causes+for+the+War

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=Causes of the Spanish- American War= A number of reasons and factors contributed to the U.S. involvement in the war. Which had included the Cuban struggle for independence, American imperialism, and the sinking of the U.S. warship //Maine.// Tensions between Spain and the United States rose out of the attempts by Cubans to liberate their island from the control of the Spanish. Before the sinking of the USS Maine tensions between Spain and the United States were already tight. The puzzling sinking of the battleship [|USS //Maine//] on [|February 15], [|1898], at 9:30 p.m. in [|Havana Harbor] was said to be, by Spanish scientists, an internal and accidental explosion; but the American commission reported that it was caused by a submarine mine. The Americans ignored the report that the Spanish had reported and recognized it as an attack. When the Maine blew up, journalists like [|William R. Hearst] jumped on to the case and concluded that Spanish officials in Cuba were to blame, and they widely revealed the scheme. “Yellow journalism promoted American anger by publishing astonishing "[|atrocities]" committed by Spain in Cuba.” "In February 1898, the //Maine// exploded, killing 260 American servicemen. The American people were convinced that the Spanish were responsible, although there was no clear evidence to prove this accusation. Most historians now believe that an accident occurred onboard of the ship. Somehow gunpowder, most scholars contend, ignited in the gunpowder room, causing the explosion."The sinking of the Maine advocated the [|Spanish-American War] and made the phrase //Remember the Maine!// very popular. Over many years the sinking of the Maine has been questioned. Growing imperialism of the United States was one of the promoting efforts to go to war and extends its powers over seas. Also cuban independence was an important factor and objective of the war. The cubans were ready to fight for complete independence. = = == =