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The DeLome Letter
The contents of a seized Spanish letter caused an international scandal that fueled anti-Spanish and pro-war feelings in the United States. While in Washington in the middle of December, Spanish ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lôme wrote a personal letter to his friend José Canalejas who was in Cuba. The letter contained derogatory comments about President McKinley and his policies concerning Cuba. America was outraged. -
Sinking of the USS Maine :/
The American government sent the U.S. battleship Maine to Havana harbor in January 1898 to protect American interests in Cuba. An explosion sank the Maine on February 15, killing 260 American servicemen. Although no one really knew who caused the explosion, many Americans believed the Spanish were responsible. They began to rally for war with the cry, "Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain." -
US Declaration of War on Spain
Although Spain had ordered an armistice in early April, on April 21, the United States declared war against Spain. -
Attack on Manila Bay :0
George Dewey sailed out from China aboard the USS Olympia with orders to attack the Spanish at Manila Bay. He stopped at the mouth of the bay late the night of April 30, and the following morning he gave the order to attack at first light, by saying the now famous words "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." Within six hours, on May 1, he had sunk or captured the entire Spanish Pacific fleet under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón and silenced the shore batteries at Manila, with t -
Battle of San Juan
This fight for the heights was the bloodiest and most famous battle of the war. It was also the location of the greatest victory for the Rough Riders, as claimed by the press and its new commander, the future vice-president and later president, Theodore Roosevelt, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his actions in Cuba. -
Treaty of Paris
Commissioners from the United States and Spain met in Paris on October 1, 1898 to produce a treaty that would bring an end to the war after six months of hostilities. Although the Conference discussed Cuba and debt questions, the major conflict concerned the situation of the Philippines.
