What two incidents led to the Spanish-American War?

the capture of Manila

the Spanish Ambassador wrote an insulting letter about President McKinley

the battle of San Juan Hill

explosion of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor

The answers are the second and fourth choices. Although the majority of Americans during that time, including the President of the United States (McKinley), wanted to avoid war and hoped to settle the Cuban question by peaceful means, a series of events early in 1898 strengthened U. S. feelings against Spain. The first was the publication by Hearst of a stolen letter (the de Lôme letter) that was written by the Spanish minister at Washington, wherein the diplomat expressed contempt for McKinley. This was followed by the sinking of the U. S. battleship Maine in Havana harbor on Feb. 15, 1898, with a loss of 260 men. Although Spanish involvement was not proved, U. S. public opinion was aroused and war sentiment rose. The call of the advocates of war was further strengthened as a result of eyewitness reports by members of the U. S. Congress on the effect of the reconcentrado policy in Cuba.