By the end of the 1800s, Spain had lost all of its New World colonies except Cuba and Puerto Rico. Many Cubans did not wish to be under Spanish rule, so they fled to Florida and other parts of the United States. At the same time, however, they still remained loyal to Cuba. Jose Marti, a Cuban writer living in New York, came to Tampa to gain supporters to help Cuba fight for its independence from Spain. Jose Marti was the leader of the revolution, but he was killed when he went back to Cuba to fight in it. Tomas Estrada Palma became the new leader and later the President of Cuba. Show
The United States watched with interest as Cuba struggled for independence. The United States had millions of dollars invested in businesses in Cuba and there were many U.S. citizens in residence there. The U.S. also traded goods with Cuba. In 1898, the United States assisted in war to protect its citizens and businesses in Cuba. This war was known as the Spanish-American War. The United States declared war on Spain after the U.S. warship, the Maine, exploded and sank on February 15, 1898 while visiting Havana, Cuba. No one really knows what caused the warship to explode, but the United States blamed Spain. Thousands of United States troops fought in Cuba. The cities of Tampa, Jacksonville, Fernandina, Lakeland, Pensacola, Key West, and Miami were used as military bases for the American troops. Although most of the fighting took place in Cuba, the first major battle was not fought there. It was fought half way around the world in the harbor of Manila. Manila is located in the Philippine Islands, which were then ruled by Spain. The U.S. fleet, led by Commodore George Dewey, defeated the Spanish fleet there. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders went to Cuba to help in the fighting. The Rough Riders were a group of cowboys and college athletes. Theodore Roosevelt later became governor of New York and then president of the United States. The Spanish-American War lasted only a few months and was over when Spain signed a peace treaty giving the United States control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine Islands, and Guam. Cuba, however, became an independent country rather than a U.S. territory.The war between the United States and Spain was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. The conflict lasted from April to August 1898. As a result, the United States acquired Puerto Rico and Guam and bought the Philippines. Cuba became independent. The war was fought by U.S. regular forces and state volunteers. About 250,000 enlisted men and 11,000 officers served in this conflict. Most volunteers came from the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. Chronology of Major Events[edit | edit source]
Beginning Research[edit | edit source]
Service Records[edit | edit source]Volunteers
Below is an index to service records:
Individual state indexes are also available for:
The indexes list the soldier’s name, rank, and unit. Entries that refer to miscellaneous personal papers have no corresponding compiled service records. The papers themselves follow the jacket envelopes for most units. See the FamilySearch Catalog for complete information on film numbers. The service records of Florida have been microfilmed:
Other service records are available at the National Archives. You may also find military records at state archives, historical societies, and county courthouses. Some are on microfilm at the Family History Library.
Officers A list of volunteer officers is in Vol.2 pages 185–272 of the following:
Regular Army Enlisted Men The "Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914" (NARA M233) consists of U.S. Army registers that recorded the name and other information on soldiers that enlisted between 1798 and 1914. The collection includes enlistees from the time period of the Spanish-American War, however, it does not specify whether they served in the war or not. See United States Army. Officers
Unit Histories
Pension Records[edit | edit source]Indexes
Pension Records The pension records themselves are not on microfilm. Copies can be ordered from the National Archives. See also Military Records: Pre-WWI Pension Applications (16 minute online video) at FamilySearch Learning Center.Casualty Records[edit | edit source]Regular Army Officers
Cemetery Records[edit | edit source]Peterson, Clarence Stewart. Known Military Dead during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1898–1901. Baltimore: Clarence Stewart Peterson, 1958. (FHL book 973 M23pc; fiche 6051242.) This work includes name, rank, company, regiment, and death date and place.
Census Records[edit | edit source]1900 U.S. Federal Census The 1900 Federal Census (NARA T623) enumerated military personnel stationed overseas in places such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The census gives the soldier’s name, rank, place of residence in the United States, birth date and place, company, regiment, and branch of service. 1930 U.S. Federal Census The 1930 Federal Census asked if a person was "A veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition" and "What war or expedition" they served in. 1940 U.S. Federal Census The 1940 Federal Census asked "Is this person a veteran of the United States military forces or the wife, widow, or under 18-year-old child of a veteran?" and "If child, is veteran-father dead?" and "War or Military" served in. These were only asked of persons which were recorded on 2 of the 40 lines per page, which would have covered about five percent of the population. Prisoner of War Records[edit | edit source]Regular Army Officers
Society Records[edit | edit source]Veterans Society Records[edit | edit source]The United Spanish War Veterans was established in 1899. Its membership includes veterans with service in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection to 4 July 1902. The following sources contain information on their members who were veterans of the two wars.
State & Local[edit | edit source]California
Connecticut
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Utah
Washington and Alaska
Additional Societies[edit | edit source]
Lineage Society Records[edit | edit source]Sons of Spanish American War Veterans
Daughters of '98
State Spanish-American War Records[edit | edit source]
National Archives[edit | edit source]
Service Records
Medical Records
Other Collections
Sources for Further Reading[edit | edit source]
What did Spain lose as a result of the Spanish American War apex?Spain relinquished Cuba and ceded to the United States the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
What colonies did the US gain as a result of winning the Spanish American War?U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict.
What territories did the United States acquire as a result of the Spanish American War Brainly?As a result of the war, the United States acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines as territories.
How was Puerto Rico affected by the Spanish American War?The United States was ceded Puerto Rico and Guam, liquidated its possessions in the West Indies, agreed to pay 20 million dollars for the Phillippines, while Cuba became independent.
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