A US warship, the USS Maine, mysteriously exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in February 1898. At the time, Cuba was struggling to win its independence from Spain, and many Americans supported their cause. The explosion, which killed 266 American sailors, was the final spark. Newspapers, using a sensationalist style called “yellow journalism,” blamed Spain for the attack and whipped up public outrage across the country. The rallying cry became “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!” and by Apr