How long did the Spanish-American war last?

The Spanish-American War lasted three months, two weeks and four days in 1898. The conflict centered on Cuba. Journalism scare tactics helped to fuel the war.

The USS Maine, a Navy ship in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, was destroyed by a catastrophic explosion on Feb. 15, 1898, during the Cuban Revolution. Though the cause of the explosion was never discovered, the event became the spark for U.S. intervention in Cuba and a wider conflict with Spain. The Spanish-American War included U.S. and Spanish military engagements in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Paris, which gave the United States control of all Spanish colonies outside of Africa.