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Beginning
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Hearst publishes Dupuy de Lome's letter insulting McKinley.
This letter, written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, criticized American President William McKinley by calling him weak and concerned only with gaining the favor of the crowd. Publication of the letter helped generate public support for a war with Spain over the issue of independence for the Spanish colony of Cuba. -
Maine Explosion
This is when the Maine battleship blew up. -
War with Spain
President McKinley asked for declaration of war with Spain. -
USS Nashville takes enemy ship.
1st Spanish-American War action; U.S. fleet left Key West, Florida for Havana to begin the Cuban blockade at the principal ports on the north coast and at Cienfuegos. -
Emilio Aguinaldo Returns
After the U.S. declared war on Spain, Aguinaldo saw a possibility that the Philippines might achieve its independence; the U.S. hoped instead that Aguinaldo would lend his troops to its effort against Spain. He returned to Manila on May 19, 1898 and declared Philippine independence on June 12. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
As part of their campaign to capture Spanish-held Santiago de Cuba on the southern coast of Cuba, the U.S. Army Fifth Corps engages Spanish forces at El Caney and San Juan Hill. -
Battle of Santiago
The Battle of Santiago was a naval battle that occurred on July 3, 1898 in which the United States Navy decisively defeated Spanish forces, sealing American victory in the Spanish–American War and achieving nominal independence for Cuba from Spanish rule. -
The Surrender of Santiago
The Spanish surrender at Santiago. The U.S. victory ended the war, suppressed all Spanish naval resistance in the New World, and enhanced the reputation of the U.S. Navy. -
Spanish American War Ends
On Aug. 12, 1898, the United States signed a cease-fire agreement with Spain that brought an end to the Spanish-American War. Spain agreed to grant independence to Cuba and hand over Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the United States.
