This remarkable 2-CD set covers the Spanish American War like no other. Over 620+ authentic prints, 4 maps outlining battle plans and 70 vintage film clips from the historic Thomas Edison and the American Mutascope and Biograph Company collections provide in-depth information about the war. In fact, this record leaves little to the imagination. If it happened during the Spanish American War, it is on this set in one form or the other.

As far back as 1425, Spaniards set sail westward in search of new territories. A strong ambition backed by a powerful Navy brought many lands under Spanish rule. Parts of North America and South America, Cuba, Guam and the Philippines remained under Spanish rule for over four centuries. By 1825, however, much of this empire had fallen into other hands. Spain was compelled to acknowledge the independence of many of these territories, including parts of what is now the United States.

The only remnants that remained of the empire in the Western Hemisphere were Cuba and Puerto Rico and across the Pacific in Philippine Islands, and the Carolina, Marshall, and Mariana Islands (including Guam) in Micronesia. By the 1860s Cubans and Phillipinos too started yearning for freedom from Spanish rule. Visionaries like Jose Marti in Cuba and Jose Rizal in the Philippines began political movements that would eventually help them break free from Spanish shackles. It wasn’t long before Puerto Rico wanted its freedom as well.

Spain’s last few overseas bastions were crumbling. The coup de grace was delivered by the United States when it declared war against Spain On April 25, 1898. This was a result of the sinking of the Battleship Maine, in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898 by the Spanish. This war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. As a result, Spain lost its control over the remains of its overseas empire - Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine islands, Guam, and other islands.

The eventual Victory for the United States however was not offered on a platter. It called for great sacrifice and full use of its Military strength. This 2-CD set from A2ZCDS.com offers a ringside view of the action in Cuba and in the Philippines.

Sample thumbnails taken from the collection. Click on image to view larger picture.

This CD presentation documents a comprehensive history of the Spanish-American War. Over 70+ high quality mpeg videos and 600+ high-resolution photographs shot between 1898 and 1901 record historic events of the War and the succeeding Philippine Revolution.

The motion pictures consist of actualities filmed in the U.S., Cuba, and the Philippines, featuring troops, ships, notable historical figures, victory parades and celebrations, and reenactments of various battles and other war-time events. The photographs consist of famous battles, ships, people and historical figures, captains, admirals, presidents, generals, war preparations, victories, paintings, sketches and artwork.

This vintage collection is a true work of art and the finest collection available on the Spanish-American War available today. All pictures are fully printable from the CDs and are suitable for framing. They are all scans from the authentic originals from over a century ago and are of the highest quality. This is a great visual reference and study guide for any historical buff or educational student.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Aside from the two World Wars, the Spanish American War remains one of the most significant events in World History. Briefly, it marked a shift in political power from Europe to the United Sates. Political pressures that had built up over decades in the United States, Cuba and the Philippines finally escalated into open war against the Spanish. Always in the forefront of war against oppression and imperialism, the United States took the war against Spain to its limits.

Thanks to the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company and the Thomas Alva Edison Company, we have 70 fabulous visual records on film of American soldiers engaged in various military duties during the war. These CDs are also loaded with over 600 riveting photographs and paintings that carry you deep into enemy territory. This was Naval warfare at its fiercest and the vivid images preserved on CDs underline America’s absolute supremacy over the Spanish.

Especially memorable are snapshots of the once proud Spanish Navy in shambles, its vessels of war reduced to scrap iron in Manila Bay. By contrast, the hostilities in Cuba were more of the conventional variety, with the artillery and infantry being put to good use. On the flip side, these videos and photographs offer a peek at war causalities and the rigors of war at its worst. As bonus, you have some fabulous vintage pictures of the Philippines and Cuba taken just prior to the war.

This is a superb account of a war in which America, for the first time, flexed her military muscle and showcased her firepower to the outside world. The war, which ended on a triumphant note for America sent out an unmistakable message to the world – that Americans were prepared to defend democracy anywhere and at any cost.

The story of the historic Spanish-American war could not have been told in a more appealing manner than this. That however is just one of the reasons why history buffs must add this fabulous 2-CD set from A2ZCDS.com to his or her collection.