On February 15, 1898, the cruiser USS Maine sinks after an explosion in Havana Harbor, Cuba. The ship had been deployed to the region to secure American interests after the outbreak of a Cuban revolution against the Spanish government which held the island. The exact cause of the ship's explosion has been a point of debate and controversy ever sense the event occurred. One of the major theories is that the ship's coal bunker had detonated due to the buildup of a highly flammable gas known as firedamp, released by the bituminous coal used as fuel for the Maine. The other major theory was that a mine had struck the vessel and it was this theory which guided the American response. The United States soon declared war on Spain and invaded Cuba and the Philippines. In less than four months, Spain had surrendered. As a result, Cuba became a protectorate of the US and Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines became US territorial possessions. Cuba would gain its independence a few years later but would still remain controlled under US policies for the time as well as starting its lease of Guantanamo Bay to the US.

As for the USS Maine, the remains of the ship was re-floated and removed from Havana Harbor in 1912 before being scuttled off the coast of Florida.