The United States Navy battleship USS Maine arrives at Havana Harbor, Cuba, from Key West, Florida, to protect American interests during the Cuban War of Independence.
USS Maine Explosion
February 15, 1898
The USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, killing 266 American sailors. The explosion heightens tensions between the United States and Spain and contributes to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Order to Commodore Dewey
February 25, 1898
U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt sends an order to Commodore George Dewey, commander of the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron in Hong Kong, instructing him to be prepared to attack the Spanish Navy fleet in the Philippines if war breaks out.
McKinley’s Ultimatum to Spain
March 29, 1898
U.S. President William McKinley issues an ultimatum to Spain, demanding Cuban independence.
Insurrection on Cebu Island
April 3, 1898
An insurrection against Spanish rule breaks out on the island of Cebu in the Philippines.
McKinley’s War Message
April 11, 1898
U.S. President McKinley submits his war message to Congress, calling for intervention in Cuba.
U.S. Congress Demands Cuban Independence
April 19, 1898
The U.S. Congress enacts a joint resolution demanding independence for Cuba and authorizing President McKinley to declare war if Spain does not comply.
Spain Severs Diplomatic Relations with the U.S. and Blockade of Cuba Begins
April 21, 1898
Spain severs diplomatic relations with the United States. The same day, the U.S. Navy begins a blockade of Cuba, marking the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
Spain Declares War on the United States
April 23, 1898
Denouncing the blockade as an act of war under international law, Spain officially declares war on the United States.
U.S. Congress Retroactively Declares War
April 25, 1898
The U.S. Congress declares that a state of war between the U.S. and Spain has existed since April 21.
Bombardment of Matanzas
April 27, 1898
The first naval action of the war occurs as the USS New York, USS Cincinnati, USS Puritan, and other American naval ships bombard the Cuban city of Matanzas. Cuban coastal defenses return fire.
Battle of Manila Bay
May 1, 1898
In the first major engagement of the war, the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron, led by Commodore George Dewey, defeats the Spanish Pacific Squadron in the Philippines.
Battle of Cárdenas and Cutting of Telegraph Cables
May 11, 1898
Spanish shore guns repulse a U.S. Navy effort to seize the harbor at Cárdenas, Cuba. Meanwhile, 52 United States Marines go ashore at Cienfuegos, Cuba, to cut the transatlantic telegraph cables with Spain. Two of the three cables are cut, and the Marines suffer heavy casualties.
Bombardment of San Juan
May 12, 1898
U.S. naval forces bombard the Spanish colonial capital of San Juan, Puerto Rico, causing significant damage.
Departure of the First Philippine Expedition
May 25, 1898
The First Philippine Expedition, consisting of members of the U.S. Army's Eighth Army Corps, departs San Francisco, California, for Manila.
U.S. Navy Flying Squadron Arrives off Santiago de Cuba
May 29, 1898
The U.S. Navy Flying Squadron, commanded by Commodore Winfield Scott Schley, arrives off Santiago de Cuba in preparation for naval operations.
Rough Riders Depart San Antonio and Flying Squadron Exchanges Fire
May 31, 1898
The 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, the "Rough Riders," depart their training camp in San Antonio, Texas. The U.S. Navy's Flying Squadron exchanges fire with the Spanish Navy's Atlantic Squadron cruiser Cristobal Colon and shore batteries at Santiago de Cuba.
Unsuccessful Attempt to Block Santiago de Cuba Harbor
June 3, 1898
Commodore Schley's U.S. Flying Squadron, supported by Rear Admiral Sampson's U.S. North Atlantic Squadron, unsuccessfully attempts to block the entrance to the harbor at Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier USS Merrimac in the main channel.
U.S. Marines Cut Telegraph Cable at Guantánamo Bay
June 7, 1898
U.S. Marines from the SS St. Louis cut the submarine telegraph cable at Guantánamo Bay, severing communication between the city of Guantánamo and the rest of Cuba.
Invasion of Guantánamo Bay
June 10, 1898
647 U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay, beginning the invasion of Cuba.
Rough Riders Disembark Near Santiago de Cuba
June 19, 1898
The Rough Riders disembark from U.S. Navy vessels onto a beach near Santiago de Cuba.
Aserraderos Conference
June 20, 1898
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Cuban rebels meet for the Aserraderos Conference in the small town of Aserraderos (near Santiago de Cuba). They jointly plan strategy, troop movements, and battle plans.
Capture of Guam
June 21, 1898
U.S. forces capture the island of Guam, a Spanish possession in the Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Fifth Army Corps Lands at Daiquirí and USS Saint Paul Disables Spanish Destroyer
June 22, 1898
U.S. Major General William Rufus Shafter's Fifth Army Corps begins landing at the Cuban village of Daiquirí, 16 miles (26 km) east of Santiago de Cuba. The cruiser USS Saint Paul, commanded by Captain Charles D. Sigsbee (former commander of the USS Maine), disables the Spanish Navy destroyer Terror while blockading San Juan, Puerto Rico.
U.S. Forces Seize Village of Siboney
June 23, 1898
A division of the American Fifth Corps seizes the village of Siboney, Cuba, without a fight. Siboney, just 9 miles (14 km) from Santiago de Cuba, becomes the corps headquarters.
Battle of Las Guasimas
June 24, 1898
Major General Joseph Wheeler orders Brigadier General S. B. M. Young to lead the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Cavalry Regiment, and the Rough Riders to attack the Spanish position. The Spanish withdraw, and the Americans claim victory.
U.S. Naval Blockade Extended to Puerto Rico
June 28, 1898
U.S. President McKinley extends the American naval blockade to Puerto Rico.
U.S. Troops Arrive in Manila Bay and Battle of Tayacoba
June 30, 1898
The first 2,500 U.S. Army troops arrive in Manila Bay in the Philippines and come ashore at Cavite. American troops attempt a landing and are repulsed at the Battle of Tayacoba.
Battle of the Aguadores
July 1, 1898
The battle begins at 6:30 A.M., and was expected to last two hours; it does not end until American troops finally overrun El Caney at 5:00 P.M.
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
July 3, 1898
U.S. and Spanish naval forces engage in battle near Santiago de Cuba.
U.S. Forces Seize Wake Island
July 4, 1898
Brigadier General Francis Vinton Greene of the U.S. Army's 2nd Philippine Expeditionary Force seizes vacant Wake Island and claims it for the United States.
USS Hawk Engages Spanish Cruiser Alfonso XIII
July 5, 1898
Just after midnight, the armed yacht USS Hawk intercepts the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII as it flees Havana Harbor. The Spanish vessel is forced to run aground, and the Hawk shells it to pieces at daylight.
U.S. Fifth Corps Seals Off Santiago de Cuba
July 9, 1898
The U.S. Army's Fifth Corps seals off Santiago de Cuba.
Artillery Firefight at Santiago de Cuba
July 10-11, 1898
Spanish artillery forces at Santiago de Cuba engage in a firefight with U.S. Army artillery in the hills surrounding the city, supported by U.S. Navy cannon fire offshore.
USS Eagle Forces Spanish Blockade Runner Aground
July 12, 1898
The USS Eagle forces the Spanish merchant blockade runner Santo Domingo aground on the Isla de la Juventud.
Cuban Rebels Seize Gibara
July 16, 1898
Cuban rebels seize the town of Gibara from the Spanish Army without a fight.
Siege of Santiago Ends
July 17, 1898
Spanish general Toral surrenders troops at Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and six other small Spanish Army garrisons throughout Cuba to Brigadier General Leonard Wood, who is named military governor of Santiago de Cuba. Land combat effectively ends in Cuba for the duration of the war.
Third Battle of Manzanillo
July 18, 1898
The USS Wilmington, USS Helena, USS Hist, USS Scorpion, USS Osceola, and USS Wompatuck enter the harbor at Manzanillo, Cuba, after brief naval skirmishes on June 30 and on July 1, and sink eight Spanish Navy gunboats and a merchant blockade runner.
Battle of Nipe Bay
July 21, 1898
USS Annapolis, USS Topeka, USS Wasp, and USS Leyden enter Nipe Bay on the northeastern coast of Cuba. They sink the Spanish Navy light cruiser Jorge Juan, securing the bay as a rendezvous point for U.S. military forces heading to Puerto Rico.
USS Gloucester Secures Guánica and Battle of Yauco
July 25, 1898
USS Gloucester secures the port at Guánica, Puerto Rico, and U.S. troops come ashore. American soldiers secure the main road to Ponce on July 26 in the "Battle of Yauco." U.S. General Merritt reaches Manila in the Philippines. American troops there now number 10,000, and Merritt begins military operations from Cavite to capture the city.
USS Annapolis, USS Wasp, and USS Dixie Threaten Ponce
July 27, 1898
The USS Annapolis, USS Wasp, and USS Dixie enter the harbor at Ponce and threaten to bombard the town. Governor-General of Puerto Rico, Manuel Macías, reluctantly agrees to surrender.
U.S. Army Troops Begin Offensive Line in the Philippines
July 29, 1898
U.S. Army troops in the Philippines begin establishing an offensive line stretching from the beach at Manila Bay inland to the Calle Real (the inland road connecting Cavite with Manila).
Spain Agrees to American Peace Terms
August 4, 1898
Spain agrees to the American peace terms, signaling the end of the war.
Treaty of Paris Signed
December 10, 1898
The Treaty of Paris is signed in Paris. Spain cedes Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. Spain turns the administration of Cuba over to the United States. The United States agrees to pay Spain $20 million in return for American possession of the Philippines.