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Spanish Ambassador Enrique de Lome criticized American President William McKinley by calling him weak, and the publication of the letter created public support for war with Spain, over the issue of Cuba's independence.
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The US battleship Maine was on the Havana harbor, where it suddenly exploded, causing the ship to sink. 266 Americans were killed, and although the cause of the explosion was unknown at the time, Americans blamed Spain to have a reason to go to war.
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Because of the sinking of the USS Maine, the United States officially declared war on Spain in April of 1898.
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American Commodore George Dewey led fleets to defeat Spanish forces in Manila Bay in the Philippines. Spain lost control of the Philippines, weakening the empire.
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Theodore Roosevelt led American forces in Cuba to fight Spanish troops, and were victorious. This battle allowed America to finally finish off Spain in its control over Cuba.
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The Treaty of Paris formally ended the Spanish-American War. Spain lost rights to Cuba, acknowledging its independence. The US gains PuertoRico and Guam, and also the Philippines for $20 million.
