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Febuary of 1898
Some historical events that happened in 1898 include on February 1st the 1st auto insurance policy in US issued, by Travelers Insurance Co. Also on Feb 8, John Ames Sherman patents 1st envelope folding & gumming mach. And on Feb 11, Owen Smith of NC, AME Zion minister, is named US minister to Liberia, -
The USS Maine Explodes
A massive explosion of unknown origin sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana harbor. 260 out of 400 American Crew members dead. -
The declaration of war with Spain
President William McKinley asks Congress to declare war on Spain on this day in 1898. -
The Battle of San Juan Hill
The U.S. Army Fifth Corps engages Spanish forces at El Caney and San Juan Hill and greatly out numbered them. -
The Naval Battle
On July 3, the Spanish fleet was destroyed off Santiago by U.S. warships under Admiral William Sampson. -
The surrender of Santiago
The Spanish surrendered the city and thus Cuba to the Americans. -
Peace after the Spanish-American War
The brief and one-sided Spanish-American War comes to an end when Spain formally agrees to a peace protocol on U.S. terms. -
Official end of the War!
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Spanish-American War. The once-proud Spanish empire was virtually dissolved, and the United States gained its first overseas empire. -
The aftermath
Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded to the United States, the Philippines were bought for $20 million, and Cuba became a U.S. protectorate.
