What incident sparked the war with Spain?

The sinking of the USS Maine was a pivotal incident that ignited the war with Spain, known as the Spanish-American War. In February 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship, was stationed in Havana Harbor, Cuba. On February 15, an explosion occurred on the ship, resulting in the deaths of 266 sailors. Although the cause of the explosion was uncertain, yellow journalism at the time attributed it to a Spanish attack, stirring public sentiment in favor of war.

This event fueled existing tensions between the United States and Spain over issues related to Cuba's struggle for independence and Spanish colonial rule. The rallying cry of "Remember the Maine!" became a significant slogan that galvanized public opinion and government action, leading to the declaration of war against Spain in April 1898. Thus, the sinking of the USS Maine is widely recognized as the catalyst for the conflict, marking a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy towards imperialism and military intervention.