–American War brought an end to almost four centuries of Spanish presence in the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific; the United States meanwhile not only became a major world power, but also gained several island possessions spanning the globe, which provoked rancorous debate over the wisdom of expansionism.

Spanish-American War
Related books
The Spanish-American War cover The Spanish-American War R. A. Alger · 1901 1898: the Spanish-American War cover 1898: the Spanish-American War Irving Werstein · 1966 History of Negro soldiers in the Spanish-American War cover History of Negro soldiers in the Spanish-American War Edward Austin Johnson · 1899 Spanish-American war cover Spanish-American war Michael Golay · 1995 Forward March cover Forward March Kirk Munroe · 2007
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Background and consequences

The 19th century represented a clear decline for the Spanish Empire, while the United States went from a newly founded country to a rising power. In 1895, Cuban nationalists began a revolt against Spanish rule, which was brutally suppressed by the colonial authorities. W. Joseph Campbell argues that yellow journalism in the U.S.

The American transport ship Seneca, a chartered vessel that carried troops to Puerto Rico and Cuba
The American transport ship Seneca, a chartered vessel that carried troops to Puerto Rico and Cuba
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Related on thisDay

Cuba Declares Independence — May 20, 1902

1902: Cuba declares independence in Havana, with Tomás Estrada Palma as its first president, after decades of struggle and a death toll of over 20,000

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Cuba Declares Independence — May 20, 1902Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Spanish-American War.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/spanish-american-war/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Spanish-American War. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/spanish-american-war/

Chicago

“Spanish-American War.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/spanish-american-war/.

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