Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War (April–August 1898) was a conflict between the United States and Spain, sparked by Cuban struggles for independence and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. Fueled by U.S. expansionist interests and sensationalist journalism, the war led to a swift American victory. As a result, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S., marking the country's emergence as a global power. The war also ended Spain's colonial rule in the Americas.