On January 25, 1898, President William McKinley sent the battleship Maine to the Havana harbor to protect Americans from the fighting that was continuing. Two hundred sixty people on board the Maine were killed when it was blown up on February 15, 1898.

The tragedy of the Maine electrified the peoples of the globe with horror and indignation. In the U.S., there were cries for vengeance as millions demanded that full punishment should be handed out to those guilty. Illinois was the first state in the Union to assure President McKinley that “Illinois, with all her treasures in men and money, with all her wealth of patriotic blood, was ready to support him, the honor of our country and the flag of our Union” on February 17, 1898. Subsequent events proved how timely this message was.

On April 11, 1898, President McKinley requested authority from Congress to send U.S. troops
to Cuba to end the civil war. At that time a number of Spanish territories had already gained their independence. Other territories as well as Cuban rebels wanted their independence.

The first battle of the war took place at sea on May 1, 1898 near the Philippines. The U.S. Pacific fleet, commanded by Commodore George Dewey, defeated the Spanish navy in only hours. Guantanamo Bay Cuba was attacked by U.S. Marines using their skills to attack from the sea.
The invasion lasted from June 6 through June 10, 1898 and was successful. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba was attacked by U.S. Marines using their skills to attack from the sea.