Video: 'What Is The Teller Amendment'

(Wednesday, April 20, 1898, 11:24 a.m. local time) — The United States moved closer to war with Spain today as President William McKinley signed a joint Congressional resolution demanding Spanish withdrawal and authorizing the President to use military force to help Cuba gain independence.

The resolution, known as the Teller Amendment, also promised the Cuban people that the U.S. was not declaring war to annex Cuba, but to help it gain its independence from Spain and once independence was secured, the U.S. would withdraw all its troops from the country.

Video: 'Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American War' (Teller Amendment at 41:59)

Video: 'The Spanish American War | History Channel Documentary' (Apr. 20, 1898, at 34:20)