Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War. , In December 1897, the United States battleship Maine was sent to the port of Havana to protect U.S. citizens and property during Cuba's revolution. On the night of February 15, 1898, a tremendous explosion sank the ship and 260 lives were lost. News reports pointed to Spanish sabotage, but this was never proven. , President McKinley was reluctant to go to war, but U.S. anti-Spanish sentiment was inflamed by newspapers proclaiming "remember the Maine." On April 20, 1898, the president called for immediate Spanish withdrawal from Cuba. Four days later Spain declared war. On May 1, 1898, commodore George Dewey attacked the Spanish pacific fleet that lay anchored in Manila Bay in the Philippines. In early July the United States had successive victories in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and at sea. On July 18, the Spanish government requested a settlement of the war with the U.S. , On December 10, 1898, Spain officially surrendered. She relinquished all authority over Cuba and gave up Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands, and Guam to the U.S. The 114-day war and its victory for the U.S. resulted in the United States becoming an imperial world power with far-reaching dependencies and increased the need for a Panama Canal. The price in American military lives was 2,446 dead.