Editing History of Cuba (section)

===Cuban Theatre of the Spanish–American War===
{{Main|Spanish–American War}}
[[File:Destruction of Admiral Cervera's Spanish Fleet off Santiago de Cuba. 1898. Copy of lithograph published by Kurz & Al - NARA - 532570.tif|thumb|Destruction of Admiral Cervera's Spanish Fleet off Santiago de Cuba. 1898.]]
Hostilities started hours after the declaration of war when a U.S. contingent under Admiral [[William T. Sampson]] blockaded several Cuban ports. The Americans decided to invade Cuba in Oriente where the Cubans were able to co-operate. The first U.S. objective was to capture the city of Santiago de Cuba to destroy Linares' army and Cervera's fleet. To reach Santiago they had to pass through concentrated Spanish defences in the [[San Juan Hill]]s. Between 22 and 24 June 1898 the Americans landed under General [[William R. Shafter]] at [[Daiquirí]] and [[Siboney, Cuba|Siboney]] and established a base. The port of Santiago became the main target of U.S. naval operations, and the American fleet attacking Santiago needed shelter from the summer hurricane season. Nearby [[Guantánamo Bay]] was chosen for this purpose and [[1898 invasion of Guantánamo Bay|attacked on 6 June]]. The [[Battle of Santiago de Cuba]], on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement during the Spanish–American War, and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron.

Resistance in Santiago consolidated around Fort Canosa,<ref>{{cite book |last=Daley |first=Laryy |chapter=El Fortin Canosa en la Cuba del 1898 |editor-last1=Aguirre |editor-first1=Benigno E. |editor-last2=Espina |editor-first2=Eduardo |title=Los últimos días del comienzo: ensayos sobre la Guerra Hispano-Cubana-Estadounidense |date=2000 |pages=161–171 |publisher=RiL Editores |isbn=978-956-284-115-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sBN3AAAAMAAJ |language=es}}</ref> while major battles between Spaniards and Americans took place at [[Battle of Las Guasimas|Las Guasimas]] on 24 June, and at [[Battle of El Caney|El Caney]] and [[Battle of San Juan Hill|San Juan Hill]] on 1 July,<ref>[http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/10_sanjuan.html The Battles at El Caney and San Juan Hill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714045841/http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/10_sanjuan.html |date=14 July 2013}}. HomeOfHeroes.com. Retrieved 28 June 2013.</ref> after which the American advance ground to a halt. Spanish troops successfully defended Fort Canosa, allowing them to stabilize their line and bar the entry to Santiago. The Americans and Cubans began a [[Siege of Santiago|siege of the city]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Daley|2000|pp=161–71}}</ref> which surrendered on 16 July after the defeat of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron. Thus, Oriente fell under the control of Americans and the Cubans, but U.S. General [[Nelson A. Miles]] would not allow Cuban troops to enter Santiago, claiming that he wanted to prevent clashes between Cubans and Spaniards. Cuban General [[Calixto García]], head of the mambi forces in the Eastern department, ordered his troops to hold their areas and resigned, writing a letter of protest to General Shafter.<ref name="webhmz" />

After losing the [[Spanish East Indies|Philippines]] and [[Captaincy General of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]], which had also been invaded by the United States, Spain sued for peace on 17 July 1898.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spanamwar.com/|title=The Spanish American War Centennial Website!|publisher=spanamwar.com|access-date=2 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108013101/http://www.spanamwar.com/|archive-date=8 November 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 August, the U.S. and Spain signed a protocol of peace, in which Spain agreed to relinquish Cuba.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/pr980812.html|title=Protocol of Peace Embodying the Terms of a Basis for the Establishment of Peace Between the Two Countries|location=Washington, D.C., U.S.|date=12 August 1898|access-date=30 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012131323/http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/pr980812.html|archive-date=12 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 10 December 1898, the U.S. and Spain signed the formal [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|Treaty of Paris]], recognizing continuing U. S. military occupation.<ref name=ToP>{{Cite web|url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp|title=Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain|date=10 December 1898|publisher=The Avalon project at Yale law School|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523121634/http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp|archive-date=23 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Cubans had participated in the liberation efforts, the United States prevented Cuba from sending representatives to the Paris peace talks or signing the treaty, which set no time limit for U.S. occupation and excluded the [[Isla de la Juventud|Isle of Pines]] from Cuba.<ref name="Cantón Navarro p. 77">Cantón Navarro, José. ''History of Cuba''. p. 77.</ref> Although the U.S. president had no objection to Cuba's eventual independence, U.S. General [[William Rufus Shafter|William R. Shafter]] refused to allow Cuban General [[Calixto García]] and his rebel forces to participate in the [[Santiago Surrender Tree|surrender ceremonies]] in Santiago de Cuba.