Unwarranted Attack

On February 15th, 1898 the port city of Havana, Cuba was disrupted by the shriek and rumble of a massive explosion from the bow of the USS Maine. The Maine entered the port city of Havana on January 25th, 1898, the trip was peaceful and mostly just stretching the legs and flexing the arms of Americans new class of ship. The USS Maine was the first in the class of ACR ships, actually it was the first and the last ACR built. This so called unwarranted attack is known by many as the catalyst to the start of the Spanish American War. President Mckinley was easily swayed to ask congress for a declaration of war on April 20th 1898, several months after the attack. The sinking of the USS Maine evoked anger in United States citizens who suspected the
The citizens of the United States woke up to the local papers reporting that the USS Maine was destroyed and sunk taking with it U.S. sailors. The article continues on listing the death toll at over 100 Killed and 200 unaccounted for (The Salt Lake Herald). To the American people, these articles painted a picture showing the Spanish were savages. Savages who would attack a sitting vessel, a vessel on a peaceful visit, in the dead of night. Savages who would slaughter American people. This assumption and immediate need for the American people to place the blame on a group, other than themselves, is a leading contributing factor to the strong outcry for war on Spain. Reports from the night of the explosion make several mentions of Spanish vessels coming to the aid of the dead and dying United States sailors (Evening Star). It’s common sense for a vessel that is in distress is helped by other vessels around it, but few people could place strong arguments on why a vessel that has just been savagely attacked be helped and its crew rescued by the very same savages who stand accused of attacking