The Spanish - American War: First Intervention

"It has been a splendid little war." Secretary of State John Hay wrote of the Spanish-American War, which marked the United States' triumphant emergence onto the world stage. Over the course of 113 historic days in 1898, the United States established reach around the globe. The major battles of the war were fought simultaneously in Cuba and the Philippines, proving the might of a newly reorganized U.S. Navy. From the sinking of the USS Maine to the Battle of Manila Bar and the Rough Riders' legendary charge up San Juan Hill, some of the most iconic stories and images of the new American superpower were forged in this short war. In THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: FIRST INTERVENTION, THE HISTORY CHANNEL presents the conflict that set a precedent for American intervention in foreign engagements, the results of which continue to resonate today.