The Spanish-American War Quiz

Hey, it doesn't hurt to start with the basics.

Right before the turn of the century, the Spanish American-War began.

Cuba had begun fomenting rebellion, and Spain was not having it.

Because there were riots in Cuba, the U.S. ship was in some ways a way to stand with Spain.

The Maine became an important instigator in the war.

Many people in the United States were quite disturbed by the Spanish treatment of the Cubans.

William Randolph Hearst and the New York papers were dedicated to describing -- and occasionally hyperbolizing -- the Spanish occupation.

In February 1898, the Maine blew up in Havana harbor.

It's still not clear what happened to the Maine.

260 seamen died from the explosion and subsequent sinking.

The tragedy of the Maine caused a sensation in the media, and made the American public quite keen to intervene on Cuba's behalf.

In April 1898, Congress sided hard with Cuba.

After the Congressional resolutions, Spain declared war on April 24.

So the U.S. said "war right back at ya" to Spain the next day … but made the declaration retroactive to the 21st.

Remember that the Philippines was controlled by Spain, so the Battle of Manila Bay was the first battle of the war.

The Spanish squadron that protected Manila Bay was destroyed in mere hours, and the United States didn't have a single mortal casualty.

We'll get into some examples, but needless to say Spain wasn't really giving its all to the cause.

Those are two things you really need when in a naval battle, after all.

Things really weren't going well for Spain.

Which makes sense, what with the 'riding' part and all.

Teddy was second-in-charge of the rough and tumble regiment.

While some units charged San Juan Hill, the Rough Riders attacked nearby Kettle Hill in the larger Battle of San Juan Hill.

The African American regiments were not hailed as heroically but were a major part of the Spanish American service.

This whole war thing was really not working out for Spain.

While the war had been effectively over for months, there had been much to negotiate.

When the debt is $400 million, that's no small potatoes.

Yes, it is a little disturbing that everyone was just dealing countries like cards.

Even the Senate barely voted for the treaty, and the Filipinos had already begun hostile actions against the U.S. forces.

from declaration of war to ratified treaty, it was only about nine months.

While roughly 350 soldiers were killed in combat, 2,500 died from disease.