The Spanish-American War had a good many causes. The stated U.S. cause for war with Spain was the Cuban struggle for independence, American Imperialism was also another factor and the sinking of the Maine was a big factor as well.
             The war grew out the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain; the brutality with which Spain put down Cuban demands for independence made Americans both sympathetic and angry on the part of the Cubans.
             An important factor in the U.S. decision to go to war was the growing imperialism of the United States, as seen in the mounting efforts to extend American influence overseas. The increasingly aggressive behavior of the United States was often justified by the belief of "Manifest Destiny", which was a widespread belief among most Americans.
             The sinking of the battleship Maine, was also a large factor in the United State's war with Spain. In January of 1898 the U.S. consul general in Havana asked that a U.S. warship be sent to the harbor to protect U.S. citizens and property in the area. On the night of February 15 an underwater explosion while at anchor in Havana harbor destroyed the Maine and 266 officers and men were lost in the explosion. Even though it was never proven that Spain had anything to do with the sinking of the ship, the American public with the help the American press, assumed the Spanish sunk the Maine, which enraged the American public to fight a war.
             On April 11, 1898 President William McKinley sent a message to congress asking for the authority to end the fighting in Cuba. On April 19 a joint resolution of the two houses of Congress gave him the authority to intervene on behalf of the Cubans. On April 22 the North Atlantic Squadron was ordered to blockade Cuba, and three days later congress declared war on Spain.
             The actual war it self lasted less that four months, the American strategy revolved around destroying the Spanish navy wh
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