Final answer:
The question excludes Spain's reluctance over Florida agreements as a cause of the Spanish-American War. Key causes included Cuban independence, protecting U.S. business interests, the USS Maine incident, and upholding the Monroe Doctrine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish-American War in 1898 had several reasons except Spain's reluctance to complete an agreement with the United States over Florida, which stemmed from fears over losing its entire New World Empire. This concern was not a direct cause of the war in 1898, as it had been an issue since much earlier in the century. The direct causes of the war included Cuban independence, protection of U.S. business interests in Cuba, the sinking of the USS Maine, furthering the Monroe Doctrine, and Spain's inhumane methods towards the Cuban rebels which generated humanitarian concerns in the United States. The annexation of territories like Puerto Rico and Guam and the influence over Cuba post-war hinted towards America's imperial ambitions.