Why was the Spanish–American War important?

Find out more about the history of Spanish-American War, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com. read more

The Spanish-American War was an 1898 conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America. read more

The Yellow Press were members of the media who were eager to go to war so they exaggerated stories (The sinking of the Maine) to try to persuade the American public to go to war. William Randolph Hearst was a well-known yellow journalist. He owned the New York Journal. Joseph Pulitzer was another famous yellow journalist. read more

The Spanish American War marked the first time since the War of 1812 that the United States involved itself in a war involving a foreign nation. It also marked the beginning of the end for America's policy of self imposed isolation, and the beginning of American territorial possessions outside its continental limits. read more