Which event was the immediate cause of the Spanish-American War?

The explosion of the USS Maine was the immediate cause of the Spanish-American War. This event occurred on February 15, 1898, when the battleship mysteriously exploded in Havana Harbor, killing 266 American sailors. The incident ignited a wave of public outrage in the United States and fueled growing calls for intervention in Cuba, where a struggle for independence from Spain was ongoing.

The American media played a significant role in this situation, often using sensationalist reporting to sway public opinion against Spain. The rallying cry "Remember the Maine!" became a symbol of the push for war. The explosion was pivotal as it provided both the opportunity and the impetus for the U.S. government to declare war on Spain in April 1898, seeking to liberate Cuba from Spanish colonial rule.

Other events listed, while significant in their own right, did not directly trigger the conflict in such an immediate manner. For example, the signing of the Treaty of Paris came after the war had ended and formally concluded the conflict, while the annexation of Hawaii was a separate matter that involved strategic interests in the Pacific and occurred prior to the war. The Cuban War of Independence was an ongoing background issue but was not a single incident that directly sparked U.S.