The Spanish-American officially began in 1898 when the U.S. Maine blew up in the Havana Harbor. Speculation ensued about who was to blame for the incident. The U.S. blamed the Spanish while the Spanish claimed it was an accident. President William McKinley offered to settle the problem peacefully by offering $300 million for the island. Though this was rejected, the Spanish also tried to avoid conflict. A U.S. blockade exacerbated the situation and two nation went to war. The fighting ended quickly with U.S. as the victors. A peace treaty ended the war on December 12,,1892, but Cuban representatives were not invited to the event.

Cuba won its independence from Spain, but now they had a new colonial power to deal with, the United States. The U.S. was reluctant to hand over control. Finally both sides signed the Platt Amendment giving Cuba its sovereignty.