The main cause of the conflict known as the Spanish-American War in 1898 was the U.S. intervention in Cuba's struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule. American sympathy grew due to reports of Spanish atrocities in Cuba, fueled by yellow journalism. Additionally, the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor galvanized public opinion against Spain, leading the United States to declare war. The war resulted in a swift U.S. victory, leading to the Treaty of Paris and the acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.