 Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers.

 February 15, Havana Harbor  U.S.S. Maine was blown- up  260 American sailors were killed after mysterious explosion. Yellow Press called for war against Spain ("Remember the Maine"), offer rewards for proof of Spanish plot.  “Spark” that started the war.

 President McKinley asks Congress to declare war on Spain  McKinley tells Congress that God has told him to attack the Spanish forces.  April 25, 1898, Congress declared war on Spain

 May 1, Manila Bay  Dewey sunk Spanish fleet.  In only seven hours, the entire Spanish Asian fleet was sunk. U.S. suffers only one death.

 With the help of Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo, the Americans captured the city of Manila.  Using American- supplied arms, they seized the main island, declared independence, and created a democratic republic.

 In the Caribbean, a Spanish fleet entered the harbor of Santiago on May 19.  Days later, an American naval force blockaded the coast, trapping the Spanish in the harbor.  An American land force of about 17,000 (nearly ¼ African American) landed near Santiago.

 First Volunteer Cavalry, nicknamed the “Rough Riders.”  Roosevelt’s famous words, “I waved my hat and we went up the hill with a rush”

 Famous group of soldiers during the war was the Rough Riders, an elite regiment led by Teddy Roosevelt in the land invasion of Cuba.

 June, 1898, - Santiago, Cuba  Roosevelt's Rough Riders take San Juan Hill  Roosevelt achieves heroic stature for leading men (sans horses) up hill overlooking Santiago Harbor.  Two days later the Spanish fleet attempted to break out of Santiago. In a battle that Lasted about 4 hours, the Spanish fleet was completely destroyed.  This defeat ended the Spanish resistance in Cuba.

 American troops landed on Puerto Rico in late July and quickly took control of the island.  On August 12 the Spanish signed an armistice, a peace agreement, ending the war.

 Sec. of State John Hay called the Spanish- American War “a splendid little war.”  The war lasted fewer than 4 months. And about 400 soldiers died in battle or from wounds they received from battle.

 More than 2000 Americans died from diseases such as: Yellow Fever, Malaria, and other diseases contracted from the tropical climate.  African Americans faced more challenges by being discriminated.

 The U.S. and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, marking the end of the war.  Puerto Rico and Guam became territories of the U.S.  Spain surrendered the Philippines to the U.S. in exchange for $20 million.

 In 1901, the U.S. agreed to grant Cubans full independence, but only if their new Constitution included clauses that gave the U.S. certain rights. This is known as the Platt Amendment.

 The Foraker Act in 1900, established and controlled by the U.S., set up a new Puerto Rico Government.  In 1917 The Jones Act made Puerto Rico a territory of the U.S. and granted American citizenship to all Puerto Ricans, even though many Puerto Ricans still wanted independence.

 Emilio Aguinaldo’s forces began a fight for independence.  More than 4,000 Americans died and 200,000 Filipino’s soldiers and civilians died.  Summer of 1901, the U.S. transferred authority in the Philippines from the military to a civilian government headed by William Howard Taft and he set out to prepare the Philippines for eventual self rule, but they didn’t gain independence till 1946.