The conflict erupted over Cuba's attempt to gain independence from Spain via rebellion. Located less than one hundred miles from Florida, the Spanish-ruled island had been heading toward independence for over thirty years.
In 1896, Spain sent General Weyler to crush the Cuban Rebellion. Weyler began moving Cuban civilians to centralized prison locations. Ultimately he would move about 300,000 civilians. The conditions at these "reconcentration" camps were abysmal and many starved. Several hundred thousand died in these concentration camps, earning the Spanish general the nickname "Butcher Weyler"
