The Story of the USS Maine

Background: The USS Maine in Havana (Late January 1898)

In late January 1898, the U.S. battleship USS Maine arrived in Havana Harbor. Although the U.S. government claimed it was only on a courtesy visit, the video explains the ship was effectively there to protect American lives and property amid instability in Cuba.

At the time, Cuban revolutionaries had been resisting Spanish rule for nearly four centuries. Riots in Havana in January left Americans and their investments at risk. The presence of the Maine, armed with 10-inch guns, helped reassure Americans.

The Turning Point: Explosion (February 15, 1898)

Three weeks later, on February 15, 1898, the Maine exploded in Havana in a catastrophic blast, killing 266 men. The subtitles attribute the deaths to the explosion of three forward ammunition magazines.

Afterward, American public opinion and the press quickly focused blame on Spain, a narrative intensified by prominent media figures such as William Randolph Hearst. A Navy investigation initially concluded the explosion was caused by a black powder mine, which helped trigger “war fever.”

War with Spain and U.S. Expansion (April 25, 1898)

Responding to public pressure, President William McKinley and the U.S. Congress declared war on April 25, 1898. The conflict ended within six months with Spain defeated. The U.S. gained territory including Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Pacific islands such as Guam and Wake—a shift toward greater global power.

The video emphasizes that public momentum followed quickly from the disaster, helping drive the nation toward war.

Reassessment of Responsibility (1970s)

Despite the blame directed at Spain at the time, the video notes there was no direct evidence proving Spain was responsible for the Maine’s sinking.

In the 1970s, the Navy re-investigated the case. Admiral Hyman Rickover concluded the explosion was not due to a mine, but instead resulted from an accident: a spontaneous combustion fire likely started in the ship’s coal bunker, heated nearby structures, and indirectly led to the ammunition magazines exploding.

Modern research is said to support this interpretation, framing the Maine disaster as an accident that nevertheless produced major historical consequences.

Presenters or Contributors

• Admiral Hyman Rickover
• William Randolph Hearst
• President William McKinley