Question

Why did the United States declare war against Spain in 1898? Choose all answers that are correct. American newspaper publishers pushed public opinion in favor of war. Spanish authorities mistreated the people of Cuba. The U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana harbor. José Martí led Spanish troops in an attack on Ybor City, Florida.

Answer 1

Answer:

The United States declared war against Spain in 1898 because Spanish authorities mistreated the people of Cuba and because the U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana Harbor. Also, yellow journalism was prominent in the late 19th century, therefore, American newspaper publishers were successful in pushing public opinion in favor of war.

Explanation:

The relations between Spain and the Cuban people had deteriorated at the end of the 19th century as Cuba was one of the last places in the Americas to remain under Spanish colonial control (the other remaining colony at that time was Puerto Rico). Spain was interested in maintaining control of Cuba to keep control over trade with countries like the United States but Cuban landowners were growing restless at the oppressive nature of the colonial administration that restricted their trade with other countries and there had been years of protracted resistance during the Ten Years War (1868-1878) in Cuba. In the United States, there was a lot of popular support for the Cuban people as the Spanish had rounded up a lot of rural inhabitants and made them live in camps that had unsanitary conditions and inadequate supplies of food. The newspapers in the United States told of the atrocities but sometimes in the sensationalism ways associated with yellow journalism. Sent to protect US business interests in Cuba given the rising tensions, The U.S.S Maine blew up in Havana as well and the USA attributed this to the Spanish. The US declared war on Spain after the loss of the U.S.S. Maine.