The+Exoplosion+of+the+USS+Maine

THE EXPLOSION OF THE USS MAINE 5/29/08 Havana, Cuba

In February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine was blown up. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The battleship was parked at the Havana harbor when suddenly people heard a big explosion. The explosion killed 260 American sailors. We only have the testimony of one person who was on board of the USS Maine. " I was enclosing my letter in its envelope when the explosion came. It was bursting... and crashing roar of immense volume, largely metallic in character... the electric lights went out. Then there was intense blackness and smoke." Quotes by Captain Sigsbee.



The United States' yellow journalism blamed Spain for the explosion. Spain was fighting against rebels in Cuba. The president of the United States told Spain that they should fight the Cuban rebels without brutality. The US wanted to avoid the war against Spain. Therefore the US asked Spain to stop fighting and give Cuba its independence. The officials from Spain refused and then, the president William McKinley responded to the anger of Americans, and decided to go to war with Spain in April 25, 1898.



The politicians of the United States called the war " a splendid little war." The war was called like that because only a few Americans were killed and the United States suffered no defeats. The war only lasted less than four months. After that Cuba gained its independence. The first battle was in the philippine Islands.