Which event marked the beginning of U.S. military involvement in the Spanish-American War?

The sinking of the USS Maine is widely regarded as the event that galvanized U.S. public opinion and signaled the start of military involvement in the Spanish-American War. On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine, a battleship stationed in Havana Harbor, exploded under mysterious circumstances, resulting in the deaths of 266 American sailors. This incident created a strong wave of public outrage across the United States, fueled by sensationalist media coverage that blamed Spain for the disaster. The rallying cry "Remember the Maine!" became a rallying point for those advocating for U.S. intervention in Cuba, which was struggling for independence from Spanish rule.

The explosion of the Maine was pivotal because it shifted the United States from a stance of neutrality regarding the Cuban struggle to active military engagement with Spain, ultimately leading to the declaration of war in April 1898. This event effectively marked the beginning of a conflict that would have significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and territorial expansion.