Download Who Sunk the Maine?!

Who Sunk the Maine?!
Introduction
On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain
following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor
on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signing of the
Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. As a result Spain lost its
control over the remains of its overseas empire -- Cuba, Puerto
Rico, the Philippine islands, Guam, and other islands.
Background
The Battleship Maine
Photographic History of the Spanish
American War, p. 36.
Beginning in 1492, Spain was the first European nation to sail
westward across the Atlantic Ocean, explore, and colonize the
Amerindian nations of the Western Hemisphere. At its greatest extent, the empire that resulted from this
exploration extended from Virginia on the eastern coast of the United States south to Tierra del Fuego at the
tip of South America excluding Brazil and westward to California and Alaska. Across the Pacific, it included
the Philippines and other island groups. By 1825 much of this empire had fallen into other hands and in that
year, Spain acknowledged the independence of its possessions in the present-day United States (then under
Mexican control) and south to the tip of South America. The only remnants that remained in the empire in the
Western Hemisphere were Cuba and Puerto Rico and across the Pacific in Philippine Islands, and the
Carolina, Marshall, and Mariana Islands (including Guam) in Micronesia.
Cuba
Following the liberation from Spain of mainland Latin America, Cuba was the first to initiate its own struggle
for independence. During the years from 1868-1878, Cubans personified by guerrilla fighters known as
mambises fought for autonomy from Spain. That war concluded with a treaty that was never enforced. In the
1890's Cubans began to agitate once again for their freedom from Spain. The moral leader of this struggle was
José Martí, known as "El Apóstol," who established the Cuban Revolutionary Party on January 5, 1892 in the
United States. Following the grito de Baire, the call to arms on February 24, 1895, Martí returned to Cuba and
participated in the first weeks of armed struggle when he was killed on May 19, 1895.
The Philippines
The Philippines too was beginning to grow restive with Spanish rule. José Rizal, a member of a wealthy
mestizo family, resented that his upper mobility was limited by Spanish insistence on promoting only "pureblooded" Spaniards. He began his political career at the University of Madrid in 1882 where he became the
leader of Filipino students there. For the next ten years he traveled in Europe and wrote several novels
considered seditious by Filipino and Church authorities. He returned to Manila in 1892 and founded the Liga
Filipina, a political group dedicated to peaceful change. He was rapidly exiled to Mindanao. During his
absence, Andrés Bonifacio founded Katipunan, dedicated to the violent overthrow of Spanish rule. On August
26, 1896, after learning that the Katipunan had been betrayed, Bonifacio issued the Grito de Balintawak, a call
for Filipinos to revolt. Bonifacio was succeeded as head of the Philippine revolution by Emilio Aguinaldo y
Famy, who had his predecessor arrested and executed on May 10, 1897. Aguinaldo negotiated a deal with the
Spaniards who exiled him to Hong Kong with 400,000 pesos that he subsequently used to buy weapons to
resume the fight.
Puerto Rico
During the 1880s and 1890s, Puerto Ricans developed many different political parties, some of which sought
independence for island while others, headquartered like their Cuban counterparts in New York, preferred to
ally with the United States. Spain proclaimed the autonomy of Puerto Rico on November 25, 1897, although
the news did not reach the island until January 1898 and a new government established on February 12,
1898.
United States
U.S. interest in purchasing Cuba had begun long before 1898. Following the Ten Years War, American sugar
interests bought up large tracts of land in Cuba. Alterations in the U.S. sugar tariff favoring home-grown beet
sugar helped foment the rekindling of revolutionary fervor in 1895. By that time the U.S. had more than $50
million invested in Cuba and annual trade, mostly in sugar, was worth twice that much. Fervor for war had
been growing in the United States, despite President Grover Cleveland's proclamation of neutrality on June
12, 1895. But sentiment to enter the conflict grew in the United States when General Valeriano Weyler began
implementing a policy of Reconcentration that moved the population into central locations guarded by
Spanish troops and placed the entire country under martial law in February 1896. By December 7, President
Cleveland reversed himself declaring that the United States might intervene should Spain fail to end the crisis
in Cuba. President William McKinley, inaugurated on March 4, 1897, was even more anxious to become
involved, particularly after the New York Journal published a copy of a letter from Spanish Foreign Minister
Enrique Dupuy de Lôme criticizing the American President on February 9, 1898. Events moved swiftly after
the explosion aboard the U.S.S. Maine on February 15. On March 9, Congress passed a law allocating fifty
million dollars to build up military strength. On March 28, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry finds that a mine
blew up the Maine. On April 21 President McKinley orders a blockade of Cuba and four days later the U.S.
declares war.
Set the Stage
The Path to Power
By the end of the 1800s, the United States had fought a civil war and gone through the turbulent years of
reconstruction. Now, during what Mark Twain called the Gilded Age, the United States was starting to think
about its place on the world stage. One of the first events to catch the attention of the U.S., only 90 miles away
from its border, the war for Cuban independence was raging. Why would the United States want to get
involved?
Established in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was the standard for the United States’ view of Europe’s role in the
Western Hemisphere. President Monroe felt that anything happening in the Americas fell under the interests of
the United States and that the European powers should respect this. Spain had once been a great power but
they were on the decline. They desperately wanted to keep the colonies that remained which included Cuba,
Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Cuba had been trying to gain its independence for years and the situation was
not good for the native Cubans. Forced from their lands by the fighting, civilians lived in very poor conditions
with little access to food. Under the Monroe Doctrine, since the Cuban people wanted their independence from
Spain, it would be within the power of the U.S .to get involved.
At this point Manifest Destiny had been achieved – the United States stretched from the East Coast to the
West Coast. Frederick Jackson Turner claimed that now that the frontier was closed that it was time for the
United States to turn outward for its expansion. The United States had already worked its way across the North
American continent but many thought that the natural area for further expansion would be in the Pacific and
the Philippines and eventually Hawaii were prime candidates for this expansion. Why did the U.S. need these
new territories? With industrialization came the need for more raw materials and labor.
The conflict in Cuba and thoughts of U.S. expansion was fed by the newspapers of the time. The era is known
for its Yellow Journalism, the practice of publishing sensational and often biased stories, cartoons and pictures.
The stories in the papers about the situation in Cuba did a great deal to influence government policy by
inflaming the American public.
Set the Stage
Timeline leading to the Maine
1868-1878: Ten Years' War in Cuba
1893: Turner's Thesis
End of the American Frontier, need for frontier abroad
1895: Cuban War for Independence
February, 1896: Reconcentration Policy
August 1896: Revolt in the Philippines
March 4, 1897: President McKinley Inaugurated
December, 1897: McKinley Asks Congress for Aid to Cuba
February 9, 1898: Dupuy de Lôme Letter Scandal
Political Cartoon
The American people had their view of Cuba and her war for independence from
Spain influenced by political cartoons and illustrations of the conditions of native
Cubans residing on the island.
http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/cartoon.html
Set the Stage
The de Lôme Letter
Below is a letter written by the Spanish Ambassador, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme to a
friend in Havana. William Randolph Hearst (owner of the Washington Post)
published the letter under the headline of, The Worst Insult to the United States
in Its History
“The situation here [Washington, D.C.] continues unchanged. Everything depends
on the political and military success in Cuba…
“President McKinley is – weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a low
politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the
jingoes of his party.”
Set the Stage
Political Cartoon
Senator Proctor (Vermont) went on a fact-finding mission to Cuba to investigate
how Spanish officials were treating the Cuban people. He reported his results to
the Senate, which were published in newspaper articles and as illustrations.
The Maine Drama - Reading
Pulling Into Harbor
The USS Maine entered Havana harbor on January 25, 1898. There
are a few possible explanations for the Maine’s presence in Cuba, among them:
the United States and Spain decide to put aside their differences and resume
normal diplomatic relations with the U.S. sending the Maine to Havana and Spain
sending the Vizcaya to New York. It could be a continuation of the rising
hostilities between the two countries with the U.S. sending the warship as an
example of their power. It could be a combination of these and more.
The newspapers in the United States were filling the public’s minds with
stories and images of the plight of the Cuban people. There was an outcry for
some sort of action to be taken to protect these people. In part because of the
influence of the general public, President McKinley and the U.S. Government had
to be seen to do something. Sending the Maine to Cuba could manage to calm
the public and serve the Monroe Doctrine at the same time. The Monroe
Doctrine gave McKinley a legitimate reason to get involved in the conflict and
make it known that the United States did not think that Spain was treating their
subjects fairly.
Even by sending the USS Maine to Cuba, the United States may not have
thought that it was getting itself into a war. As mentioned in the earlier reading,
Spain was spread thin trying to hang on to the colonies that remained. The U.S.
had a wealth of resources to call upon and Spain was unlikely to want to be
hostile toward the young nation.
Whatever the motivations or cause, what we do know is that on the
evening of February 15, 1898 there was an explosion in Havana Harbor. The USS
Maine, with a hole in its forward magazines, quickly sunk to the bottom of the
harbor. When the Maine went down it took the lives of 246 sailors and 2 officers.
The Maine Drama
Timeline of the Maine’s last hours
January 25, 1898: the Maine enters the port of Havana
February 15, 1898: the Maine explodes at 9:40 P.M.
February 17, 1898: funeral for the first 19 sailors held in Cuba
February 17, 1898- Court of Inquiry into the loss of the USS Maine is ordered by
the Commander of the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral Sicard.
March 17, 1898: Senator Proctor Exposes Spain's Brutality in Cuba
March 28, 1898: U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry announces results
The Maine Drama
What would you conclude?
Naval Court of Inquiry
President McKinley needed to know what really happened to the Maine. The
American public and members of Congress were crying for someone to be held
accountable for the tragedy, even if that meant going to war with Spain. President
McKinley formed a Naval Court of Inquiry to examine the event and report their findings
back to him.
You are to put yourself into the shoes of the members of the Court of Inquiry.
Using the background information and documents provided, what conclusion would you
draw if you were a member of the Court of Inquiry?
Step 1- Read through the following materials once to get an idea of the evidence.
Step 2- Sort the evidence into 3 categories:
What pieces of evidence would support an accidental explosion on board the ship?
What pieces of evidence would support an outside cause of the explosion?
What pieces of evidence might support a third, unexplained cause?
Accidental Explosion
Outside Cause of the Explosion
Unexplained Cause
Step 3- Please copy and paste at least 5 different pieces of information, text, quotes,
references, etc. that you feel would support each of the following “causes” above, so
that in the end you have 3 different documents that are organized with specific
information to help you write your report.
Step 4- Once you have all of your source information, please write a one page letter to
President McKinley and Congress outlining your findings and how you feel the U.S.S.
Maine exploded in the harbor. (Size 12 font) You must use and explain your source
information that you pasted.
The Maine Drama
Facts and Useful Background Knowledge
At the turn of the century, most ships, including the USS Maine, were run by burning coal.
In 1898, the U.S. Navy’s study on spontaneous combustion of coal indicated that to avoid this
problem “…coal should be at least a month from the mine.” Other sources indicated “The
likelihood of spontaneous heating decreases during the first three months of undisturbed coal
storage. Thereafter, the coal is stable if not handled and self-ignition would be unlikely.” … the
coal in the bunker (of the Maine) had been in place for over two and a half months.
http://www.spanamwar.com/mainecoal.html
Lt. George F.M. Holman was an officer on board at the time of the Maine explosion.
“It [the explosion] was precisely similar to many other submarine explosions I have heard,
except that it was on a much larger scale.”
Lt. George F. M. Holman
Rickover p 117
…an underwater explosion will kill fish that are within range…A 100-pound contact charge
would have injured fish out to a radius of 200-250 yards…Dead fish were not noticed after the
Maine explosion, although much other debris was found.
Rickover p 119, similar to the conclusion reached by the Spanish Inquiry of 1898
The navy divers found that,
“The outside bottom plating is bent into a reversed V shape, the after wing of which, about
fifteen feet broad and thirty-two feet in length…is doubled back upon itself against the
continuation of the same place extending forward.”
Quesada p. 636
The Spanish contact mines of the day contained a charge of 100 to 200 pounds of guncotton.
Rickover p. 113
In the years between 1894 and 1908, more than 20 coal bunker fires were reported on United
States naval ships.
Rickover p. 125
The first sinking by a torpedo was during the Chilean revolutionary war…torpedo boats attacked
the Blanco Encalada on the night of April 23rd, 1891...The effect of the 58 lb. of guncotton in
the 14 in. weapon was to blow a hole 15 ft. by 7 ft. below the waterline. The ship sank
immediately with the loss of 180 officers and men.
http://www.btinternet.com/~philipr/torps.htm
The Maine Drama
New York Journal Front Page from Tuesday, February 17, 1898
http://www.pbs.org/crucible/frames/_journalism.html
The Maine Drama
The Maine, Before and After
The Maine Drama
Captain Sigsbee’s Telegram announcing the tragedy
Maine blown up in Havana harbor at nine forty to-night and destroyed. Many
wounded and doubtless more killed or drowned. Wounded and others aboard
Spanish man-of-war and Ward Line Steamer…No one has clothing other than that
upon him. Public opinion should be suspended until further report…Many Spanish
officers…now with us to express sympathy.
The Maine Drama
Interview with the Navy’s leading ordnance expert, Philip R. Alger, from the
Washington Evening Star February 18, 1898
As to the question of the cause of the Maine’s explosion, we know that no
torpedo such as is known to modern warfare, can itself cause an explosion of the
character of that on board the Maine…When it comes to seeking the cause of the
explosion of the Maine’s magazine, we should naturally look not for the improbable or
unusual causes, but those against which we have had to guard in the past. The most
common of these is through fires in the bunkers.
The Maine Drama
Letter from William Sherman Vanaman, Captain of the schooner Philadelphia, to his
family
Dear Mother, Son and Daughter:
I am 300 miles from Havana, on my way to Sabine Pass, and it is 9 P.M. and the
vessel is rolling merrily along. We have come 300 miles in thirty-six hours.
I am in my underware and socks, and with all windows and doors open. The
thermometer registers eighty-five. Wish you were all here.
But I expect to see some warm times around the island of Cuba before I come
North again. I expect there is great excitement there, about the Blowing up of the
MAINE, and I expect to hear that War is declared, when I arrive – there was not a man
in Havana that I talked with but what believes the Spanish did it.
I was lying close to the MAINE, anchored, when it happened at ten P.M…
As soon as I got on deck that night of the explosion, I thought it was the Spanish
War ship, at first. I had just gone to bed, but I got out our boat and before I got to the
wreck, I knew it was the MAINE.
Example/Outline of Letter to President
Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress,
After examining all pieces of evidence available, I have concluded that ……….
(explain). Below are the 3-5 reasons that I feel this explanation is the most valid.
The first reason why I feel……… (explain using your sources)
The second reason why I feel ……….. (explain using your sources)
The third reason why I feel ………. (explain using your sources)
Up to five reasons………
In conclusion, I feel these reasons validate my analysis, please let me know if you have any
further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Your name and title
Date and Year
Anticlimax (We will talk about this in class TOMORROW!)
Full Findings of the United States Naval Court of Inquiry
The state of discipline on board the Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard to the care and safety of the ship were strictly carried out…
On the night of the destruction of the Maine everything had been reported
secure for the night at 8 P.M. by reliable persons, through the proper authorities,
to the commanding officer. At the time the Maine was destroyed the ship was
quiet, and, therefore, least liable to accident caused by movements from those on
board.
In the opinion of the court, this effect could have been produced only by
the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the ship…
The court finds that the loss of the Maine on the occasion named was not
in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or
members of the crew of said vessel.
In the opinion of the court, the Maine was destroyed by the explosion of a
submarine mine, which caused that partial explosion of two or more of the
forward magazines.
The court has been unable to obtain evidence fixing the responsibility for
the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons.
Anticlimax
Finding of the Spanish Court of Instruction [Inquiry]
That on the night of February 15 last an explosion of the first order, in the
forward magazine of the American ironclad Maine, caused the destruction of that
part of the ship, and its total submersion in the same place in this bay at which it
was anchored.
…said magazine was surrounded…by coal-bunkers containing bituminous
coal…and apparently separated from it only by metal bulkheads.
…the absence of all the circumstances which necessarily accompany the
explosion of a torpedo having been proved by these witnesses and experts, it can
only be honestly asserted that the catastrophe was due to internal causes.