The Spanish-American War (1898) was a brief but consequential conflict between the United States and Spain that marked America’s emergence as a global power. Sparked by tensions over Cuba’s struggle for independence and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, the war was fueled by public pressure and yellow journalism. Key battles took place in Cuba and the Philippines, including the Battle of San Juan Hill and the destruction of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. The Treaty of Paris ended the war, granting the United States control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, reshaping U.S. foreign policy and expanding its influence overseas.