Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Want to learn more about what happened on February 15, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. (more) Today in History—February 15: The Headline That Led America to War Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 12, 2026 •History On a pitch-black night in 1898, as the 324-foot American battleship USS Maine lay at anchor in Havana Harbor, Cuba, an explosion burst beneath the enlisted men’s quarters. Most sailors were in their bunks. Casualties were enormous. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica.Want to learn more about what happened on February 15, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The blast shook...

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