SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
APRIL 21 - DECEMBER 10, 1898

Who fought, WHO WON, WHO LOST?
The United States vs. Spain. The U.S. won, Spain lost big.

John J. Pershing fought in this war.

And so did Theodore Roosevelt, leading his Rough Riders.

WHO RULED at the time?
In Spain, Queen María Cristina ruled for her son Alfonso XIII. In the United States, President William McKinley was in office.

WHY DID THEY FIGHT?
Cuba wanted independence from Spain. Spain wanted to hang on to Cuba. The U.S. wanted Spanish power out of their neighborhood.

The U.S. demanded Spanish withdrawal from Cuba. Spain didn't hear well on that ear and stayed put. On April 22, 1898, the U.S. started blockading Spanish ports. On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the U.S. On April 25, the U.S. declared war on Spain and back-dated it to April 21.

WHERE DID THEY FIGHT?
On May 1, 1898, the opponent's naval forces clashed in the harbor of Manila, Philippines. This was the Battle of Manila Bay.

Manila Bay - April 30-May 1 1898

Spain was finished off in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898.

And here are the maps:

MAP OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Click to enlarge

Spanish-American War 1898: Santiago de Cuba

Spanish-American War 1898: Cuba

Spanish-American War 1898: Santiago Harbor

Spanish-American War: April-May 1898

Cuba - June 20, 1898

Map of the Santiago Campaign: June 22-24, 1898

Map of the Santiago Campaign: July 1, 1898

Map of the Santiago Campaign: July 14, 1898

Map of Puerto Rico: Operations July 25-August 12, 1898

Map of the Capture of Manila - August 13, 1898

1898-1902 Spanish-American War: Aftermath

WHAT ENDED THE WAR?
The Treaty of Paris, signed December 10, 1898. Spain lost Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S. and had to let go of Cuba as well.

And for measly $20,000,000, the U.S. bought control over the Philippines from the Spanish.

Check the costs of major US wars in comparison.