The Yellow Version of the Maine Causes War

Chapter 20 GOAL: Evaluate the United States growing interest in the Pacific and in Latin America

Learning Goal 20.2: Determine the causes and effects of the Spanish-American War.

CAUSE 1.  YELLOW JOURNALISM

a.  Cold Weather Expected Today
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b. Severe Storm Set to Slam City! Dangerous Temperatures May Freeze Cats in their Tracks!!!

Officials Remind Citizens: "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" 

How do these headlines differ?

If these were articles, which would you have wanted to read first?

Why might different newspapers choose to present the same event so differently?

  

 AN EXAGGERATED YELLOW JOURNALISM EXAMPLE...Mr. Deeds

Why did the media tell this story this way?

CAUSE 2.  THE USS MAINE

BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
a.  Cuba was colonized by Spain.
b.  Cuban rebels had been fighting for independence.

c.  Spain was thought to be brutal in repressing the rebellion.
d.  U.S. had business interests in Cuba.
e.  President McKinley had sent the USS Maine to Cuba
f.  USS Maine explodes on Feb 15, 1898.


WHO SUNK THE MAINE? RELIABILITY ACTIVITY

Vocabulary:

mine:  underwater bomb
Havana:  capital of Cuba
magazine:  place where ammunition (guns, bombs) are stored
Teddy Roosevelt:  not President yet, head of US Navy

Alternate Reading

USS MAINE Remembered by NBC NEWS (2008)

3.  TEST PREP:  How would your assigned role react to the sinking of the Maine?