What caused the greatest number of casualties during the Spanish-American War?

The Spanish-American War, fought in 1898, is often remembered for its rapid military engagements, but a significant aspect of the conflict that led to high casualties was disease, particularly malaria. The U.S. military was unprepared for the tropical conditions in Cuba and the Philippines, where the war mainly took place. Many soldiers were exposed to diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, which had devastating effects on their health. In fact, more U.S. troops died from disease than from combat.

This highlights the challenges faced by the military during that time, including inadequate medical knowledge and the lack of resources to effectively deal with the health crises that arose in such environments. Environmental factors played a substantial role in the high casualty rates among soldiers, underscoring the impact of tropical diseases during the war.