How did the Spanish-American War of 1898 inspire the Generation of 1898?

The Spanish-American War of 1898 served as a profound catalyst for the Generation of 1898, a group of writers and thinkers who sought to revitalize Spanish intellectual life following the nation's military defeat.1

The loss of Spain's remaining overseas territories—Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines—was perceived as a national humiliation, often referred to as "the Disaster". This event stripped Spain of its last imperial vestiges and exposed the failures of its existing political system. For intellectuals, this defeat confirmed existing fears regarding the country's perceived "degeneration" and lack of international prestige.21

In response, the Generation of 1898 embarked on a period of intense self-searching. They aimed to:
* Analyze Spain's historical problems and its future destiny.1
* Shake the Spanish populace out of perceived apathy.1
* Restore national pride by reassessing Spanish values within the context of the modern world.1

By elevating the essay and bringing a new seriousness to the novel, these figures successfully restored Spanish letters to a position of prominence, paving the way for 20th-century cultural development.1