Final answer:
The American home front responded to the Spanish-American War with significant volunteerism, propaganda campaigns ensuring support, and faced economic impacts due to increased trade dependence and war-related shortages. The outcome of the war also influenced the cast of American foreign policy and imperial pursuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The response of the American home front to the Spanish-American War was marked by a wave of enthusiastic support, driven by humanitarian concerns and a spirit of nationalism. President McKinley's call for soldiers was met with over a million American men volunteering, including nearly ten thousand African Americans, despite facing severe racism and additional hardships.
The war also saw aggressive propaganda campaigns and a climate of restricted speech to ensure public backing for the war. Meanwhile, countries in Latin America increased their dependence on trade with the United States and experienced the impact of shortages and economic changes. In the Black community, views were divided on whether to support the war or not, with some seeing military participation as a chance to prove their worth to the nation.
On a strategic level, America's entry into the war allowed Spain to honorably retreat and ceded control of several territories to the U.S., signaling a shift toward American imperialism. The home front witnessed new economic opportunities, exemplified by increased traffic through the Panama Canal, while experiencing the pressures of rationing and price controls due to war-related shortages.