The event that triggered the Spanish-American War was the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. The U.S. battleship was sent to protect American interests during the Cuban War of Independence against Spain, but its sudden explosion led to public outcry and demands for action. Although the cause of the explosion was uncertain, sensationalist journalism, particularly by newspapers like Hearst’s New York Journal and Pulitzer’s New York World, fueled anti-Spanish sentiment. This situation escalated into war, resulting in a swift U.S. victory and significant territorial acquisitions.