In April 1898, the United States, driven by rising tensions with Spain over its treatment of Cuban rebels, took decisive military action by establishing a blockade of Cuban ports. This maneuver was part of a broader strategy to assist the Cuban freedom fighters and to exert pressure on the Spanish government, which had been accused of numerous atrocities in the context of the Cuban War of Independence. The blockade aimed to cut off supplies and reinforcements to the Spanish military in Cuba, thus signaling an escalation in U.S. involvement in the conflict.

As the blockade was set in motion, on April 25, Congress formally declared war against Spain, retroactively asserting that a state of war had existed since the blockade was initiated. The quickening pace of U.S. military preparations and actions reflected the growing sentiment in America for intervention, driven largely by sensationalist journalism and a humanitarian desire to see an end to Spanish oppression in Cuba. The U.S. Navy deployed warships, effectively cordoning off the island from reinforcements and support that might facilitate Spain’s efforts to maintain control.

The blockade was not merely a military action; it was a strategic signal of the United States’ emerging role on the global stage. As the war continued, this blockade played a critical role in undermining Spanish authority in the Caribbean, leading eventually to significant military confrontations, such as the decisive Battle of Santiago de Cuba. On July 3, 1898, this blockade would culminate in a significant naval victory for the United States, effectively sealing Spain's defeat in the war and heralding the arrival of the U.S. as a global power.