The Spanish-American War

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The daily Kentuckian, a newspaper in Kentucky, was headlined with “the Maine is avenged”  on May 3, 1898, in response to the actions taken by the US military in response to the attack on the U.S.S. Maine. The article goes to explain the further military actions that will be made to invade Cuba. The media’s response to the sinking of the U.S.S Maine provides an example of yellow journalism where the media exaggerated what happened to sell more papers. The US was on the verge of war with Cuba, and this sensationalism seen in the papers cause a public outrage pushing the US into war with Cuba. The media influence seen here is similar to that of the Vietnam War where the information reported caused a public outcry. However, in this instance, there was a crude exaggeration.

The early representation of video seen in this source depicts a group of men riding in the direction of the camera. These men were known as “Roosevelt’s rough riders” the only group of men to see action during the Spanish-American war. The video is low resolution and depicts the men in a heroic manner. The video is a representation of the media that was typical regarding American soldiers and presenting them In a positive and heroic light as seen throughout most wars. The positive imagery surrounding was natural at first and then pushed by the US government through censorship.