The Spanish-Cuban War, also known as the Cuban War of Independence, occurred from 1895 to 1898. It was a conflict between the Spanish colonial government and Cuban revolutionaries seeking independence. The war was marked by guerrilla warfare and significant civilian suffering, as the Spanish employed harsh tactics to suppress the rebellion. The war escalated when the United States intervened in 1898, partly due to the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor. This led to the Spanish-American War, resulting in Spain's defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Consequently, Cuba gained independence, while the U.S. acquired territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines.