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Spanish American War Analysis

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The War of 1898, also known as the Spanish-American War, was sparked on April 25, 1898. Three causes of this war were the United States support for Cuba's independence, yellow journalism, to protect U.S. business interests in Cuba, and the sinking of the USS. Maine. These all helped spark the war that would give Cuba its independence when the war would conclude.
The United States supported the fight with Cubans for their independence from the Spanish. Cuban revolts all started with the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894. This American tariff put restrictions on sugar imports to the United States that severely hurt the economy of Cuba because they were based on producing and selling sugar. Spain sent in General "Butcher" Weyler to stabilize the situation …show more content…
It was called yellow journalism because journalists used yellow ink in the circulation war between other journalists. The American public was stirred into an anti-Spain frenzy by the journalism of men like Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. They sensationalized news events, like the sinking of the Maine, to anger American public towards Spain. They often would stretch out to the truth just to anger Americans even more at Spain. The yellow press continued feeding the public's appetite for anti-Spanish news.
After the population was put in concentration camps, the businessmen in the United States became concerned. Since no one could tend to the sugar farms, the businessmen were going to lose their investments and they were not going to let that happen. The public wanted to go to war after they read and heard about all the things yellow journalists have wrote.
The sinking of the USS. Maine is the main cause of the War of 1898. The Maine was sent to Cuba to protect and evacuate Americans if a dangerous flare-up should occur. On Feb. 15, 1898 the Maine mysteriously blew up in the Havana harbor, with a loss of 260 officers and men. Then there was no other choice for President McKinley to make, but to go to war with the Spanish in Cuba which would further branch out to more

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