Making A War Artist Frederic Remington cabled from Cuba to newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst: "There is no war." Hearst replied: "You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war!" |
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In 1898, the Civil War had been over for thirty-three years. The United States no longer had an untamed frontier nor wars with Indians who resisted western settlement. Americans were proud of their industry and accomplishments, and eager to prove that their strong young nation was the equal of European powers. Spain, a declining colonial power, became the focus of American anger. In 1898 newspapers were the only news medium available to the public. America's most powerful publishers howled for war with Spain. William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World competed for circulation with inflammatory headlines and exaggerated stories about Spanish atrocities. This sensationalist reporting became known as "yellow journalism."
New York Journal, February 17, 1898, is a typical example of William Randolph Hearst's tabloid treatment of the Spanish-American War and the events which led up to it.
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Throughout the spring of 1898 Spain negotiated to prevent war, but Americans demanded intervention. On April 21 Spain broke off diplomatic ties. Two days later President William McKinley called for 125,000 new soldiers, and on April 25 declared war with Spain. Cuban flag. Courtesy James M. McKnight.
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