Question

american imperialism pages 143 - 158
why did joseph pulitzer & randolph hearst
sensationalize news from cuba?
how much did american business have invested in cuba
why did the south want to purchase cuba from spain?
triggering events: the de lome letter & the
explosion of the maine.
what two things did the de lome letter indicate?
1.
2.
why was the u.s.s. maine sent to cuba?
why did it explode?
who blamed spain?
which was not a reason for president mckinley to
declare war on spain?
spain agrees to cease fire with rebels
yellow journalism increases war thirst in americans
the de lome letter enrages the u.s. public
spain refuses to grant cuba independence

Explanation:

1. For the question about Pulitzer & Hearst: Sensationalized stories drove newspaper sales, so they used dramatic coverage of Cuba to boost readership and profits.
2. For the investment amount: Historical records show U.S. businesses had around $50 million invested in Cuban sugar and other industries by the late 1890s.
3. For the South's interest in Cuba: Southern leaders wanted Cuba as a new slave state to maintain the balance of free and slave states in Congress, protecting their pro-slavery political power.
4. For the De Lome Letter: The private letter from the Spanish ambassador criticized President McKinley as weak, revealing Spanish disrespect for the U.S. leader; it also implied Spain was not negotiating in good faith over Cuba.
5. For the U.S.S. Maine's purpose: The ship was sent to Havana to protect American citizens, their property, and U.S. interests amid rising tensions in Cuba.
6. For the Maine's explosion: The exact cause was never definitively proven at the time; modern investigations suggest an accidental coal bunker fire, but 1890s newspapers blamed Spain.
7. For who blamed Spain: Yellow journalism outlets (like Hearst and Pulitzer's papers) publicly blamed Spain to stoke war fervor.
8. For McKinley's non-war reason: Spain agreeing to cease fire with rebels was a conciliatory act, so it was not a reason to declare war; the other options were all pro-war triggers.

Answer:

1. Why did Joseph Pulitzer & Randolph Hearst sensationalize news from Cuba?

To sell more newspapers (boost circulation/profits)

1. How much did American business have invested in Cuba?

$50 million

1. Why did The South want to purchase Cuba from Spain?

To counter-balance the admission of new free states (and expand slave territory)

1. What TWO things did The De Lome Letter indicate?

1.) The Spanish ambassador viewed U.S. President McKinley as weak and ineffective
2.) Spain was not acting in good faith during negotiations over Cuba

1. Why was The U.S.S Maine sent to Cuba?

To protect American lives and property in Cuba

1. Why did it explode?

The cause was never conclusively proven in the 1890s; modern analysis points to an accidental coal bunker fire, not a Spanish attack

1. Who blamed Spain?

Yellow journalism newspapers (Hearst and Pulitzer's press)

1. Which was NOT a reason for President McKinley to declare war on Spain?

Spain agrees to cease fire with rebels