Download READING THREE: U.S.S. MAINE

Reading Three: U.S.S. Maine
The Maine Explosion
Hopes that the United States would not need to intervene in the Cuban Crisis were dashed in early
1898, when Spanish troops opposed the reforms rioted in the Cuban capital city, Havana. The
urprising revealed that Spain was not in control of its own officials in Cuba. Thus, in January,
President McKinley ordered the battleship Maine to Havana Harbor to show concern over the crisis
and to protect American citizens and property, if necessary. On February 15, the Maine was rocked by
an explosion in Havana Harbor that destroyed the battleship, killing 260 American officers and crew.
In response to the tragedy, headlines in American papers called for revenge: “Remember the Maine!
The Mystery of the Maine
To war with Spain!” Most Americans believed the Spanish had blown up the Maine, but there was no
evidence to prove responsibility. A naval board was created to investigate the incident and soon
concluded that a mine had caused the explosions. The board did not assign responsibility for the
disaster, but irate Americans still blamed Spain- despite an investigation by Spanish officials that
reported the explosion had been an internal and, presumably accidental. (In 1976 U.S. admiral
Hyman Rickover conducted a study of the sinking of the Maine and concluded that an internal
accident, probably a faulty boiler, had caused the explosion.)
Yellow Journalists Push for Military Action
In response to public outrage about the Maine incident, American newspapers featured a plethora of
articles decrying the Spanish and their role in Cuba. Some American journalists resorted to “yellow”
journalism: sensational headlines and stories, with little attention to facts, designed to grab the
attention and stir up the emotions of readers. William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York
Journal, was the key proponent of the “yellow journalism” that peaked during the crisis in Cuba.
Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of The World, sought to gain new readers and boost their
circulation through sensational, hair-raising, and inflammatory stories. Many smaller publishers
eagerly followed their lead.
At times, yellow journalists fabricated stories of Spanish cruelty and atrocities in Cuba when they did
not exist. For example, Hearst sent the talented Frederic Remington to Cuba to draw sketches of
atrocities. When the artist reported that conditions were not grave enough to warrant hostilities,
Hearst is alleged to have responded, “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.” Newspapers
fed rampant anti-Spanish sentiment across the country by continually called for U.S. intervention in
Cuba to avenge what, in their assessment, was certain act of Spanish aggression. Critics of the
sensationalism that resulted claimed that yellow journalists pressed U.S. politicians into calling for
war.
McKinley Calls for War
In an atmosphere of such virulent anti-Spanish sentiment, President McKinley’s diplomatic options
were significantly reduced. Still hoping to avoid military action, in March 1898 McKinley sent Spain
an ultimatum demanding an armistice, ending reconcentration, and appointing himself as arbiter.
Spain did make concessions, but they declared a unilateral armistice. To the United States, a
unilateral armistice was unacceptable because the Cubans were given no say in its terms. Therefore,
the armistice did not guarantee peace.
With Spain’s belated and insufficient concessions, the exhausted president finally bowed to the
public and political pressure and on April 11, 1898, asked Congress to use force against Spain. In his
message to Congress, he cited the need to “put an end to the barbarities,” to afford the citizens of
Cuba protection, to protect U.S. business interested and property, and to end “the constant menace to
{American} peace.” Congress debated the issue for over a week, and the on April 19 declared Cuba’s
independence, and directed the president to use troops to end Spanish control over Cuba. This
amounted to a declaration of war against Spain. Spain responded with its own declaration of war five
days later, and on April 25, McKinley signed a congressional declaration that the United States was at
war with Spain.