The first shots of the Spanish-American War were fired in the Philippines rather than in Cuba due to the strategic importance of securing the islands in the Pacific region.
Commodore George Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay marked a significant event in the Spanish-American War in the Pacific. The United States prioritized the Philippines due to the strategic value of securing the islands during the conflict with Spain. This victory allowed the U.S. to gain control of the Philippines and establish a foothold in the Pacific region.
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