Answer:
to protect United States business interests in Cuba
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States declared war on Spain soon after the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine off the coast of Cuba. The Maine had been sent to Cuba to protect the lives of American civilians who were living on the island during the revolution against Spain. Many American civilians were in Cuba because American companies were doing business there. American companies were worried that Cuba's trade with the United States would be disrupted by the civil war, so the United States had another reason to fight against Spain.