The Spanish - American War
(1898)
A Case of US Imperialism or a
Necessary War?
The Following are Causes of the
Spanish-American War
Yellow Journalism
• Yellow journalism is the deliberate use of bold or
exaggerating statements in the media done in
order to increase sales.
• For example, should Persell’s social studies exam
scores drop, a headline in the Post Journal might
say, “Kresge is Worst Educator on Planet.”
• Two newspaper owners, Joseph Pulitzer and
William Randolph Hearst, were competing in
NYC to sell papers and often exaggerated the truth
to create more sensational stories
Cause #1
Joseph Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst
Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
• Cuba was seeking freedom for Spain, who was weakening
• US citizens support a free Cuba, who we then would trade
with
• The US trains some Cuban militia men, who promptly get
killed or captured by Spanish
• US sends a battleship, the Maine, to Havana Harbor to keep
an eye on things
• The Maine explodes killing 260 US troops
• US papers blame Spain without proof of why it exploded
Cause #2
U.S.S. Maine Explosion - How is this
image an example of Yellow
Journalism?
Cause #3
Read the unproven headlines!
How would Americans react?
Spanish-American War (1898)
Imperialism or Necessary?
First Stage - Conquer Philippines?
• Commodore Dewey
attacks Philippines
one week after US
declares war over
Cuba
• Philippines belonged
to Spain
• Spain -381 killed
• US - 0
Why Philippines?
• Gave US possible
ports and naval bases
US not ready at first, But Spain
was so weak we did not have to be
• Had only 28,000 troops, need 280,000
• Issued wool uniforms for tropics
• Most died from diseases (malaria, yellow fever), not
battle
Rough Riders - Theodore
Roosevelt’s Volunteer Group
• Very Popular in US due to newspaper articles written about them.
TR had the reporters follow the Rough Riders to ensure good
press.
• People debate how much TR and the Rough Riders actually did.
Many historians feel TR only fought when assured of victory.
• Helped TR get elected as VP after the war
Most Famous Battle Rough Riders take San Juan Hill
• 7,000 US troops attack 600 Spanish
• Well covered by press
Was the war Imperialism or Necessary?
Imperialism without a doubt
What Does the US do with new
Lands after the War?
Cuba
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Cuba
• We promised before
war we wouldn’t keep
it - we lied.
• Platt Amendment Allows US to
intervene in Cuban
affairs whenever we
see necessary.
“This was like handing over the
keys to our house so that the
Americans can enter it at any
time, whenever the desire seizes
them, day or night, whether with
good or evil design.”
Puerto Rico
• Becomes a US
territory (didn’t fight
like Filipinos did)
• 1952 - Becomes a US
commonwealth citizenship, own
constitution, sends
non-voting Reps to
Congress
Philippines
•
•
•
•
US intends to keep it, Filipinos revolt
70,000 US troops fight 3 years there
Hundreds of thousands Filipinos die
1902 - US sets up govt. with some local
control
• 1946 - Philippines become independent