Title: Facts for Kids About The Spanish-American War
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The Spanish-American War
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Content: In 1985, the Cubans demanded independence from Cuba, resulting in a bloody rebellion. The Spanish General ValerianoWeyler was sent from Spain to crush the Cubans. He was a ruthless leader, torturing Cubans without mercy. American newspapers published stories about his deeds; the American people demanded that the U.S. help the Cuban people. European powers had sought to colonize Asia, Africa, and Central and South America since the 1700s. During the late 1800s, a few American leaders thought America should join the quest to take other lands. They thought the United States’ victory in the Spanish-American War might help America conquer other places. On February 15, 1898, the American battleship, The Maine, exploded in the Havana, Cuba harbor, killing 266 officers and crew. To this day, no one knows why the ship blew up or who caused it, but many Americans blamed the Spanish.