Happened in A main cause of the war happened due to yellow journalism. Yellow journalism: sensational news stories that used an exaggerated style of reporting.
Using the headlines from CNN News that you just watched, create a yellow journalism headline and brief story.
One of the popular exaggerated topics to discuss was Cuba and Spanish relations. Cuba was rebelling against Spanish rule. The Spanish army brutally put down the rebellion. This angered many Americans.
2 reasons America went to war with Spain: De Lome Letter: Enrique De Lome was a Spanish ambassador to Washington. He wrote a letter that was intercepted that criticized President McKinley.
This made Americans angry. Soon after, the USS Maine, a U.S. battleship, exploded in Havana, Cuba. The Maine was there to help out with rioting that had broken out in Cuba.
Look closer at the picture. What is the artist trying to tell you? What is the artist encouraging the reader to do?
More than 260 U.S. sailors died from the explosion. Many newspapers blamed Spain for the Maine. President McKinley asked Spain to cease hostilities, called an armistice. He also asked that Cuba be given their independence.
Spain said no to Cuban independence, so the U.S. declared war on Spain. This was done in a resolution. Resolution: formal statement about an action by a country.
Was the U.S. justified in fighting Spain? Why or why not?
The war only lasted 2 months. It was a decisive U.S. victory. Cuba became independent. Puerto Rico and Guam became U.S. territories. The Philippines were bought for $20 million.
San Juan Hill: U.S. troops defeated Spanish forces. Teddy Roosevelt organized the Rough Riders, the 1 st U.S. Cavalry Unit. They fought at nearby Kettle Hill though.