United States History: 1877 to the Present

Turmoil and Change: 1890s to 1945

USII.4

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the changing role of the United States from the late nineteenth century through World War I by

a) explaining the reasons for and results of the Spanish American War;
b) explaining the reasons for the United States’ involvement in World War I and its leadership role at the conclusion of the war.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Begin the unit with questions about the reasons and results of the Spanish American War.
Explain that the United States emerged as a world power as a result of victory over Spain in the Spanish American War and that economic interests and public opinion often influence U.S. involvement in international affairs.
Review the reasons for the Spanish American War, including the following:

Protection of American business interests in Cuba
American support of Cuban rebels to gain independence from Spain
Rising tensions as a result of the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor
Exaggerated news reports of events (Yellow Journalism)

Explain to students the reasons the United States was interested in Cuba before the Spanish American War:

The U.S. was concerned about protection of American business interests in Cuba (specifically sugar).
The U.S. was concerned about human rights abuses by the Spanish in Cuba.
The U.S. supported Cuban rebels trying to gain Cuban independence from Spain.

Explain that many in the United States were looking for a reason to go to war with Spain, and the explosion on the USS Maine provided this reason. In this session, students will use primary and secondary documents to discover what actually happened to the USS Maine.
Place students in groups of four or five, depending on class size. Give each member of a group a different firsthand account of what happened on the USS Maine. Accounts of the incident can be found at the Spanish American War Centennial Web site at http://www.spanamwar.com/, which offers accounts from Lt. George Blow, Captain Charles D. Sigsbee, and others.
Distribute the Remember the Maine! worksheet, and have each student read his/her account and answer a set of questions on the worksheet. Warn students that they may not be able to find some answers because little was actually known at the time and much in the newspaper accounts was conjecture. For a copy of the Remember the Maine! worksheet,
After students have completed work on their accounts, have the groups work together to write an account of what really happened, based only on the facts presented. Challenge them to write in the most objective way possible and not make any assumptions.
As a whole group, discuss with students what they discovered regarding the incident on the USS Maine.
Share with students the actual cause of the explosion. Then share with them how the event was reported in newspapers at the time. Help students realize the enormous impact of inflammatory newspaper reporting and how it led to war. Is such reporting responsible? Why, or why not? Are there examples of such reporting going on today? If so, what are some examples?
Lead the students in defining yellow journalism. Students might better understand this concept by using obvious contemporary examples such those found in The Star magazine or the National Enquirer. The Spanish American War Centennial Web Site at http://www.spanamwar.com/ has extensive information on journalism and the war (click on "Journalism and the War"). Explain to students the role of the media and public opinion in influencing President McKinley's decision to declare war on Spain.
Instruct students to write their own yellow journalism story of what happened on the USS Maine. Encourage students to use the basic facts related to the incident but to exaggerate and embellish them in order to inflame opinion against the Spanish. Remind students that Spain was seen as the enemy who reportedly treated the Cubans poorly and would not grant Cuba independence. Encourage students also to write a story that would make people want to buy their newspaper.
Encourage students to share their accounts with the class when completed.
Discuss with students the outcomes of the war and the territory acquired by the United States.
Discuss the results of the Spanish American War, which included:

The United States emerged as a world power.
Cuba gained independence from Spain.
The United States gained possession of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

WEB SITES

http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/
Spanish American War

http://www.pbs.org/crucible/
Spanish American War

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq71-1.htm
Destruction of USS Maine

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/battleships/maine/maine.html
USS Maine

http://alt.tnt.tv/movies/tntoriginals/roughriders/jour.home.html
Beginnings of Yellow Journalism

http://www.humboldt.edu/~jcb10/yellow.html
Yellow Journalism

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