US History: Spanish-American War and Yellow Journalism

Spanish American War

(1898) War fought between the US and Spain in Cuba and the Philippines. It lasted less than 3 months and resulted in Cuba's "independence" as well as the US annexing Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. It was started in part by the influence of yellow journalism after the explosion and sinking of the USS Maine.

William Randolph Hearst

A leading newspaperman of his times, he ran The New York Journal and helped create and propagate "yellow (sensationalist) journalism."

yellow journalism

Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers

Foraker Act (1900)

Law passed by Congess in 1900 under which the United States gave Puerto Ricans a limited say in government.

Emilio Aguinaldo

Leader of the Filipino independence movement against Spain (1895-1898). He proclaimed the independence of the Philippines in 1899, but his movement was crushed and he was captured by the United States Army in 1901. (p. 743)

Teller Amendment

Legislation that promised the US would not annex Cuba after winning the Spanish-American war

Platt Amendment

Legislation that severely restricted Cuba's sovereignty and gave the US the right to intervene if Cuba got into trouble. As a result, Cuba was only nominally independent of the United States

Guantanamo Bay

Naval base in Cuba granted to the United States as part of the Platt Amendment

Joseph Pullitzer

Newspaper rival of Hearst who also used yellow journalism to increase circulation of his NYC papers.

insular cases

These were court cases dealing with islands/countries that had been recently annexed and demanded the rights of a citizen. These Supreme Court cases decided that the Constitution did not always follow the flag, thus denying the rights of a citizen to Puerto Ricans and Filipinos.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

Treaty signed December 10, 1898 by the United States and Spain ending the Spanish-American War. The treaty also provided for the United States to keep troops in Cuba and for the annexation of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico by the United States

Philippine-American War

armed conflict between the Philippines and the United States from 1899-1902. It was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence and descended into a savage guerrilla war in which the United States ultimately defeated the Philippine rebels.

Jones Act (1916)

granted Phillipines territorial status and promised independence as soon as stable government was achieved

Jones Act (1917)

granted Puerto Ricans US citizenship and gave them the right to elect both houses of their legislature