The Spanish-American War began under public pressure to take action against the mistreatment of Cubans, military interests and many other reasons, while provoking annexation, imperialism, the construction of the Panama Canal and more. Cuba was facing oppression at the hands of the Spanish nation and the Americans, already being the recipient of the oppression, the Americans felt empathy and sympathy towards the Cubans. Yellow journalism has exaggerated real events and collected money and people's anger. Calls to assist the Cubans increased, but McKinley was reluctant to engage the Spanish, a world power, in battle. The explosion that blew up Maine was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the United States sent in troops. After the Spanish-American War, the Philippines and Hawaii were annexed. The United States strengthened its military forces and made its way into imperialism to become a world power. Yellow journalism, founded by newspaper magnates William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, fueled war fever. Hearst and Pulitzer had a sensational writing style that exaggerated news stories to attract and infuriate readers. Their writing style fueled American outrage over Cuban oppression by the Spanish. “You provide the photos and I will provide the war.” Hearst reportedly told this to Fredric Remington, a talented artist sent to Cuba to draw sketches of the fighting. The information sent through yellow journalism infuriated many U.S. citizens and fueled much of the grievance against the Spanish, although much of it was exaggerated. Yellow journalism played an important role in fueling the war, touching the hearts of sympathetic and empathetic people. Americans. The United States faced oppression from Great Britain... middle of paper... encouraged by the citizens of the United States for many reasons. The main reason was yellow journalism that blew facts out of proportion to gain the anger, sympathy and empathy of Americans to make money. By providing Americans with such information they gained more readers and profits and fueled the war. Cubans held in reconstruction camps and killed angered Americans who demanded action to help suffering Cubans. The newspaper published the Maine explosion and blamed the attack on the Spanish, saying they didn't like American troops so close to their own. After the war ended, the possibility of the Cubans attacking to gain support or a malfunction was considered. The Maine Explosion was the reason for sending troops, but yellow journalism fueled the desire to fight and engage the Spanish in battle.