Final answer:
The immediate cause of the Spanish American War was the sinking of the USS Maine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immediate cause of the Spanish American War was the sinking of the USS Maine. In February 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship, exploded and sunk in Havana Harbor in Cuba. Although the cause of the explosion remains uncertain, the incident heightened tensions between the United States and Spain, leading to the outbreak of the Spanish American War.
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