ussmaine



U. S. S Maine

The U. S. S. Maine was a 6,682-ton second-class pre-dreadnought battleship in the United States Navy. President McKinley had moved the ship to Havana Harbor in Cuba to protect American citizens and property in the year 1898. On Febuary 15, the ship exploded, killing 250 sailors. Naturally, the newspapers made it seem worse than it was, they made it seem like the Spaniards had been the cause. Most probably it was just an accidental fire that set off the ammunition it was carrying. The angry Americans demaded war, but McKinley hesitated. A popular phrase among the newspapers were, "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain". The fuming outcry and demand of war made Congress strive for Cuba its independence and fight to drive Spain out.

Information Provide By: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_the_Maine America: Pathways to the Present pgs. 359-360