1. Spanish American War Documents
US History
Name: Ms. Moskowitz
Cuba revolted against Spanish rule in 1895. The following three documents
helped convince Americans to support Cuban independence, rather than allow
Spanish rule to continue. The reasons for the U.S. entering this war are largely
due to the use of Yellow Journalism. Examine each of the following documents,
and use complete sentences to answer the questions that follow.
Document 1: Yellow Journalism
1898: Male Spanish officials strip search an American woman tourist in Cuba looking for
messages from rebels. Front page "yellow journalism" from Hearst (artist: Remington)
1. What do you see in this image?
2. How do you think American newspaper readers would feel about Spain after
seeing this image?
3. Why would this image cause the US to want to help Cuba gain independence from
Spain?
2. Document 2: The De Lôme Letter
Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst’s spy stole a letter,
referred to as the “De Lôme letter,” where a Spanish ambassador
“openly ridiculed” President McKinley. Hearst then published this
letter in the New York Morning Journal.
! "... McKinley is: weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a
low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand
well with the jingoes of his party."
1. How did the Spanish view McKinley as a politician, according to this letter?
2. How would the publication of this letter in the newspaper cause Americans to want
to fight Spain to support Cuba’s independence from Spain?
Document 3: Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine
On the night of February 15th
, 1898, the American war ship U.S.S. Maine suddenly
exploded and sank in the Havana Harbor in Cuba. Although today we still do not know
what caused this explosion, American newspapers published sensational headlines like
these below in the New York Journal.
1. What does the New York Journal say caused the destruction of the Maine?
2. Which country do you think they are trying to blame for this explosion?
3. Why might this help convince Americans to fight Spain for Cuba’s independence?