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Because America was on an Imperialist footing in 1898 (trying to expand as a new world power) and was looking for a reason (excuse) to declare war on Spain, as Spain owned territory that the US wanted at the time (Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuban ports, etc.).

As Randolph Hearst (Hearst Newspaper) inferred it, "...you supply the war, I'll supply the story!"

The Spanish-American War of 1898 was referred to (by the press) as the "Splendid Little War"; it gained the US territories with very small casualties and only lasted 6 months. The war also re-united the American people from the after effects of the US Civil War (American Civil War).

Operation Desert Storm of (Jan-Feb) 1991 was referred to (by the press) as the "100 Hour War"; it reinstated US prestige in the eyes of the world, had very small casualties (less than 200) and only lasted 45 days. The campaign re-united the American people from the after effects of the Vietnam War (President Bush Senior: "...We have beat the Vietnam syndrome...the American people are united once again."

Both wars that divided the US occurred in the 60's; both conflicts that re-united the US occurred in the 90's. History does repeat itself.

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14y ago
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12y ago

There is no definite answer.

At the time, the story of sabotage by the Spanish was used as an excuse to declare war.

Many people today believe it was a dust explosion in the coal bunker... an accident.

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12y ago

No one is certain to the cause. It was originally believed that it was the result of a Spanish attack on the ship, possibly a torpedo or a mine. It is possible that it was an explosion, that the engine got to hot

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13y ago

In 1898 Fighting broke out in Havana, the Cuban Capital. Acting promptly, President McKinley send the battleship Maine to Havana to protect American citizens and property there. On the night of February 15, the Maine lay at anchor in Havana harbor. Just after the bugler played taps, a huge ezplosion ripped through the ship. The spanish-American War lasted only four months. The battle front stretched the nearby Caribbean to the distant Philipphine Islands off the coast of Southeast Asia. For many years, Americans had looked longingly at Cuba. As early as 1823, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams had compared Cuba to a ripe apple. A storm, he said, might tear that apple " from its native tree" the spanish empire, and drop it into the hands of the United States. In 1868 the Cuban people had rebelled against Spanish rule. The revolution was finally crushed after 10 years of fighting. Some of the revolutionaries fled to New York where they kept up the battle for freedom. In the United States, people watched the revolt in nearby Cuba with growing concern. The united States, had vital economic links to the island. Americans had invested about $50 million in Cuban sugar and rice plantations, railroads, tobacco, and iron mines. The president was worried about a looming war over Cuba, a Spanish-ruled island just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Cuban patriots were in rebolt against Spanish rule.

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14y ago

The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine did not cause a war with Spain, it only caused suspicion from the government about whether the Spanish had anything to do with the sinking, considering that it was in Spanish waters at the time of the sinking.

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7y ago

The US wanted war with Spain before the sinking of the Maine to end the abuse and starvation that the Spanish were causing in Cuba, where one fourth of the population were being held in reconcentration camps. The media and the public both supported Cuban Independence.

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17y ago

Thanks to campaigning on the part of Hearst newspapers, President McKinley was able to blame Spain for the mysterious incident, and thus pursue imperial interests in the Spanish-American War.

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13y ago

It is unlikely that Spain bombed the USS Maine.

It was probably an explosion that resulted from a coal bunker fire that ignited a gunpowder magazine.

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13y ago

Spontaneous explosions are rare events.

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Q: Why did many Americans blame Spain for the explosion of the USS Maine?
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In what war did the battleship Maine explode leading to the Spanish-American?

No war. Spain and the US were officially at peace when the Maine exploded, although war had been brewing for some time. The explosion of the Maine was the event which sparked the Spanish-American War.


What country did America blame for the Spanish American War?

Spain, when the US battleship Maine sank in Havana harbor. It was believed that the Spanish had sunk the American battleship with a command-detonated mine, but after the war it was discovered that the Maine was sunk by an internal explosion.


What event caused President McKinley to declare war on Spain?

Some contend that President McKinley got angry with Spain because of the De Lome Letter, but since the Minister submitted his resignation that hardly seems like a plausible excuse to declare War. The explosion of the USS Maine appears to be a the best answer.


Did the Japanese stage a explosion at a railroad yard and blame it on the Chinese?

Yes, the Japanese blamed the Chinese and used it as an excuse to invade Manchuria.


Why was the sinking of the USS Maine considered the start of the Spanish American War?

The explosion of USS Maine triggered a raise of rage against Spain in the American public opinion, alimented by inflammatory articles of the "Yellow Press", written by Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, which led the US Government to come at loggerheads with the Spanish Government and declare war on Spain, though no proof of guilty against a Spanish involvement in that event had been found.

Related questions

When the USS Maine exploded who did the Americans blame?

Spain.


How did the explosion of the battleship Maine contribute to the beginning of the Spanish war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the Maine contribute to the beginning of the Spanish American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the battleship Maine to the beginning the spanish-American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the battleship Maine contribute of the beginning of the spanish-American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the battleship Maine contribute to the beginning of the spanish-american war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of battleship Maine contribute to the beginning of the spanish-American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the battleship Maine contribute of the beginning o thspanish-American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


In what war did the battleship Maine explode leading to the Spanish-American?

No war. Spain and the US were officially at peace when the Maine exploded, although war had been brewing for some time. The explosion of the Maine was the event which sparked the Spanish-American War.


What country did America blame for the Spanish American War?

Spain, when the US battleship Maine sank in Havana harbor. It was believed that the Spanish had sunk the American battleship with a command-detonated mine, but after the war it was discovered that the Maine was sunk by an internal explosion.


How did the explosion of the battleship contribute to the beginning of the Spanish American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack


How did the explosion of the battleship main contribute to the beginning of the spanish-American war?

the report by the naval board of inquiry about the explosion was used to blame Spain for the attack