Introduction

The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898, is often cited as the cause of the Spanish-American War. Here’s what happened to the USS Maine, one of the most famous ships in American history.

The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898, is often cited as the cause of the Spanish-American War.

The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898, is often cited as the cause of the Spanish-American War.

The ship was a battleship sent to Cuba to protect U.S. interests and citizens during political unrest. On its way back to America, it stopped at Key West, Florida, where it took on ammunition and supplies before heading out across open water towards Havana harbor (where most ships would dock).

On March 24, 1898, President William McKinley received word from Admiral Charles Davis about an explosion onboard his Maine: “Our ship was blown up by an unknown hand.” The next day he said, “I wish I could tell you just how this terrible thing happened…but I cannot do so…There has been no noise heard outside our vessel before or after she sank.”

Here’s what happened to the USS Maine, one of the most famous ships in American history.

The USS Maine was a battleship sunk in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. It was dropped by an explosion and exploded so violently that it sank immediately. The cause of this explosion has been debated for over 100 years. Some people think it was an accident caused by coal dust, while others believe it was caused by sabotage or a mine placed in the harbor by Spanish forces during their ongoing War with Cuba.

The truth is no one knows precisely what happened because there were no survivors, and there wasn’t enough evidence left behind at the scene to prove anything either way!

In 1889, a newly elected President, Benjamin Harrison, announced plans to expand the U.S. Navy.

In 1889, a newly elected President, Benjamin Harrison, announced plans to expand the U.S. Navy. This was during an era of increasing tensions between the United States and Spain over Cuba. The Spanish-American War would begin in 1898 after an explosion on board the USS Maine killed 266 sailors and injured more than 50 others.

The investigation into what caused this explosion led to a conclusion that there was no evidence of damage from outside forces such as enemy torpedoes or mines — only internal flaws could have caused such extensive damage so quickly (the ship sank within two hours).

It was an attempt to compete with other nations’ navies, which were becoming increasingly powerful.

The sinking was used as a pretext for War.

Maine was sent to Cuba to protect U.S. interests in the region.

The explosion that sank the battleship USS Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, was an attempt by Spain and other European nations to compete with other nations’ navies, which were becoming increasingly powerful then.

As the Navy began to grow its fleet, it commissioned a new class of ship designed for coastal warfare and patrolling U.S. harbors and Caribbean waters — but one that could also operate in deeper waters out at sea if necessary.

As the Navy began to grow its fleet, it commissioned a new class of ship designed for coastal warfare and patrolling U.S. harbors and Caribbean waters — but one that could also operate in deeper waters out at sea if necessary. Maine was the first ship of its kind in this new class, built with a steel hull instead of wood like previous battleships and cruisers had been made from.

The USS Maine was completed in 1895 after four years under construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City (which is now part of Brooklyn’s Industry City complex). Its keel was laid down on November 8, 1890; it launched just over two years later on January 16, 1893, then underwent sea trials before being commissioned into active service later that year on October 17, 1893, with Captain Charles Sigsbee commanding her crew while they conducted training exercises off Chesapeake Bay until departing Hampton Roads on November 22, 1893, bound for Key West where they arrived six days later after encountering heavy fog along their route which caused them considerable delay due to their inability to navigate properly until conditions cleared up enough so they could continue onward toward Florida without any further problems occurring throughout their trip.

The ship was named for the state where its keel was laid down in November 1890 at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, from where most of its crew would also hail.

The ship was named for the state where its keel was laid down in November 1890 at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, from where most of its crew would also hail.

The USS Maine had a crew of 250 officers and enlisted men, with an additional 103 civilians aboard and an official observer from the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance.

From 1890 through 1895, the USS Maine underwent extensive naval testing and repairs before being declared ready for service — but not without controversy among those who felt it had been rushed into service without appropriate testing or training for its crew.

The USS Maine was a battleship commissioned in 1895, but it took only a short time for the ship to get into trouble. Maine had several problems before it even left port on its maiden voyage. For starters:

The crew wasn’t adequately trained or equipped to handle firearms safely and responsibly — a significant problem since one of their main jobs would be firing cannons at enemy ships.

For example, during one training exercise off Cuba’s coast (where they were headed), an accidental discharge from one of these guns caused serious injuries among some sailors aboard another vessel nearby who weren’t wearing protective gear like ear plugs or goggles at the time either!

In early January 1898, it seemed as though War between Spain and the United States might be inevitable after Spain rejected President McKinley’s request to end Cuban intervention and allow Cuban independence in two weeks — especially as Spain still controlled Cuba and Cuba had declared itself independent decades beforehand.

In early January 1898, it seemed as though War between Spain and the United States might be inevitable after Spain rejected President McKinley’s request to end Cuban intervention and allow Cuban independence in two weeks — especially as Spain still controlled Cuba and Cuba had declared itself independent decades beforehand. However, there were other reasons for conflict between these two countries: America wanted control over Hawaii; they had also developed an interest in Puerto Rico (another Spanish colony).

Suppose you’ve seen any American history books or movies about this period. In that case, you probably know that tensions peaked when the U.S. battleship USS Maine exploded while docked in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898 – killing 266 sailors onboard.

Conclusion

The sinking of the USS Maine was a tragic event that helped lead to War between Spain and the United States. It’s also an example of how history can be manipulated for political purposes. The truth is that it was sabotage, not a submarine, that caused the explosion on board the ship.