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What caused the Spanish-American War between the United States and Spain?

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Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders — Spanish-American War Theodore Roosevelt leading the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War, 1898; print created by Kurz & Allison.

The Spanish-American War was primarily caused by the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which began in 1895. Several factors converged to drive the United States toward intervention:12

Humanitarian Concerns and Sensationalism: Reports of brutal Spanish countermeasures against Cuban rebels—such as the forced relocation of rural residents into camps—fueled humanitarian outrage in the U.S. This sentiment was amplified by yellow journalism, where newspapers like the New York Journal and New York World published sensationalized accounts of Spanish atrocities to boost circulation and sway public opinion.1345
The Destruction of the Maine: On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 260 people. While a 1976 investigation suggested the explosion was likely an internal accident, contemporary U.S. officials blamed a Spanish mine. This event became a rallying cry for war, summarized by the slogan, "Remember the 'Maine,' to hell with Spain!"2541
Imperial Ambitions: The conflict occurred against a backdrop of shifting American foreign policy, as proponents of imperialism and sea power argued that the U.S. should assert itself as a global power.4