The Spanish American War Chronology

The chronology of the Spanish American War and the events leading to it and some of its consequences.

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1895
Jan 31José Martí & others leave New York City NY for invasion of Spanish Cuba.Ref: 5
1898
Feb 15The Battleship Maine is sunk in Havana Harbor killing 266 sailors, instigating the Spanish-American War. The cause of the sinking is unknown.Ref: 3
Apr 11President William McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain.Ref: 70
Apr 21U.S. declares war on Spain to start the Spanish-American War.Ref: 5
Apr 22In the first action of the Spanish-American War, the USS Nashville, takes on a Spanish ship. U.S. Navy Captain Charles Gridley.Ref: 2
Apr 22Congress passes Volunteer Army Act calling for a Volunteer Cavalry.Ref: 5
Apr 22US President William McKinley orders blockade of Cuban harbors.Ref: 5
Apr 24Spain declares war on the United States after rejecting America's ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba.Ref: 5
Apr 24US fleet under commodore Dewey sails from Hong Kong to Philippines.Ref: 5
Apr 25Both houses of Congress approve a declaration of war on Spain a voice vote. The United States formally declared war on Spain.Ref: 70
May 01Commodore George Dewey gave the command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," as an American naval force destroyed a Spanish fleet in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.Ref: 5
May 23First Philippine Expeditionary Troops sail from San FransiscoRef: 5
May 25First US troop transport to Manila leaves San Fransisco.Ref: 5
Jun 10US Marines land in Cuba, during Spanish-American War.Ref: 5
Jun 12Philippine nationalists declares independence from Spain to US control.Ref: 5
Jun 20It’s difficult to have a war when you don’t know there’s one going on and you don’t have any ammunition. So goes the story as to why, during the Spanish-American War, the Spanish commander of Guam surrendered to Captain Glass, the captain of the USS Charleston.Ref: 4
Jul 01During the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" waged a victorious assault on San Juan Hill in Cuba.Ref: 70
Jul 03The US Navy defeated a Spanish fleet in the harbor at Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.Ref: 70
Jul 04US flag hoisted over Wake Island (Spanish-American War).Ref: 5
Jul 17US troops under General William R. Shafter take Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War.Ref: 2
Jul 21Spain cedes Guam to US.Ref: 5
Jul 25Near the end of the Spanish-American War, U.S. troops under General Nelson A. Miles land on Puerto Rico and with little resistance were able to secure the island by mid-August.Ref: 3
Jul 28Spain, through the offices of the French embassy in Washington, D.C., requests peace terms in its war with the United States. (Spanish-American War)Ref: 2
Aug 12A peace protocol is signed, ending the Spanish-American War. Hawaii is formally annexed to the United States. (XDG, p. 4A, 8/12/2000)Ref: 83
Aug 12The Spanish American War officially ends after three months and 22 days of hostilities.Ref: 2
Aug 13Manila, the capital of the Philippines, falls to the U.S. Army.Ref: 2
Oct 18The American flag was raised in Puerto Rico shortly before Spain formally relinquished control of the island to the United States.Ref: 70
Dec 10The United States and Spain sign the Treaty of Paris, ceding Spanish possessions, including the Philippines, Puerto Rico & Guam, to the United States.Ref: 2
1899
Feb 06A peace treaty was signed between the United States and Spain ending the Spanish-American War is ratified by the Senate.Ref: 70
Feb 10US-Spain peace treaty signed by President McKinley; US gets Puerto Rico & Guam.Ref: 5
Apr 11Treaty of Paris is ratified, ending the Spanish-American War; Spain cedes Puerto Rico to US.Ref: 5
1901
May 23American forces capture Filipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo.Ref: 2
May 23US captures leader of Philippine rebels, Emilio Aguinaldo.Ref: 5
1902
May 20US military occupation of Cuba (since Jan 1, 1899) ends. The Republic of Cuba is established under its first elected president, Tomas Estrada Palma.Ref: 5
1985
Dec 05Walter Pleate, America’s oldest military veteran, died on this day at age 108. He was one of a dozen living veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898).Ref: 4
Last Update: October 27th, 2005
© 2000-2005   Kenneth Fussichen