The document discusses the causes of the Spanish-American War in 1898 that led the United States to declare war on Spain. It identifies four main factors: 1) The Cuban War of Independence from 1895 where Cubans rebelled against brutal Spanish rule seeking independence; 2) The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in 1898 that killed 260 Americans and was blamed on Spain; 3) A letter from the Spanish Ambassador insulting President McKinley that angered Americans; 4) Yellow journalism from newspapers like Hearst that exaggerated pro-war stories and appealed to American patriotism. Together these factors increased tensions and pushed President McKinley to ask Congress to declare war on Spain in April 1898.

1. Aim: What caused the Spanish
American War?
Do Now: Is it ever OK for a
country to invade another?

2. Think-Pair-Share:
• Get into groups of 4.
• Answer the ‘do now’ question;
Is it ever OK for a country
to invade another?

3. Why did the US invade Cuba in April
1898?

4. Task: read the DBQs and answer the question
below;
 Why did the US invade Cuba
in April 1898?

5. In 1895, Cubans declared their independence
from Spain; To put down the revolution,
Spain used brutal tactics (like starvation)

6. Causes of the Spanish
American War
Cuba
Explosion of the Maine
Lettler (DeLome)
Yellow Journalism
1.The Cuban War of Independence
2.The Explosion of the USS Maine
3.The DeLome letter
4.Yellow Journalism & Jingoism

7. 1. The Cuban War of Independence
In 1895, Cubans rebelled against
Spain to gain independence. Cubans
asked the U.S. for help but President
McKinley wanted to stay neutral.
•Several American politicians,
including Alfred T Mahan and
Theodore Roosevelt, pushed
McKinley to declare war against
Spain as they saw it would be a
great opportunity to increase US
power and wealth.

8. 2. The Explosion of the USS Maine
•On February 15, 1898, the
USS Maine (a battleship)
explodes mysteriously in
the Havana Harbor.
•The explosion kills 260
Americans.
•Many American politicians
and newspapers blamed
Spain.

9. 3. The DeLôme Letter
•Is a letter written by
Spanish Ambassador to
the U.S. to a Spanish
minister was intercepted
and published on a
newspaper on April 11,
1898.
•The letter insulted
President McKinley and
called him a “weak” man.

10. 4. Yellow Journalism & Jingoism
•Yellow journalism: a form of writing
that focuses on the exaggeration of
events to create scandal and sell
newspapers.
•Jingoism: extreme patriotism,
especially in the form of aggressive
or warlike foreign policy. Yellow
journalists wrote stories that called
on American's patriotism and
instigated war.
Joseph Pulitzer’s
New York World
William Randolph
Hearst’s New York
Journal

11. Yellow Journalism contributed to the
outbreak of the Spanish-American War

12. William Randolph Hearst to Frederick Remington:
You furnish the pictures,
and I’ll furnish the war!

13. • President McKinley
asked Congress to
declare war on
Spain on April 11,
1898.
U.S. declares War against Spain

14.  What caused the Spanish
American War?
Be sure to include all the factors that led the
United States to declare war on Spain in
1898.
Cuba
Explosion of the Maine
Lettler (DeLome)
Yellow Journalism

15. Directions: Before the song is played keep in mind these questions;
1. Read the first verse of the song, how would you describe
the American volunteers of the Spanish American War?
2. According to the song, the Spanish American War was
caused by what incident?
3. What else does the song teach us about the Spanish
American War?