Question

Were the newspapers justified in concluding that Spain was responsible for the sinking of the Maine?

a) Yes, there was clear evidence implicating Spain in the sinking of the Maine.
b) No, there was no evidence linking Spain to the destruction of the Maine.
c) The newspapers reached a hasty and biased conclusion without concrete proof.
d) The true cause of the Maine's sinking remains unknown to this day.

Answer 1

The newspapers were not justified in concluding that Spain was responsible for the sinking of the Maine. Recent examinations of the evidence suggest that the explosion was likely an accident.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on historical evidence, the newspapers were not justified in concluding that Spain was responsible for the sinking of the Maine. Recent examinations of the evidence have led many historians to conclude that the explosion was likely an accident due to the storage of gunpowder close to the boilers on the ship.

In 1898, without ready evidence, the newspapers called for a war with Spain, which sold papers and rallied the American public behind the cry. The sensationalist newspaper headlines and the lack of concrete proof indicate that the newspapers reached a hasty and biased conclusion without concrete evidence linking Spain to the destruction of Maine.