Warm-up

Who is the figure?What is going on?This cartoon is based off of what famous

aphorism or saying?What is the message of this cartoon?Does this cartoonist support war with Spain?

U.S. Imperialism abroad

U.S. First Contact with Japan: 1853Begins w/Commodore Matthew

Perry’s visitPerry comes with “black ships”

and forces Japan to open up trade with the U.S. or else force would be used

Japan quickly sees the technological gap as a threat

Begins to adopt Western ways via Meiji Restoration

Builds up a modern economy & navy by 1900

Seward’s Folly

Seward's Folly (Seward’s Icebox)-Secretary of State William H. Seward purchased Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia in 1867. That’s 2 cents per acre!

However, the whole bargain was ridiculed by Congress and not held in high esteem by the public. With the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 however, Alaska will soon be seen as a valuable purchase.

The Annexation of Hawaii In 1893, a small group of

sugar and pineapple-growing businessmen, backed by the U.S. military, deposed Hawaii's queen, seized 1.75 million acres of land, and conspired for U.S. annexation of the islands, which was achieved in 1898. Hawaii became a state in 1959.

Spanish-American War and U.S. Foreign Policy

Often the U.S. has intervened in the affairs of a foreign nation out of a sense of “moral obligation.”

Questions to consider:Has the U.S. government created

problems for itself by doing so?Do nations have a moral obligation

toward one another?How has U.S. foreign policy changed

over the last 100 years regarding this issue?

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR (1898)

Causes of the War:1. Despotic Spanish rule over Cuba

◦A. Spain denied civil liberties & political rights

◦B. Levied heavy taxes – restricted foreign trade

◦C. Ruthlessly suppressed rebellions◦D. Spain finally abolished slavery in 1886◦E. Economic depression brings another revolt for INDEPENDENCE

2. American Humanitarianism & sympathy

A. Sympathized with desire for independence

B. Outraged when over 200,000 Cubans died in

concentration camps of hunger and disease

3. ECONOMIC INTERESTS

A. American merchants traded with Cuba to the

amount of $100 Million a yearB. American investors placed $50

million in sugar and tobacco plantations.

4. “Yellow Journalism”A. William Randolph Hearst – NY Journal

B. Joseph Pulitzer – New York WorldC. Both Newspapers sought to

increase circulation by sensationalized

news stories.Hearst’s Journal printed the

Delome Letter Spanish ambassador calls

McKinley “weak”

William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer

Pulitzer vs. Hearst

De Lome Letter

5. Sinking of the Maine – Feb 1898

A. American battleship visiting Cuba blown up

260 Americans killedB. Cause: probably fire in a coal binC. But, American public goaded on

by the Yellow Press – blames SPAIN

The Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine

USS Maine explodes in

Havana harbor

To protect American citizensand interests in Cuba,

Pres. McKinley sends theU.S.S. Maine to Cuba

Congress declares waron Spain, but will not

annex Cuba(Teller Amendment)

“Remember theMaine!”

Newspapersblame Spain

Sensationalism – Yellow Journalism

Yellow Journalism•Read the yellow journalism handout and write

the answers to the following questions on an individual sheet of paper.

1. What is it?

2. Why was it used?

3. How did it get its name?

4. Who used it?

5. When was it used?

6. Do you think it still exists today in journalism?

Spanish-American War – Yellow Journalism

In the chart, rewrite the headlines below in the style of yellow journalism. Remember, you want each title

to include alarming or sensational words that would prompt people to buy the paper and find out more.

Event Headline Re-WritePolitician Accused of

Corruption

Dead Body Foundin Creek

Grocery Store Robbed

Local Building Burnedto the Ground