LAD 21: McKinley's War Message

McKinley starts of by telling congress that Cuba is a hostile country costing the Americans greatly and has done nothing but humiliate them. Cuba revolts against the Spanish in 1895 and McKinley takes the side of the Cubans. He convinces congress to declare war on Spain after they supposedly sunk the USS Maine. Guerrilla war tactics were used making the war very violent. Fearing the war would come to the US McKinley, wanting to save the American people, sought to end the war quickly. The sinking of the Maine is a form of yellow journalism used as propaganda for the war.