The Cuban Wars of Independence were a series of conflicts aimed at ending Spanish colonial rule in Cuba. The first war, known as the Ten Years' War, began in 1868 and lasted until 1878, resulting in significant but ultimately unsuccessful efforts for independence. The second major conflict, the Cuban War of Independence, started in 1895 and was marked by the involvement of the United States. This war concluded with the defeat of Spain in 1898, leading to the establishment of a short-lived Cuban Republic and significant changes in the island's governance.