Causes of Spanish-American War.There were several causes of the Spanish-American War. Cubans were in revolt against Spain, wanting to declare their
independence. Many Americans supported their efforts. Newspapers in America favored American intervention in Cuba. This was known as "the Yellow Press." William Randolph Hearst's papers led the way. Reporters were sent to Cuba and their reports often were transformed into horror stories about crimes against the Cuban population by the Spanish overlords. Such "reporting" sold papers. Imperialists in America favored the war which would bring Cuba and its people into the economic sphere of the US. We could provide products to the Cubans and we could enter the economic system of the island with our industries. The major cause was the explosion of the USS Maine, which was stationed in Havana. The American press claimed the Spanish caused the explosion with the loss of 260 American sailors. There was no evidence the Spainish caused the ship to explode. The American public continued to put pressure on President McKinley until he finally asked Congress to declare war on Spain on 11 April 1898. They wanted to declare their independence.
