A New World Power The Spanish-American War fought in 1898 and World War I fought in 1914 helped recognize the US as a powerful nation. In the Spanish-American War, the US fought Spain in Cuba over the territories of Cuba and the Philippines. In World War I, the Triple alliance fought the Triple Entente in Europe. Both US President McKinley (president during the Spanish-American War) and President Wilson (president during WWI) tried to keep the US neutral during these wars by passing treaties. Two wars caused by different problems resulted in events which shaped the US into a world power. Both wars were part