Ship explosion that helped spark the Spanish-American War.

• A. League of Nations
• B. U.S.S. Maine
• C. Dollar Diplomacy
• D. Moral imperialism

Answer: (B)

The event that sparked the Spanish-American War was the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. This dramatic blast in February 1898 killed hundreds of sailors and created immediate public outrage in the United States. The explosion provided a powerful, emotionally charged moment for those who argued that the United States should take action against Spain to protect Cuban insurgents and American interests. The phrase Remember the Maine—to hell with Spain—was popularized by newspapers and politicians, helping to mobilize opinion in favor of war. While later analysis suggested the blast may have been caused by an internal explosion rather than Spanish sabotage, at the time it was treated as a direct provocation, driving Congress to declare war in April 1898 and pushing the nation toward overseas imperialism. The other options refer to ideas or institutions not connected to a specific event that triggered the war.