473 The Declaration of War ,1898
On January 5,1898, the American battleship Maine anchored in Havana harbor . On Feb - ruary 15 she was destroyed by an explosion and sank with two hundred and fifty - three of her crew . A most competent Court of Inquiry was appointed . It reported that the Maine had been blown up from the outside . The report of the Court of Inquiry was communicated to the Spanish government in the hope that some kind of apology and reparation might be made . But all the Spanish government did was to pro - pose that the matter should be referred to ar - bitration . The condition of the Cubans was now dreadful . Several Senators and Representatives visited Cuba . They reported that the condition of the Cubans was shocking . The President laid the whole matter before Congress for its de - termination . On April 19,1898, Congress rec - ognized the independence of the Cuban people and demanded the withdrawal of the Spaniards from the island . Congress also authorized the President to compel Spain ＇ s withdrawal and stated that the United States did not intend to annex Cuba , but to leave the government of the island to its inhabitants . Before these terms could be formaly laid before the Spanish goV - ernment , it ordered the American minister to leave Spain .
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