On February 15, 1898, an explosion of unknown origin sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in the Havana, Cuba harbor, killing 266 of the 354 crew members. The sinking of the Maine incited United States passions against Spain, eventually leading to a naval blockade of Cuba and a declaration of war.

The passions of the United States were riled mainly by the Washington D.C. journalist William Randolph Hearst who asserted, on a daily basis, that Spain was responsible for the sinking of the Maine. No serious historian claims this today. Most believe it was a freak accident, either involving the boiler room or a misplaced harbor mine. The major conspiracy theory surrounding the incident claims Hearst was actually responsible. Start a war, sell more papers. Hey, wasn’t that the plot for a James Bond movie?

The resulting Spanish American war was hailed by Theodore Roosevelt as a “splendid little war”. Almost befitting put in context of current events. Roosevelt’s exploits in that war were most certainly an invention of Hearst as well.

Splendid little war or not, the sinking of the Maine and the resulting war clearly took the title of Empire away from the British and put it squarely in our court.

So, my fellow Americans, eat, drink and be merry but above all, Remember the Maine!