Maine Explosion Report

Differing ideas of national identity shaped views of United States overseas expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to a great extent due to the presence of segregation amongst the African American population, acquisition of the Philippines, and encouragement of violence as a result of the Spanish-American War. Imperialism is the policy of taking control over countries around the world for political and economic gain. Since its formation, the United States has imperialized several countries, including the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Imperialism was incorporated during the Spanish-American War, a four-month battle between the United States and Spain. Then, chaos induced after the explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba.

In the novel, Dead Wake by Erik Larson, the author depicts a true tale of the sinking of the Lusitania. After setting sail from New York on May 1st, 1915, the Lusitania came into contact with a German U-boat, known as the U-20, who eventually sank the ship and killed thousands six days later on May 7th, 1915. However, as simple as the case may seem, Larson believes that the Lusitania’s destruction was very preventable, but those in control of the ship’s aid seemed to benefit greatly from its obliteration. This benefit, gained by Room 40, the British Royal Navy’s secret intelligence administration, was the hope that American’s on the Lusitania would die in the sinking, and therefore draw America into the war, aiding Britain. Throughout the very

There are many opinions on how the Maine exploded, was it an accident or was it the spanish? The explosion of the USS Maine was an accident because several other ships had been affected from the explosion. The explosion of the USS Maine was not an accident because Spain was upset with the U.S. for wanting to free Cuba, and there were two gunshots heard. The explosion of the USS Maine was not an accident.

The textbook noted that “the Maine mysteriously exploded” and added that it was later an accident that was caused inside of the ship. The movie added to the text by explaining how the evidence behind the explosion led to the actual determination that the devastation was an accident, not sabotage. This was helpful because I was able to see the entire story and understand why the explosion was later ruled to be unintentional. Also, the movie gave great detail on the moments leading up to the war, which the war is then discussed in the textbook. The textbook focuses mainly on the Spanish American War, whereas the movie focuses specifically on the reason why the war began.

February 15, in the area of 9:30 PM the Maine was shattered. This extraordinary ship was shattered by two separate explosions and quickly sank to the foundation of the harbor (McSherry). The two explosions as well as the sinking unfortunately led to two officers along with two hundred sixty enlisted men to die (Cavendish). Navel investigators figured that a mine had blown up which potentially ignited the forward magazines. Much later after the war, studies indicated that a coal bunker fire ignited and across it was an ammunition magazines room leading to the two explosions on the Maine

On February 15, 1898, 266 American Sailors were killed in the explosion of the USS Maine, an American battleship docked in the Havana Harbor in Cuba. Through recent investigations the source as to what caused the explosion is said to have been by five tons of powder stored within the ship’s forward magazines. The explosion caused immense damage to the ship, leaving what was left to sink to the bottom of the harbor. Just days after the incident many begun to speculate if the explosion was purely accidental or if it was an attack by the Spanish. We at The New York World have reviewed and examined the incident to a point where we can theorize exactly who and what cause this tragedy.

The Boston Fire of 1872 At around 7 pm November 9th 1872, a spark of unknown origin ignited very inflammable materials within the basement of a dry goods store in Summer and Kingston Streets. According to Sammarco (1997), the flames rose to the shaft of the wooden elevator rushing upwards through the floors packed with inflammable rolls of hosiery, cloth, gloves, hoops and laces igniting the wooden roof. Curious spectators assumed that someone had alerted the firefighters.

Finally, considering the attack on the Maine was an intentional attack by the Spanish, it could have been an assassination attempt. Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, was in Cuba during the revolt against Spanish rule (Remember the Maine). She was helping the medically-deprived people in the area when the Maine showed up in Havana harbor. Clara Barton boarded the ship, had dinner, and left hours before the Maine unexpectedly exploded. To think of this as a cause of the destruction of a U.S. battleship is too elaborate.

In early 1898 the United States sent the USS Maine from Key West to Havana to help protect

When the explosion of the U.S.S Maine occurred, it gave America the political push they needed to get involved in this war. When the U.S.S Maine was hit, it stirred and angered the American population. On February 15,

At that point, expansionism could potentially pose danger to the military in America. The Spanish-American war is a prime example of how expanding was a dangerous expedition and how “yellow journalism” can have a negative impact on people’s perspectives about crisis’s. America sent the battleship Maine to Cuba for a “friendly visit,” but in reality, it was a way to protect any Americans if a “flare-up” were to occur. Tragedy then struck when the Maine mysteriously exploded. Spaniard officials eventually came to the conclusion that the explosion must have been an internal problem, but at the time, problems arose when American naval officers suspected it was a Spanish submarine that had actually blown up the Maine.

Canadian/American relations have always been much like that of a brother and his younger sister. They are dependent on one another, and their bond is built off of friendship and trust. When battles occur, they ride in together, and when one is in need, support is given. In 1917, the Halifax Explosion devastated a section of Nova Scotia, and the size of the accident destroyed a large amount of both people and homes. The medicinal and reparation costs were more than the surrounding cities could afford.

The imperialistic mentality of the American government after the Civil War, led to some degree to the Spanish-American war that would render a great acquisition of land for the United States. However, imperialism would not be the sole factor that led to the war against Spain, but also the sympathy felt by the American government towards Cuba’s efforts in fighting for their independence; additionally, the United States would seek to protect its commercial interests (sugar) in the island. Therefore, after invoking the Spanish to secede from their brutal practices towards Cuban rebels and attain a peaceful end to the situation, the United States arbitrarily sent a navy ship, “The USS Maine” to monitor the area.

Hearst and Pulitzer manipulated public opinion in order to have the American people intervene. The U.S.S. Maine was located in the Havana harbor two hundred and sixty sailors died due to the explosion. This gave the American government exactly what they needed in order to go into cube. They came up with the slogan “Remember the Maine to Hell with Spain.”

Americans learned more about what happened during the Spanish American War through articles that exposed the violent tensions in Cuba. The Americans then felt the need that we should help Cuba against Spain. The Americans in power wanted to remain neutral, while the public wanted to go to war. The U.S. Maine was a battleship that was sent to Cuba to spy on them and understand the situation in person. While the ship was there, it mysteriously blew up, the blame was put on Spain for the explosion.