Question

Sinking of the Maine

The USS Maine, an American battleship anchored in the harbor at Havana, had mysteriously exploded and sank, killing about 250 of the ship’s crew. It was not known then- or even today - what caused the explosion. But the newspapers made it seemed as if Spain had deliberately blown up the US ship. Editorials in the yellow press urged the US government to go war with Spain.

It is highly unlikely that the Spanish were responsible since the last thing they wanted was American intervention. A naval court of inquiry decided that the ship had hit a submarine mine. Others believed there was an explosion in the coal bunker. The yellow press had no doubt about the matter. Headlines screamed that it was the Spanish who did it and offered $50,000 for the capture of the evil Spaniards who had committed the outrage. Now there was no holding back. Everyone seemed to be saying “Remember the Maine!”. It made no difference that the Spanish government agreed on April 9 to almost everything that the U.S. had demanded. The U.S. government was reluctant to go to war. But a torrential wave of popular sympathy for the Cubans and the indignation against Spain mounted. President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war and it quickly complied.


5. According to Document 5, was Spain really responsible for the sinking of the Maine? Explain.

Answer 1

According to Document 5, it is highly unlikely that Spain was responsible for the sinking of the USS Maine. While the cause of the explosion remains unknown, a naval court of inquiry determined that the ship had hit a submarine mine, and others believed there was an explosion in the coal bunker. The yellow press, however, immediately blamed Spain and urged the U.S. government to go to war. Despite the Spanish government agreeing to almost everything the U.S. had demanded, a wave of popular sympathy for the Cubans and indignation against Spain mounted. President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war, and it quickly complied. Therefore, while the cause of the explosion remains a mystery, there is no evidence to suggest that Spain was responsible.