20. Dissent, Depression, and War, 1890

Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: Did Terrorists Sink the Maine?

Select the best answer for each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 20.6

1. Which person or group of people convinced many Americans that an enemy had sunk the Maine?

President William McKinley

American businessmen

Yellow journalists

Military experts

Question 20.7

2. Why was the government of Spain one of the strongest proponents of the theory that the American battleship Maine sank accidentally, not intentionally?

Most Spaniards were prejudiced against the American military and believed its sailors to be poorly trained.

The Spanish government had strong evidence that demonstrated the explosion was accidental.

Spain was critical of American technology, and suspected the Maine had been a crudely built ship.

Most people who believed the explosion was intentional blamed Spain immediately.

Question 20.8

3. How did public opinion about the reason the battleship Maine sank in 1898 change between 1898 and 1910?

In 1898, most Americans thought Spain was responsible, while in 1910 most thought General Weyler was responsible.

In 1898, most Americans believed an enemy was responsible, while in 1910 most believed it was an accident.

In 1898, most Americans thought it was an accident, while in 1910 most argued an enemy had caused the explosion.

In 1898, most Americans thought General Weyler was responsible, while in 1910 most though Spain was responsible.

Question 20.9

4. Admiral Hyman Rickover’s 1976 reinvestigation of why the battleship Maine sank—in which he concluded that the government had covered up the real reason in its 1913 report—reflected the sentiments of

the Vietnam War era, when many Americans felt suspicious of the military.

American veterans of World War II, most of whom had participated in cover-ups.

the American media in the 1970s, which was suspicious of virtually all institutions.

1960s and 1970s youth culture and its deep distrust of adult authority.

Question 20.10

5. Since the 1990s, what has been the prevailing public opinion regarding what caused the battleship Maine to sink in 1898?

An accidental explosion in the front of the ship caused the Maine to sink.

Spain had planted a bomb below the Maine to intentionally sink it.

Someone on board the Maine had built a homemade bomb that exploded.