18 Oct 1898: U.S. takes over Puerto Rico

On this day in 1898, after six months of fighting in the Spanish-American War, Spain abandoned Puerto Rico, leaving it to the American military. (1898 is a year that you should know by heart.)

Some more you might want to know about the Spanish-American War:

• It began after the mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor
• There were two theatres: Caribbean and Pacific
  • Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico
  • Pacific: Guam, Philippines
  • the U.S. gained control of all but Cuba
• Theodore Roosevelt resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to lead the Rough Riders on horseback in Cuba, particularly at the Battle of San Juan Hill
• Admiral George Dewey led the Pacific fleet, winning the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1; Charles Gridley was the captain of the flagship, Olympia

Image: Major General Nelson Miles and staff (1898).