When was cuba acquired by the us

The United States declared war on Spain after the U. No one really knows what caused the warship to explode, but the United States blamed Spain. Thousands of United States troops fought in Cuba. Although most of the fighting took place in Cuba, the first major battle was not fought there.

The U. Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, , by a margin of only one vote. The McKinley Administration also used the war as a pretext to annex the independent state of Hawaii. In , a group of Hawaii-based planters and businessmen led a coup against Queen Liliuokalani and established a new government. They promptly sought annexation by the United States, but President Grover Cleveland rejected their requests. In , however, President McKinley and the American public were more favorably disposed toward acquiring the islands.

Supporters of annexation argued that Hawaii was vital to the U. In a series of fierce engagements, the Americans pushed the Spanish off the hills. The American troops were better equipped and employed the decisive use of Gatling guns, which had multiple barrels revolving around a central axis and were fired rapidly by turning a crank.

Having suffered heavy losses, the Americans now besieged the city rather than attack it further. The fall of Santiago on July 17 convinced Spain to concede defeat in Cuba. T he opening battle of the Spanish American War took place in the Philippines. Gridley to fire on the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. On May 1, , Dewey decisively defeated the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay, sinking or capturing every Spanish ship with no loss of American life.

It was dramatic evidence that the United States was now a major naval power. His picture appeared everywhere, and young people, like those seen here, honored and emulated him. The United States relied greatly on assistance from Filipino revolutionaries led by Emilio Aguinaldo, who already controlled much of the countryside and had proclaimed a Philippine republic.

American troops did not arrive in large numbers until July. But, instead of liberating the Philippines from Spanish domination, the United States chose to annex the islands and begin building an American empire.

For decades, Cuban revolutionaries had attempted to overthrow Spanish authority. The Spanish government in Cuba forced suspected revolutionaries into prison camps, among other tactics. Many in the U. Tensions between the United States and Cuba came to a boiling point in February