The battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. The ship broke in two, and 266 of the 335 crew members died.

The ship had been sent to protect American interests during the Cuban uprising against Spanish colonial rule.

The yellow journalism blamed Spain without evidence, sparking a wave of outrage and sensationalist headlines across the country.

A U.S. commission concluded that the explosion was caused by an external mine, but it did not identify those responsible or present solid evidence.

Spain denied any involvement and maintained that the explosion was internal, caused by an accident in the ship’s own storage compartments.

The yellow journalism launched a campaign with the slogan “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!” which resonated with U.S. public opinion.

The U.S. Congress declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898, due to economic and strategic interests.

A 1976 U.S. Navy study concluded that the explosion was internal, caused by spontaneous combustion in a coal bunker.

Even so, the sinking of the Maine was key for the U.S. government to justify military intervention in Cuba and the Philippines.

Today, the remains of the Maine rest at the bottom of Havana Harbor, and it remains a symbol of the power of the press to shape history.