Spanish-American War…..
April 25, 1898…..
The U.S. Congress officially declares war against Spain. It decreed that a de facto state of war had existed since April 21. Cuba had been fighting for independence from Spain. On May 1, U.S. Commodore George Dewey virtually destroyed the Spanish fleet while American losses were minimal during the Battle of Manila Bay. It was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history. The war would end in December with the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 in which Spain renounced all claims to Cuba, gave Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S., and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million.