SIDE WAR TAKING PLACE…
How do newspapers go to war?
How are Americans
affected by Cuban
events?
Cuba
Weyler’s actions fueled a war between American
Hearst
newspaper tycoons Joseph Pulitzer (New York World)
And William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal)
Both publishers knew
a war with Spain
Weylerthat
personified
“the horrible Spanish”
would
be
big
news
- Didn’t attack King of
Spain (14 yrs old)
resulting
in big sales
- Didn’t attack King’s mom
and
profits
-Austrian
princess
(not very Spanish)
Pulitzer
BUT here was Weyler…
Cuba
How do newspapers go to war?
BY PRINTING EXAGGERATED ACCOUNTS OF
“BUTCHER” WEYLER’S BRUTALITY
-Poisoned wells; children being thrown to sharks
deepened sympathy for rebels
By 1898, many Americans demanded that the United States
help free the Cubans from Spain.
Legitimate reports of Cuban suffering mixed with
sensationalized stories became known as …?
YELLOW JOURNALISM
Cuba
Spain wasn’t going to just sit back and do nothing…
- restricted US reporters (no combat areas)
*Some correspondents claimed they were
communicating secretly with rebels
*Others gathered in Havana's (capital) bars and made
up battle stories
When Frederic Remington (artist sent by
Hearst to illustrate news stories) reported
unlikely war between US and Spain,
(“Everything is quiet. There is no trouble.
There will be no war. I wish to return.”)
Hearst reportedly replied “You furnish the
pictures and I’ll furnish the war”
Cuba
Many Americans sympathized with Cuban rebels
-demanded US should intervene
President McKinley preferred to avoid war – tried
diplomatic means to resolve the crisis (just give Cuba
their independence  Spain refused!)
However…Spain does come back with limited terms:
1) Spain recalled Weyler
2) Modified concentration camp policies
3) Offered Cuba limited self-government
(insurgents wanted full independence!)
Cuba
HOWEVER, in Feb 1898 - NEW YORK JOURNAL
published a private letter written by Enrique
Dupuy de Lome (Spanish minister to US)
- How was it obtained?
A Cuban rebel stole the letter from a Havana
post office and leaked it to newspaper
What was the intended audience of this letter?
Senor Don Jose Canalejas - Prime Minister of Spain
In 3 or 4 words, describe the tone of the letter
How does De Lome view the Cuban rebels?
Cuba
Waste of time to negotiate with them
Eventually return
Supported/encouraged by American Public opinion
Some Americans agreed
with letter ( even assist.
How is the American President described or portrayed?
Sec
Navy
T. (goes along with party and public)
WEAK of
– catering
to the rabble
Not sure if McKinley will prove bad to Spain
Roosevelt–
he “has no
How is De
Lome backbone
aware of the media
and
more
than
aworld politics?
Newspapers
(reporterséclair!”)
are down in the Cuban
chocolate
BUThotels)
criticismtycoon
of like William
How doresented
you think a newspaper
Randolph
Hearst
would use this
their
President
– letter
de to sell newspapers
Yellow
Journalism
– Make Spain look badand
(disrespecting the President)
Lome
apologized
resigned
-
A few days after publication of letter 
resentment towards Spain turned to
OUTRAGE!
Why?
Previously, McKinley had sent U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to
protect American lives and property (riots in Havana)
On February 15- an explosion sent the ship’s ammo up in
flames and it SANK
Causalities – 266 American officers and crew died
What happened?
Who was responsible…?
– Who did journalists hold responsible?
• Journal’s headlines Hearst’s paper
offered how
much reward for
capture of the
SPANIARDS who
supposedly
committed the
outrage?
SPAIN
A COMPARISON LOOK AT THE
JOURNAL AND THE TIMES
WAIT… Where did the New York Times come from…I thought
it was the New York World and the New York Journal?
The New York Times had been around since 1850s.
In 1897, new publisher took over and he coined the
paper's slogan, "All The News That's Fit To Print“
- this was a jab at competing papers such as Joseph
Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph
Hearst's New York Journal which were known for lurid
yellow journalism.
Perhaps you will notice a difference as you are reading…
“Remember the Maine”
was the battle cry now
The Press called for President McKinley to
declare WAR ON SPAIN!
Wasn’t just in the newspapers…
Awake United States!
This song was rushed into print between the sinking of the Maine on
February 16, 1898 and the declaration of war on April 25, 1898.
Eagle soar on high, and sound the battle cry!
How proudly sailed the warship Maine,
a Nation’s pride, without a stain!
A wreck she lies, her sailors slain.
By two-faced butchers, paid by Spain!
Eagle soar on high,
And sound the battle cry
Wave the starry flag!
In mud it shall not drag!
According to this song, who sunk the Maine?
The sinking of the Maine remains an
important catalyst that drive the U.S. to
war with Spain and fueled the flames
of imperialism
Section 4 – War Breaks Out