USS Maine

Definition

The USS Maine was a United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor during the Cuban revolt against Spain, an event that became a major political issue in the United States and helped precipitate the Spanish-American War.

Related terms

Havana Harbor: A port in Havana, Cuba where the USS Maine exploded and sank.

Teller Amendment: An amendment to a joint resolution of the United States Congress, enacted on April 20, 1898, in reply to President William McKinley's War Message. It placed conditions on U.S. military intervention in Cuba.

Rough Riders: A volunteer cavalry regiment commanded by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War.