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The '''U.S.S. Maine''' was an American battleship on a peaceful visit to Havana, Cuba, when it suddenly exploded at 9:45 PM on February 15, 1898, killing all 274 American sailors aboard.  The ship was at anchor at the place assigned by port authorities. The exact cause was never determined, but most speculation at the time and investigations since pointed to the explosion of an external mine that set off 5 tons of gunpowder in the ship's magazines.   

The '''U.S.S. Maine''' was an American battleship on a peaceful visit to Havana, Cuba, when it suddenly exploded at 9:45 PM on February 15, 1898, killing all 274 American sailors aboard.  The ship was at anchor at the place assigned by port authorities. The exact cause was never determined, but most speculation at the time and investigations since pointed to the explosion of an external mine that set off 5 tons of gunpowder in the ship's magazines.  The sensational event galvanized American public opinion to concentrate on the Cuban issue.  The U.S. had vigorously protested the massive, systematic mistreatment of Cubans by [[Spain]], which had an empire it could no longer rule effectively.  The sinking of the ''Maine'' was blamed on Spain by many Americans, but most opinion leaders, including President [[William McKinley]] reserved judgment, while demanding that Spain resolve the crisis in Cuba immediately.

[[Image:USSMaineHavana.jpg|thumb|300px|right|USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor, January 1898.]]

[[Image:USSMaineHavana.jpg|thumb|300px|right|USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor, January 1898.]]

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