For many years there has been a debate on whether or not yellow-journalism was a cause of the Spanish-American war. Some historians argue that it had a major impact in sparking the war. They argue newspapers like the New York Journal took advantage of their popularity to incite public opinion and force then President McKinley to act against Spain on behalf of Cuba, which had been under Spanish control since 1511. Other historians disagree and say though the newspapers did report on the events leading up to the war and tended to only publish stories that showed the good side of Cuba, the constant violation by Spain of the interests of the United States in the Caribbean and the United States need to expand their power could be seen as the true causes of the war. In Citizen Hearst: A Biography of William Randolph Hearst, journalist W. A. Swanberg argues that newspaper moguls such as William Randolph Hearst of the popular New York Journal, used it to arouse public opinion in such a way it forced President McKinley to wage war against Spain to free Cuba.1 How could newspapers cause such tremendous action?
I believe that Jefferson contributions to the country are greater than his character flaws and I also believe that no good can come from revealing them. He was the founder of our country and also helped shaped the country so we can be where we are right now. Regarding slavery, I believe that Jefferson knew it was wrong but maybe he didn’t know what to do about it at the time, He didn’t have enough power to stop it so he had to live with it knowing it was wrong and immoral, and He also proposed a bill to stop slavery but it was not approved. Thomas Jefferson is the author of the Declaration of American independence. That is how is written on his tombstone and it should be remember that way, like a hero.
The U.S is not justified in annexing the Philippines and fighting a war to keep it because it was just a chance to exploit people and land to earn power and prestige. On April 25, the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor sent by President McKinley to protect U.S citizens. Cuba was the first to initiate its own struggle for independence. Spain used ruthless brutal tactics to bring down the revolt where the U.S intervened due to sympathy for Cuban rebels.
Opponents say that the Americans only purpose for entering the gulf war was to protect its access to gulf oil. They accuse the country of not standing by the democratic ideals that it says it adheres to. Critics bring up the fact that the United States government supports dictators in smaller countries to further its objectives. D’Souza argues that American domination is much different than previous empires in that we do not sustain this with force. He asserts that Americas influence is the source of its power.
In February 1989 those who were seeking intervention got a big opportunity as the warship, the USS Maine, was blown up whilst stationed on the harbour of Havana. All the evidence weighs up to the fact that the ship was blown up by an internal explosion but the USA used this event and were convinced that the Spanish wanted to go to war with America. This was a huge factor and the big final push to America which is why they declared war on Spain alongside other influences. The media at the time which was The ‘Yellow press’ a newspaper owned by William Randolph Hearst was thought to be one of the main causes of the Spanish
One event that created a good platform and story for Yellow Journalism was the maine. This started a motive for revenge. The Maine was sent to Havana to protect American Property. Mysteriously the ship exploded killing 260 men. There was no explanation but this angered American casuring them to want to go to war.
If the US is unable persuade or garner support for its actions, perhaps our reasoning is wrong. I believe McNamara felt US action in Vietnam unilaterally was wrong, evidenced by the fact that he was
His method for achieving this would be to desegregate Cuba and to focus on national identity. After learning more about the Independence of Cuba and the republican period, I have to say that Castro’s methods were not that different from the solutions used by white elites after the independence of Cuba from Spain. White elites used Afro-Cuban soldiers to advance their nationalist cause against Spain but were hesitant to grant them rights after independence. During this time, white elites wanted to make Afro-Cubans feel like they did nothing to achieve their own freedom, it created a sense of paternalism, which we see again during post-revolutionary era. During both the post-independence and post-revolutionary periods, national unity was seen as a way to manipulate Afro-Cubans into feeling guilty for wanting to express their racial grievances.
The Truman Doctrine of 1947 changed America’s view on the subject. The Truman doctrine states that the US would support free countries trying to resist oppression. It is possible to follow the Monroe Doctrine today, if one is referring to political affairs, and not to trade. However, just because it is possible doesn’t mean that we should or that we are doing it. Isolation of the Nation has been tried before, with detrimental results.
I could blame the defeat which would have been the result of my action on him and come out as Peacemaker…But I had a greater obligation than to think only of the years of my administration and of the next election. I had to think of the effect of my decision on the next generation and on the future of peace and freedom in America and in the world.” However, this idealistic standpoint was mere propaganda. In private, President Nixon would favour a more militant and aggressive approach. This contradictory position not only exposed Nixon’s vulnerability to public opinion, but also his disillusion and misunderstanding of the complexities of such a war. It is imperative to understand the factors which influenced President Nixon’s strategies and decision making during the Vietnam War.