The USS MAINE arrived in Cuba's Havana harbour on January 24, 1898. The second-class battleship built between 1888 and 1895, was sent to Havana to protect American interests during the long-standing revolt of the Cubans against the Spanish government.
At about 9:30 PM on February 15, the MAINE was shattered by two separate explosions and rapidly sank. Ammunition continued to explode for hours after the blast.Nearly three-quarters of the battleship's crew died as a result of the explosion.
After the disaster, U.S. newspapers were quick to place responsibility for the loss on Spain. In spite of the newspaper propaganda, an official court of inquiry was held by the U.S. Navy to determine the cause of the blasts. The Navy concluded that the ship was sunk by a mine which ignited the forward magazines, but stated that it could not fix responsibility upon any person or persons, including the government or military forces of Spain. Regardless of the reality of the situation, the loss of the USS MAINE had turned American popular opinion strongly in favor of war with Spain. Despite of his efforts to avoid war, President McKinley finally decided to militarily intervene in Cuba to end the ongoing unrest and "liberate" Cuba from Spanish rule.
The sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor on 15 February 1898 was the seminal event leading to the Spanish-American War. Although the cause of the explosion (whether a Spanish torpedo or an internal mechanical malfunction) has never been definitively determined, the event enraged American public opinion, and on 19 April Congress declared war on Spain. The Spanish forces were defeated with relative ease, and the United States eventually acquired Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines as colonies.
1) Explain the prelude to the Spanish American War (1898). (3 marks)
2) "The US interest in Cuba was merely economic." Examine the veracity of this statement. (10 marks)
