Which event contributed to the start of the Spanish-American War?

Which event contributed to the start of the Spanish-American War?

• A. The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
• B. The signing of the Treaty of Paris
• C. The sinking of the Lusitania
• D. The attack on Pearl Harbor

Answer: (A)

The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in February 1898 is widely regarded as the event that contributed significantly to the start of the Spanish-American War. This incident occurred when the battleship U.S.S. Maine, which was stationed in Havana Harbor, Cuba, exploded under mysterious circumstances, killing 266 American sailors. The intense public reaction and fervor that followed the incident were fueled by sensationalist journalism, often referred to as "yellow journalism," which blamed Spain for the explosion without conclusive evidence. The outcry from the American public and the media created a rallying cry for intervention in Cuba, which was struggling for independence from Spanish colonial rule. This situation escalated tensions and ultimately led the United States to declare war on Spain in April 1898. The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine acted as a catalyst for American imperialism and interventionist policy, solidifying public support for military action against Spain and marking the beginning of the war. In contrast, the other options pertain to different historical contexts. The signing of the Treaty of Paris occurred in 1898 after the conclusion of the war, while the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 relate to World

The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in February 1898 is widely regarded as the event that contributed significantly to the start of the Spanish-American War. This incident occurred when the battleship U.S.S. Maine, which was stationed in Havana Harbor, Cuba, exploded under mysterious circumstances, killing 266 American sailors. The intense public reaction and fervor that followed the incident were fueled by sensationalist journalism, often referred to as "yellow journalism," which blamed Spain for the explosion without conclusive evidence.

The outcry from the American public and the media created a rallying cry for intervention in Cuba, which was struggling for independence from Spanish colonial rule. This situation escalated tensions and ultimately led the United States to declare war on Spain in April 1898. The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine acted as a catalyst for American imperialism and interventionist policy, solidifying public support for military action against Spain and marking the beginning of the war.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different historical contexts. The signing of the Treaty of Paris occurred in 1898 after the conclusion of the war, while the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 relate to World