Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War started with the United States declaring war on Spain for the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. With the issue starting with the Cuban independence involving revolts occuring in Cuba against the Spanish rule, the United States backed up the Cubans by joining the Spanish-American war. The Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-American War was signed on December 10, 1898. In it, Spain renounced all claims to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.