USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

[SOURCES]
Which of these were causes of the Spanish American War?

(A) ** America wanted to protect its business interests in Cuba.

(B) ** Cuba wants their independence and America supports them.

(C) News leaks caused by Spain are spread around the country.

(D) ** The U.S.S Maine is believed to be blown up by Spain.

(E) ** Exaggerated news reports caused by Yellow Journalism has pushed the U.S. to go to war with Spain.

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -Yellow journalism was a style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts. During its heyday in the late 19th century it was one of many factors that helped push the United States and Spain into war in Cuba and the Philippines, leading to the acquisition of overseas territory by the United States.

Concept note-2: -Yellow journalism contributed to the U.S. declaring war by using “sensational stories that tugged at readers’ heartstrings to sell papers.” These papers blamed Spain for the sinking of the ship, even though they had no evidence to prove it. Spain declared war on April 24, 1898 and the U.S. declared war the next day.

Concept note-3: -yellow journalism, the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation. The phrase was coined in the 1890s to describe the tactics employed in the furious competition between two New York City newspapers, the World and the Journal.

Concept note-4: -The reasons for war were many, but there were two immediate ones: America’s support the ongoing struggle by Cubans and Filipinos against Spanish rule, and the mysterious explosion of the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.