This work examines in how far yellow journalism served as a warmonger in the Spanish-American War. It starts with an overview of yellow journalism and focuses on its origin, the rivalry between the two most influential editors of that era, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. After that, the author describes the benefits of American military intervention in the conflict between Cuba and Spain. Then, events like the explosion of the USS Maine and how they were presented to the American population in the media, more specifically in the newspapers, are described. This will lead to the penultimate part, in which the outbreak of the war is studied. To conclude, the author sums up the impact of yellow journalism on the Spanish–American War in contrast to the other presented significant causes.
We are now in the 21st century and confronted with a wider variety of media than ever before consisting not only of newspapers and radio, but also of television and the internet. This increases the possibilities of shaping public opinion for the purpose of either financial profit or political gain. In this context the term post-truth has emerged and was even declared. Such a term could also have been used more than a century ago in order to describe the phenomenon treated in this work: yellow journalism. However, at that time, the only source of information for people to rely on was the newspaper. Accordingly, its significance was even greater.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Origin, Definition and Development of Yellow Journalism
2.1 The Rivalry between New York Editors Pulitzer and Hearst
2.2 Coining of the Term
2.3 Definition of the Term Yellow Journalism
3 The Benefits for the United States of Intervening in the Conflict between Cuba and Spain
3.1 Imperialism
3.2 Business Interests
4 Public Opinion
4.1 The Reporting of Evangelina Cosio y Cisneros
4.2 The De Lôme Letter
4.3 The Sinking of the USS Maine
5 The Outbreak of War
6 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This research investigates the extent to which yellow journalism functioned as a catalyst for the Spanish-American War, examining how sensationalist media reporting influenced public opinion and political decision-making in the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
- The rivalry between newspaper magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.
- The historical origin and definition of the term "yellow journalism."
- Geopolitical and economic motivations for U.S. intervention, including imperialism and business interests.
- Media coverage of key events: the case of Evangelina Cisneros, the De Lôme letter, and the sinking of the USS Maine.
- The progression from diplomatic efforts to the eventual outbreak of armed conflict.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The Rivalry between New York Editors Pulitzer and Hearst
Joseph Pulitzer, born in 1847 in Hungary, was the first editor to build up a major newspaper: the New York World which in 1886 “was the most profitable newspaper in the nation.” He arrived in the United States as a penniless immigrant but soon found a job at the St. Louis Newspaper. He climbed the ranks in journalism thanks to his unique voice, mixing thought-provoking editorials and news with crime and public interest stories which required intensive investigative journalism. Then he bought two failing newspapers and merged them creating the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. By doing so, he pioneered a new style of journalism which employed bigger headlines and more usage of colours as well as of illustrations.
This helped Pulitzer to directly address to his preferred audience: the masses of the ordinary American people. After that, he moved on to New York City where he purchased the New York World. His mission was to build a newspaper for New York’s immigrants and working class by offering both information and entertainment in his paper. His success was tremendous, making the World the city’s circulation leader only a year and a half after the takeover.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the study within the modern "post-truth" era and outlines the scope of research regarding the influence of yellow journalism on the Spanish-American War.
2 Origin, Definition and Development of Yellow Journalism: This section details the cutthroat competition between Pulitzer and Hearst and defines the sensationalist journalistic style that defined the era.
3 The Benefits for the United States of Intervening in the Conflict between Cuba and Spain: This chapter analyzes the underlying factors for potential U.S. intervention, focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Cuba, the rise of imperialism, and specific business interests.
4 Public Opinion: This section examines three specific media-driven incidents—the Cisneros case, the De Lôme letter, and the destruction of the USS Maine—that effectively turned American public opinion against Spain.
5 The Outbreak of War: This chapter chronicles the diplomatic failures of the McKinley administration and the increasing pressure from Congress and the public to initiate hostilities.
6 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the arguments and evaluates the overall impact of yellow journalism compared to other structural causes of the war.
Keywords
Yellow Journalism, Spanish-American War, William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Pulitzer, Public Opinion, Imperialism, USS Maine, De Lôme Letter, Evangelina Cisneros, Media Manipulation, Sensationalism, Interventionism, U.S. Foreign Policy, Newspaper History, Journalism Ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The work focuses on determining how "yellow journalism"—a sensationalist style of reporting—acted as a warmongering force during the lead-up to the Spanish-American War in 1898.
What are the primary themes discussed in the book?
Key themes include media rivalry, the use of propaganda to influence public sentiment, the geopolitical pressures of late 19th-century imperialism, and the influence of corporate business interests on government policy.
What is the core research question?
The paper explores the extent to which media outlets, through sensationalized reporting, were responsible for pushing the United States into a war with Spain.
What scientific methods were employed?
The author uses historical analysis and literature review, examining contemporary newspaper reports, diplomatic records, and modern historical interpretations of the period.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the origins of yellow journalism, the motivations for U.S. intervention in Cuba, specific inflammatory media events, and the political steps leading to the declaration of war.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is defined by terms such as Yellow Journalism, Spanish-American War, Sensationalism, Media Manipulation, and U.S. Imperialism.
How did the "Yellow Kid" cartoon affect journalism?
It became a central point of competition between Pulitzer and Hearst, illustrating how newspaper moguls exploited even entertainment content to boost circulation and professional dominance.
How did the sinking of the USS Maine influence public opinion?
The event, despite a lack of evidence blaming Spain at the time, was immediately used by the yellow press to manufacture war fever, effectively silencing those who urged a more cautious diplomatic approach.
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- Emanuel Morhard (Autor:in), 2017, Yellow Journalism as a Warmonger in the Spanish-American War, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/499626
