The Spanish-American War began in 1898 over the Spanish presence in Cuba and the Cuban rebellion. The United States and Spain fought for nearly four months over Caribbean and Pacific islands. The war was a turning point for journalism and nationalism in the United States. The United States won control of Puerto Rico and Guam and bought the Philippine Islands for US$20 million.
The Spanish-American War took place in 1898. Initiated by the Spanish presence in Cuba and the Cuban rebellion, the United States and Spain fought over a number of Caribbean and Pacific islands for nearly four months. Controversy over the United States’ role in Cuba and European influence in the Western Hemisphere dominated the period of the Spanish-American War.
In the late 19th century, the US government focused its attention on events in Caribbean countries, hoping to exploit trade opportunities by challenging European influence in the Western Hemisphere. The United States was uneasy about Spanish rule in Cuba, which had been exempt from the Monroe Doctrine. In the 19th, the Cuban economy suffered a slump, inciting a rebellion for independence. Spain, struggling to maintain what remained of her empire, refused to compromise her presence in the Caribbean.
US government officials, citizens and journalists alike debated Cuba’s strategic importance to US interests. Although President Grover Cleveland did not want to intervene, the United States Congress stated that the government would protect the legitimate interests of citizens, if possible by intervening. In late 1896, Cleveland agreed with the interventionists, announcing that the United States would act if Spain failed to end the rebellion in Cuba.
The events surrounding the USS Maine have roused many American citizens, who have called for war. On January 25, 1898, the USS Maine arrived at a port located in Havana, Cuba. Three weeks later, the Maine exploded and sank in the harbor waters, killing more than 250 sailors. Immediately, many people in the United States suspected that the Spaniards were responsible for the act.
The United States, led by President William McKinley, officially declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898. Following the declaration, the United States government clarified its position on Cuba with the Teller Amendment. This stated that control of Cuba and its government would remain in Cuban hands.
The Spanish-American War took place on two fronts: the Caribbean and the Pacific. On May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey led the attack on the Spanish at the port of Manila in the Philippine Islands. On July 1, 1898, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders attempted to take San Juan Hill in Cuba. Major General Nelson Miles and his forces fought several battles in Puerto Rico through late July and early August.
The Spanish sued for peace in early August, with the fighting ending on August 12, 1898. The United States and Spain signed a peace treaty on December 10, 1898 in Paris, France. The United States took control of Puerto Rico and Guam and bought the Philippine Islands for US$20 million.
Historians have also noted that the Spanish–American War was a turning point for journalism and nationalism in the United States. Sometimes referred to as the “newspaper” or “media” war, sensationalist headlines and writings dominated the period. William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal chartered yachts and sent his correspondents to report on events in Cuba. The jingoistic and sensationalist writing style, largely initiated by Hearst, is referred to as “yellow journalism.”
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