Final answer:
The Spanish-American War showcased naval warfare with the U.S. sinking Spanish fleets to prevent reinforcements, and involving volunteers in asymmetrical land conflicts with hardships like malnutrition and disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early footage of the Spanish-American War showcases a type of warfare that largely occurred at sea, indicating the strategic importance of naval power. America's industrialized naval strength allowed it to quickly sink the Spanish fleet in the Caribbean and the Philippines, which was critical to inhibiting Spain from reinforcing its troops. The war notably began not in Cuba, but in the Philippines with a decisive naval victory led by Commodore George Dewey, followed by the landing of U.S. forces to secure the islands.
The conflict is characterized by its asymmetrical warfare tactics, including gunboat diplomacy and the overwhelming force of the U.S. to facilitate Spanish surrender. On land, the warfare featured large numbers of volunteers, some of whom were untrained and ill-prepared, facing hardships such as malnutrition and disease.