What role did the United States play in the Spanish-American War in Cuba?

The United States played a decisive role in the Spanish-American War, intervening in 1898 to support the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain.12

Public sentiment in the U.S. was heavily influenced by reports of Spanish atrocities and the mysterious destruction of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, which served as a primary catalyst for war. Following the declaration of hostilities, U.S. forces engaged in significant military operations in Cuba, including the Battle of San Juan Hill, where American troops—augmented by Cuban rebels—captured key fortified positions.3145

After Spain’s defeat, the U.S. occupied Cuba for over three years. Before withdrawing in 1902, the U.S. mandated that Cuba incorporate the Platt Amendment into its constitution. This agreement granted the United States the right to intervene in Cuban affairs, limited Cuba's treaty-making powers, and secured the lease of Guantánamo Bay for a naval base, profoundly shaping U.S.-Cuban relations for decades.678