Spanish-American War

Four Events that Led to War

1. Cuban independence

1896: Spain appointed General Weyler the governor of Cuba to put down the revolt

“The Butcher”

Why did the US get involved?

2. The Yellow Press

Newsboys

Newies

“You furnish the pictures, I’ll furnish the war”

“How do you like The Journal’s war?”

“Weyler throws nuns into prison.”

“Butcher wages brutal warfare on helpless women.”

3. The De Lome Letter

Spanish Ambassador to US

“Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of Weyler, it shows once more what 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 ”

(T.R. said much worse)

“Spain’s Minister Insults the American President”

“The Worst Insult to the U.S.

in its History”

"the end of the world started this day "

4. The USS Maine

“Remember the Maine!To H_ _ _ with Spain!”

“The Question or Every Lip is, ‘Did a Spanish Torpedo Do the Awful Work?’”

“There is Some Doubt as to Whether the Explosion Took Place ON the Maine”

“The Maine is Blown to Bits”

“MAINE BLOWN UP BY TORPEDO”Such is the belief now gaining groundMay have been anchored over a mine

…or internal explosion?

“The Spanish Brute Adds Mutilation to Murder”