Unit 1: The Spanish American War

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Unit 1 The Spanish American War

• Part 2
• Americans Call for War

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Essential question

• How and why did the United States take a more
  active role in world affairs?
• How did the press/media influence American
  opinion about the war in Cuba?

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Vocabulary

• Atrocities
• Yellow journalism/press
• jingoism

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PA Standards 8.1, 8.2, 8.3

• Identify William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Pulitzer
  
• Analyze political cartoons
• Explain the role of the media with regard to the
  impending war

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The Press

• The press encouraged American sympathies for the
  people of Cuba.
• Two New York Papers printed the horror stories
  about Spanish atrocities
• Joseph Pulitzers- New York World
• William Randolph Hearsts- New York Journal
• Atrocities-wartime acts of cruelty and brutality.

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Joseph Pulitzer New York World
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William Randolph Hearst New York Journal
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Sensational Newspaper Stories

• Yellow Journalism-
• Publications that would exaggerate the stories to
  influence public opinion
• Reports were usually biased or untrue
• News stories described events in Cuba in graphic
  and horrifying detail
• Helped sales for newspapers
• Nicknamed yellow press because of a popular comic
  strip character called The Yellow Kid

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Jingoism

• A super patriotism and demand for aggressive
  actions
• Reaction to yellow journalism
• This created a warlike mood.

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The De Lome Letter

• A personal letter written by Spanish minister to
  the US, Enrique Dupuy de Lome
• Printed in New York Journal (Feb 1898)

• De Lomes unfavorable comments were printed
• He called Pres. McKinley weak and catering to
  the rabble
• Made it harder for Pres and leaders to withstand
  war

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Remember the Maine!

• 1898-fighting broke out in Havana-the Cuban
  capital
• President McKinley sent the American battleship
  USS Maine to Havana Harbor to protect American
  citizens and property there
• February 15- a huge explosion ripped through the
  ship
• At least 260 men were killed

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It was not Spains Fault

• The yellow press focused on this tragedy and
  blamed the Spanish
• Truth Either the boiler exploded or there was an
  accident in the ammunition hold
• April 25, 1898, Congress declared war on Spain.

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The Worldpress
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Spanish American War
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Spanish American War
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Teller Amendment

• US declares war on Spain
• Teller Amendment 4th resolution
• Stipulated that the US had no intention of
  annexing Cuba
• Pres. McKinley calls for volunteers
• 100,000 volunteers join the army

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In summary.

• Why did Americans object to Spanish actions in
  Cuba?

• Americans believed
• Cuban rebels were being treated brutally.
• Wanted to support Cuban fight for freedom
• Americans believed that the Spanish destroyed the
  USS Maine, which was docked in Havana Harbor

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Yellow journalism

• How did the press influence public opinion about
  the Cuban situation?

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What were the causes of Span Am War?

• In summary

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Causes of Sp Am War

• Yellow journalism
• The de Lome letter
• Sinking of the Maine
• US wants to expand in Latin Am Pacific
• Cuba/Philippinesrebel against rule