Spanish–American War

America Emerges as a World Power

The Spanish-American War of 1898 marked America's dramatic emergence onto the world stage as a global military power. Lasting only 113 days—from April 25 to August 12, 1898—this "splendid little war" (as Secretary of State John Hay called it) ended four centuries of Spanish colonial rule in the Americas, established the United States as a major player in international affairs, and set the nation on a path toward overseas expansion that would shape the twentieth century.

"Remember the Maine"

Tensions between the United States and Spain had simmered for years over Spain's brutal suppression of Cuban independence movements. American newspapers, particularly those owned by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, published sensational accounts of Spanish atrocities that inflamed public opinion. The crisis reached a breaking point on February 15, 1898, when the battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, killing 266 American sailors. Though the cause remains disputed—a 1976 investigation suggested a coal fire ignited the ship's magazines—the rallying cry "Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain!" swept the nation. On April 25, Congress declared war.

Theaters of Operation

The war unfolded simultaneously across the Caribbean and the Pacific:

The Pacific Theater saw the war's first major action. On May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey's Asiatic Squadron steamed into Manila Bay in the Philippines and destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet in a matter of hours without losing a single American life. His famous order—"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley"—announced America's arrival as a Pacific power. The Naval Order of the United States preserves the traditions and heritage exemplified by Dewey's stunning victory.

The Cuban Theater witnessed the war's most famous land campaigns. American forces landed near Santiago de Cuba in June 1898. On July 1, the battles of El Caney and San Juan Heights—including the famous charge up Kettle Hill by Theodore Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" and the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments—broke the Spanish defensive line. Two days later, the Spanish Caribbean fleet was destroyed attempting to escape Santiago Harbor, effectively ending Spanish resistance in Cuba.

The Puerto Rican Campaign followed quickly. American forces under General Nelson Miles landed on July 25 and faced only light resistance as they advanced across the island. An armistice halted operations on August 12, with American forces in control of most of Puerto Rico.

The Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry regiments—the legendary "Buffalo Soldiers"—played crucial roles in the Cuban campaign. At the Battle of San Juan Heights, the 10th Cavalry charged alongside Roosevelt's Rough Riders, with some historians crediting the regulars with saving the volunteer regiment from potential disaster. Five African American soldiers earned the Medal of Honor during the war. The Buffalo Soldiers of West Point honors the legacy of these soldiers and their contributions to American military history.

The Artillery War

The Spanish-American War demonstrated the increasing importance of modern artillery in warfare. American field artillery supported the assaults on San Juan Heights and the siege of Santiago. The United States Field Artillery Association traces its heritage to this era of professionalization and technological advancement in the artillery arm.

Medical Service and Military Medicine

Disease proved far deadlier than Spanish bullets. Of the approximately 2,500 American deaths during the war, only 385 resulted from combat—the rest succumbed to typhoid, malaria, yellow fever, and dysentery. The medical crisis exposed serious deficiencies in military healthcare and spurred significant reforms. The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States works to advance federal healthcare practices, building on lessons learned from this conflict.

The American Red Cross, led by founder Clara Barton (then 76 years old), provided critical humanitarian assistance during the war. Red Cross nurses served in military hospitals and aboard hospital ships, establishing the organization's role in supporting American military operations that continues to this day.

Naval Heritage

The Spanish-American War validated decades of American naval modernization. The "New Navy" of steel battleships and cruisers—built after years of advocacy by Alfred Thayer Mahan and others—proved its worth at Manila Bay and Santiago. The Revenue Cutter Service (predecessor to the Coast Guard) supported naval operations, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association honors this service heritage. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, founded in 1904, grew from the recognition that naval families needed support during deployments and in times of loss.

Birth of the VFW

The Spanish-American War directly gave rise to one of America's most important veterans' organizations. Returning veterans, finding the Grand Army of the Republic closed to them (as it admitted only Civil War veterans), formed their own organizations. In 1899, the American Veterans of Foreign Service was founded in Columbus, Ohio; similar groups formed in Denver and other cities. These organizations merged in 1914 to become the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW has supported veterans and military families since its founding in 1914.

Valor and Recognition

The Legion of Valor honors recipients of the Medal of Honor and other valor decorations. During the Spanish-American War, 110 Medals of Honor were awarded—30 to sailors at Manila Bay alone. The courage displayed by American soldiers and sailors in this brief conflict established traditions of valor that continue today.

Jewish American Service

Approximately 5,000 Jewish Americans served during the Spanish-American War, including in the Rough Riders and regular Army units. The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, founded in 1896 (making it the oldest active veterans' organization in America), honors their service and combats the false notion that Jewish Americans have not served their country in wartime.

Service and Sacrifice

The Volunteers of America, founded in 1896, provided spiritual and practical support to soldiers and their families during the war, establishing patterns of service that continue today.

Treaty of Paris and New Territories

The Treaty of Paris, signed December 10, 1898, ended Spanish colonial rule in the Western Hemisphere. Spain ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, sold the Philippines for $20 million, and relinquished sovereignty over Cuba. The United States suddenly possessed territories stretching from the Caribbean to the western Pacific—an empire, whether Americans wanted to use that word or not.

Tracing Spanish-American War Heritage

Veterans served in various capacities during this brief but consequential conflict:

• Regular Army: Approximately 28,000 soldiers in infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments
• Volunteer Regiments: Over 200,000 volunteers mobilized, though most never deployed overseas
• United States Navy: Approximately 24,000 sailors served aboard the fleet
• Marine Corps: Marines served at Guantánamo Bay and in the Philippines
• Revenue Cutter Service: Supported naval operations (later became U.S. Coast Guard)
• Medical and Support Personnel: Surgeons, nurses, chaplains, and hospital staff

The organizations listed on this page honor veterans of America's first major overseas war—the conflict that announced the United States as a world power and created the framework for modern veterans' organizations.

Key Dates

Territories Acquired

As a result of the Spanish-American War and subsequent events, the United States gained:

• Puerto Rico — Ceded by Spain; remains a U.S. territory today
• Guam — Ceded by Spain; remains a U.S. territory today
• Philippines — Purchased from Spain for $20 million; independent since 1946
• Cuba — Gained independence under U.S. protection until 1902

Famous Units

• 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry ("Rough Riders") — Theodore Roosevelt's famous regiment
• 9th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) — Charged at San Juan Heights
• 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) — Fought alongside Rough Riders
• 24th Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) — Served with distinction in Cuba
• 71st New York Volunteer Infantry — Major volunteer unit at San Juan