In what year did the Spanish-American War officially begin?

The Spanish-American War officially began in 1898, marking a significant turning point in United States foreign policy and its emergence as a global power. The war was largely driven by the U.S. interest in supporting Cuban independence from Spanish rule, as well as the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which intensified public sentiment for war. This conflict resulted in the U.S. acquiring several territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, dramatically enlarging its influence in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The year 1898 is crucial as it symbolizes the start of a new chapter in American imperialism and the expansion of its military presence abroad.