Final answer:
The headline 'USS Maine Destroyed by Spanish Treachery' best exemplifies yellow journalism from 1898, which used sensational claims to inflame public opinion and push for the Spanish-American War despite later evidence suggesting the explosion was accidental. Option 3
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1898, the explosion of the USS Maine was a significant event that was reported extensively by the press. Among the given newspaper headlines, 'USS Maine Destroyed by Spanish Treachery' best illustrates the practice of yellow journalism. This type of journalism used sensational headlines and emphasized speculation or exaggerated details to incite public emotion and influence opinions, often at the expense of factual accuracy.
During that time, leading newspapers like William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World engaged in aggressive yellow journalism, using dramatic and unverified accusations to involve the United States in the Spanish-American War.
The claim that the USS Maine was destroyed by a Spanish act was not based on concrete evidence at the time, yet the yellow press exploited this narrative, stirring up public sentiment and pushing for war, which eventually became known by the rallying cry 'Remember the Maine'.
Later investigations suggested that the explosion was more likely due to an accidental internal combustion, but the immediate aftermath saw sensational journalism override calmly presented facts, as seen in the aforementioned headline. Option 3