The Explosion That Started the Spanish-American War

On February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 260 American sailors. Within weeks, cries of “Remember the Maine!” swept across the United States, newspapers blamed Spain, and America marched toward war.

But the story is far more complicated.

In this documentary, we examine the events leading up to the explosion, including the humanitarian crisis in Cuba, the brutality of General Valeriano Weyler’s reconcentration policy, and the role of sensationalist journalism in shaping public opinion. We also explore Captain Charles Sigsbee’s immediate warning against jumping to conclusions—a warning that was largely ignored.

The sinking of the USS Maine remains one of the most debated events in American history. Whether it was an accident, an attack, or simply the spark that ignited an already inevitable conflict, its consequences reshaped the balance of global power and marked America’s emergence as a world empire.