What caused the battle of San Juan?

The Battle of San Juan, part of the Spanish-American War in 1898, was primarily caused by the escalating tensions between the United States and Spain over Cuba's struggle for independence. The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which the U.S. blamed on Spanish sabotage, fueled public outrage and calls for war. The battle was a strategic effort by American forces to capture San Juan Hill and secure control over Santiago de Cuba, ultimately aiming to weaken Spanish military presence in the region. This clash exemplified the broader conflict between imperial ambitions and the fight for self-determination.