Yellow journalism fueled the Spanish-American War. Concerns over imperialism, industrial expansion, and economic interests drove U.S. actions in Hawaii, the Philippines, and China during the late 19th century.
1. Yellow journalists blamed Spain for the U.S.S. Maine explosion and wrote sensational headlines calling for war.
- e. The Spanish-American War began in 1898 and is called the first "media war."
2. The U.S. was worried Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, and Russia would turn their Chinese spheres of interest into colonies.
- a. John Hay wrote the Open Door Notes to maintain trade with China in 1899.
3. Filipinos wanted to be independent.
- h. Emilio Aguinaldo led a 3-year rebellion in the Philippines from 1899 to 1902.
4. Industrialization increased in the U.S.
- d. Business owners wanted the U.S. to expand so they would have new markets for their goods.
5. In 1890, Congress passed the McKinley Tariff.
- f. Hawaiian sugar planters wanted the U.S. to annex the Hawaiian Kingdom.
6. Chinese nationalists wanted foreign governments to no longer control China.
- b. The Boxer Rebellion began in late 1899 and lasted until September 1901.
7. President McKinley believed the U.S. needed to Americanize Filipinos.
- c. The U.S. would not grant the Philippines independence.
8. Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani wanted to remove the 1887 amendment to the constitution.
- g. In 1893, sugar planters in the Hawaiian Kingdom rebelled against the queen.