The Spanish-American War originally started with Cuba struggling for independence from Spain. The date was February 1865 and the US began to notice Spain's harsh, undemocratic ways of restraining Cuba's freedom. According to the newspapers that were being published, Spain was forcing Cubans into slave communities where most died of starvation and disease. The Unites States began to feel sympathy for Cubans, so they sent U.S. Citizens and the USS Maine to help protect them after anti-spanish rioting in Havana. On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine sank from a submarine mine exploding on Havana Harbor. Although it was never proven, the US blamed Spain for sinking their ship. The US Congress later declared independence for Cuba and demanded Spain's armed forces to withdraw themselves. McKinley then approved war on Spain. After the approval, it was a back to back declaration. Spain declared war on the US on April 24,1898 and US declared war on Spain on the 25th of April, 1898. Throughout the years there was about 5 battles until the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10,1898, which made Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines added to the US territory.
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Map for the Spanish-American War
"William McKinley." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.
"Spanish American War." Spanish American War. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015.
"Spanish American War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.