The Spanish-American War of 1898: A Detailed Account

War Against the United States (1898)

Causes of the Spanish-American War

The main cause of the Spanish-American War was the Cuban struggle for independence. The Cuban War of Independence (Ten Years' War, 1868-1878) was a conflict that arose during the revolutionary period in Spain, known as the *Sexenio Democrático*, and coincided with the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. A key point of contention was the abolition of slavery. While Spain had abolished slavery in Europe, its colonies of Cuba and Puerto Rico relied heavily on the labor of enslaved Africans in vast tobacco and sugar plantations. The profits from these plantations largely benefited the Catalan bourgeoisie.

The proposal to abolish slavery was met with resistance. Creoles (people of Spanish descent born in the colonies) wanted a moratorium, delaying the legislation and allowing slavery to end gradually. The Spanish government, after the American Civil War, abolished slavery but faced the challenge of extending this policy throughout the Americas.

The Cuban War of Independence continued (with a second war in 1885 and a third in 1895) and eventually intertwined with the war against the United States. Several factors contributed to this escalation:

• Creole groups, identifying as a bourgeoisie, felt harmed by Spanish protectionism and sought more profitable trade with other nations.
• Independence became increasingly appealing due to fears of Spanish administration and a perceived threat from American expansionism.
• American imperialism played a significant role, as the U.S. sought resources and aimed to eliminate European colonial presence in the region.
• Yellow journalism in the United States fueled public opinion against Spain, with sensationalized reporting on the conflict in Cuba.

The Third Cuban War and the USS Maine Incident

The Third Cuban War employed guerrilla warfare tactics. A pact was signed with the North American government. The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, caused by an explosion, became a pivotal event. The U.S. blamed Spain for the explosion (though later investigations suggested an internal cause) and used it as a pretext to declare war.

Development of the War

The conflict between the United States and Spain had two main phases:

• Naval Warfare: The U.S. fleet possessed significant technological advantages. The greater range of American naval guns proved decisive. Spanish admirals, aware of this disadvantage, attempted to leverage the territorial conditions of Santiago de Cuba's port, but ultimately failed.
• Land Battles: Battles in the Atlantic, including the loss of Cuba and the Philippines, confirmed American naval dominance. Land battles, conditioned by U.S. naval control, resulted in a continuous wearing down of Spanish forces and ultimately led to American victory.

The Treaty of Paris (1898)

On December 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed. Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico transitioned from Spanish to American administration. Spain, which possessed other colonies at the time, decided to sell those archipelagos, which had been conquered by the U.S.

Consequences of the War

• Loss of Colonies: Spain lost its last colonies in America: Cuba and Puerto Rico.
• Demographic Impact: While not globally significant, between 1895 and 1898, there were approximately 35,000 to 30,000 deaths, mostly due to tropical diseases and unsanitary water conditions.
• Economic Impact: The war created a sense of disillusionment among the Spanish population towards the military. War-related debt led to military expenditures consuming over 30% of the national budget.