On April 20, 1898, President William McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain in response to the ongoing conflict between Spain and Cuba, as the island country struggled for independence. Congress passed a joint resolution acknowledging Cuban independence and demanding that Spain give up control of the island. The U.S. indicated that it had no intention of annexing Cuba and authorized McKinley to use whatever military measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s independence. Tensions between the U.S. and Spain had been building for some time, with Cuban rebels receiving financial assistance from private U.S. interests to attack from American bases.
The conflict between the U.S. and Spain continued to escalate in the spring of 1898, two months after the battleship U.S.S. Maine was destroyed by an explosion in Havana harbor. McKinley sent a message to Congress requesting authority to use U.S. armed forces to end the civil war in Cuba, leading to Congress voting to support Cuban independence, demand the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the island, and authorize the use of force to achieve these objectives. Spain broke diplomatic relations and declared war against the U.S., with Congress formally asserting a state of war. A whirlwind military campaign followed, resulting in the invasion of Cuba by the U.S. Army and the destruction of Spanish squadrons in the Caribbean and Manila Bay.
At the request of the Spanish government, discussions for peace terms were initiated by the French ambassador in Washington, resulting in a ceasefire being signed on August 12, 1898. The war officially ended when the U.S. and Spanish governments signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. The treaty, apart from guaranteeing Cuban independence, forced Spain to cede Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty on February 6, 1899, by a one-vote margin. William McKinley, who served as president from 1897 until his assassination in 1901, was known for his expertise on tariffs and commitment to public interests.
McKinley, born in Niles, Ohio, served in the House of Representatives for 14 years before becoming president and was well-regarded for his attractive personality, exemplary character, and quick intelligence. He was assassinated on September 14, 1901, by an anarchist during a public appearance at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. The assassin was found guilty and executed after a trial that lasted only three days. McKinley was buried in Canton, Ohio, and a memorial was erected in his honor in the city later that year. The war with Spain, which resulted in the acquisition of territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, marked a significant turning point in American history.
