History of North America

Which event led to the spanish-american war?

The sinking of the USS Maine

On February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 268 American sailors. The cause of the explosion was never definitively determined, but many Americans believed that the Spanish had sabotaged the ship. This belief led to a surge in public support for war against Spain, and Congress declared war on April 25, 1898.