The Spanish-American conflicts in the Pacific and Caribbean reveal several key points about the nature and outcomes of the war:
- The war was fought simultaneously in two major theaters: the Caribbean and the Pacific, where U.S. naval power was decisive
- In the Caribbean, the U.S. focused on Cuba and Puerto Rico, employing naval blockades and direct military engagements such as the cutting of undersea communication cables at Cienfuegos, the capture of Guantánamo Bay, and battles around Santiago de Cuba. These actions isolated Spanish forces and disrupted their communications, contributing to American victories
- In the Pacific, the U.S. Navy decisively defeated the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay, effectively ending Spanish naval presence there. The U.S. also captured Guam without resistance and later took Manila, securing control over former Spanish possessions in the region
- The conflicts revealed the strategic use of naval power by the U.S., which dominated Spanish forces in both theaters. The U.S. Navy's blockades and battles prevented Spanish fleets from breaking out or resupplying their forces, leading to the collapse of Spanish colonial control
- The war ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere and established the United States as a significant Pacific and Caribbean power. The Treaty of Paris (1898) resulted in Spain ceding sovereignty over Cuba (temporarily controlled by the U.S.), Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States
- The conflicts also exposed the limitations of Spanish military capabilities and the effectiveness of American combined naval and ground operations, which included amphibious landings and sieges
In summary, the Spanish-American conflicts in the Pacific and Caribbean reveal a decisive U.S. victory achieved through superior naval strength, strategic blockades, and direct assaults on Spanish colonial holdings, leading to a significant shift in global power and the end of Spain’s colonial era in the Americas and Pacific
