<P> Alfred Thayer Mahan's book The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660--1783, published in 1890, was very influential in justifying the naval program to the civilian government and to the general public . With the closing of the frontier, some Americans began to look outwards, to the Caribbean, to Hawaii and the Pacific, and with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny as philosophical justification, many saw the Navy as an essential part of realizing that doctrine beyond the limits of the American continent . </P> <P> In 1890, Mahan's doctrine influenced Navy Secretary Benjamin F. Tracy to propose the United States start building no less than 200 ships of all types, but Congress rejected the proposal . Instead, the Navy Act of 1890 authorized building three battleships, USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Oregon, followed by USS Iowa . By around the start of the 20th century, two Kearsarge - class battleships and three Illinois - class battleships were completed or under construction, which brought the U.S. Navy from twelfth place in 1870 to fifth place among the world's navies . </P> <P> Battle tactics, especially long - range gunnery, became a central concern . </P> <P> The United States was interested in purchasing colonies from Spain, specifically Cuba, but Spain refused . Newspapers wrote stories, many which were fabricated, about atrocities committed in Spanish colonies which raised tensions between the two countries . A riot gave the United States an excuse to send USS Maine to Cuba, and the subsequent explosion of Maine in Havana Harbor increased popular support for war with Spain . The cause of the explosion was investigated by a board of inquiry, which in March 1898 came to the conclusion the explosion was caused by a sea mine, and there was pressure from the public to blame Spain for sinking the ship . However, later investigations pointed to an internal explosion in one of the magazines caused by heat from a fire in the adjacent coal bunker . </P>

Supported the us having a strong navy and overseas expansion