What Is the Spanish-American War?
The Spanish-American War occurred in 1898. Initiated by the Spanish presence in Cuba and the Cuban rebellion, the United States and Spain battled on a number of islands in the Caribbean and Pacific for nearly four months. Controversy about the US role in Cuba and European influence in the Western hemisphere dominated the period of the Spanish-American War. At the end of the 19th century, the United States government focused its attention on events in the countries of the Caribbean, hoping to capitalize on trade opportunities while challenging European influence in the Western Hemisphere. The US remained uneasy about Spanish rule in Cuba, which had been exempted from the Monroe Doctrine. In 1894, the Cuban economy took a nosedive, inciting a rebellion for independence. Spain, struggling to hold on to what remained of its empire, refused to compromise its presence in the Caribbean.
