Notes: The Battleship Maine

On February 15th, 1898, at about 9:40 in the night, the USS Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor. It killed between 260 and 268 men, and it caused a major uproar or attention in the United States. Because it was only a few days after the public found out about the De Lome letter, many Americans, and newspapers especially, put the blame onto Spain. It would soon become a minor cause of the Spanish-American War. During the war, the chant “Remember the Maine!” was used because of this tragedy.

The New York Times suggests that the destruction of the war ship Maine was the American’s fault and it would be unsupported and ridiculous to blame the Spanish. For example, the New York Times stated, “He did not believe that the Spanish or Cubans in Havana had either the information or the equipment necessary to blow up the magazine, while the Maine was under guard.” The destruction of Maine was an accident committed by the Americans. For instance, the New York Times stated, “So long as he has not made a decision, I certainly cannot. I should think from the signs however, that there was an accident-that the magazine exploded.” This is significant because a widely-known source shown here (the New York Times) further validates that the Americans may be mistaken in blaming the Spanish. In conclusion, the absence of proper evidence leads many to believe that the Americans accidentally destructed the warship Maine, not the

While public tensions before August 1898 were surely high, nothing turned the public against Spain like the tragic blowing up of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The lives of 260 American officers and men were lost. The yellow press and American investigators quickly blamed spanish officials in Cuba for the mysterious wreck. Although it is extremely unlikely that the spanish had anything to do with the Maine’s sinking, the War-Mad American public accepted this conclusion out of rage, overwhelmingly persuading President Mckinley to begin the war. McKinley personally did not want to fight a war against Spain, for he had seen enough bloodshed as a General in the Civil War. But the public, encouraged by the Cuban patriotic cause, yellow journalism, and the sinking of the Maine, clamored for a war. Finally, President McKinley yielded and gave the people what they wanted. He believed that the people should rule, even if they don’t know what’s best for themselves. Public pressure was the main reason we went to war with Spain, and the biggest cultivator of public unrest was the blowing up of “The Maine”.

To protect the interests of the nation, the United States sent the USS Maine into Havana Harbor, but on February 15, 1898, the unthinkable happened. The battleship exploded, killing 260 members of the crew. Without a thorough investigation, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry stated the explosion was caused by Spain. Doubt from the public was virtually absent and the United States declared war on Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War. The war resulted in a swift American victory, leading to the addition of multiple territories. Although the explosion is now known to have been caused by an internal fire, it caused American intervention and imperialism in both Latin America and islands in the Pacific

Assess the importance of TWO of the following in the US decision to declare war against Spain in 1898: yellow journalism, sinking of the Maine, US business interests, Cuban revolution

That view did not last long, by April 14 it was believed that the sinking of the USS Maine was not a mere accident, The Atlanta Wesleyan Christian Advocate first believed that "Spanish perfidy" had caused the catastrophe but later decided some "hotheads"

Though after the Spanish-American War, Hawaii was able to gain attention as expansionists envisioned ships sailing from the eastern seaboard through a Central American canal to Hawaii and then on to China. It took President McKinley to successfully maneuvered annexation through Congress by means of a majority vote. Cuba was also played a part in American foreign affairs during the turn of the century. After the United States imposed the Wilson-German Tariff, Cuba, depending on imports heavily, fell in to a deep economic crisis. This caused the Cubans to launch a revolution in 1895. Though the Spanish government did provide modified reconcentration and promised some autonomy for Cuba. President McKinley was a known imperialist that wanted independence of Cuba achieved without an U.S. war if possible. Though the revolution seemed to have no end, so the U.S. set the battleship Maine to demonstrate U.S. concern and protection for Americans in Cuba. After its explosion, the U.S. declared war on Spain. The U.S. forces would quickly defeat the Spanish in Cuba and also in the Philippines. The U.S. took the Philippines saying that it was a Spanish colony even though the war was going on in another hemisphere. There were also other incidences in other parts of the world. The U.S. asked China to keep an Open Door policy. This meant that China had to respect the principle of equal trade opportunity for all nations in their spheres of influence. This caused the Boxers to hold

After the explosion, the yellow press proclaimed that “The Maine was destroyed by treachery”. Although there is no evidence to support their assertion, but this assume give a possible explanation of the explosion, and successfully make a lot of people believed in it. Not only one press, but a lot of yellow press start making rumours about this explosion and they are announcing “The warship Maine was split in two by an enemy’s secret infernal machine”. These announcement make people think that the Spain government is behind this thing.

So, the result of fueding newspapers made it sound like spanish purposely made the ship explode. No one knew what to think in 1898. William Mckinley did not want war. Since, he knew how horrible it was. In the end after a short but popular war in cuba with spain. In 1976, 78 years later they realized it was the result of internal combustion and an accident. It did not stop the americans.

had sunk both merchant and passenger ships without warning. Then later on Germany was trying

Four days ago there was a naked act of aggression against the United States. Our ship the USS Maine which was stationed in Havana Harbor in Cuba to keep the peace and attempt to ease tensions between the Spanish dogs and the Cuban rebels was destroyed. There are several theories circulating as to why the Maine exploded but the most prevalent is sabotage there are many suspected groups and individuals We have found that the Spanish are the most likely culprits. The Spanish Ambassador to America denies guilt profusely which is to be expected of the guilty party, he also often repeats it was an accident which tips our suspicions their way. The Cubans also claim that they know nothing although they have not yet been ruled out as suspect since

The events of today have been frightening for me and many other Americans as tragedy has struck in Havana harbor, Cuba. The USS Maine has exploded and been sunk by unknown and terrifying causes, killing 266 American officers and crew while injuring many others. I as well as most Americans assume this is the dirty work of the Spanish as revenge against the many American owned sugar plantations. Towards the end of 1897, General Fitzhugh Lee saw a rising concern for the safety of American citizens in Cuba and therefore requested help from the U.S Navy. The USS Maine was ordered to Florida and was awaiting

2,403 Americans lost their lives and over 1,178 were wounded. Five battleships and eighteen ships sunk or disabled from torpedoes dropped by the Japanese. Arizona exploded and sank with killing 1,117 officers. The wreck still lies under the Pearl Harbor with many sailors who were still stuck in the ship after the explosion. Nevada, California, West Virginia sank releasing burning oil making it hard for sailors to escape. Japanese had only lost

The battleship, USS Marine was stationed in Havana’s harbor to protect American interest in Cuba. An explosion destroyed the vessel on February 15, 1898. “A naval court of inquiry blamed the explosion on a mine, further inflaming public sentiment against Spain” (HIS104 U.S. History Since 1877 30-Jun-2008, OL20). Again, the press stirred up the public with stories and headlines of a Spanish conspiracy. American now demanded revenge for the deaths of 266 sailors (Faragher, J., 2008, Out of Many). President McKinley demanded that Spanish government end brutality of the Cuban people, engage in armistice, and promise the eventual independence of Cuba. Upon Spain’s refusal, McKinley asked for a declaration of war. (HIS104 U.S. History, Lecture, 30-Jun-2008, OL20). “In order to assure the world that it was fighting only for the good of Cuba and not for colonial gain, the US passed the Teller Amendment, which promised to make Cuba independent after the war was over” (SparkNotes: The Spanish American War, 1898-1901: Summary).

Located directly on the Tampa Riverwalk, The American Victory Ship is one of four fully operational World War II ships in the country. It encompasses rare artifacts, important documents and historic photographs; visitors are invited to explore all nine decks of the ship, including the hospital, weapon rooms, mess halls and captain's