William Randolph Hearst Essay -- History, War

A. Plan of InvestigationHow greatly was William Randolph Hearsts propaganda concerning the Cuban insurrection winding in the decision of the United States to declare war on Spain in 1898? This question will be addressed in this investigation in an attempt to find the degree of influence that the publisher William Randolph Hearst had on a brief period of American foreign policy (and Cuban house servant policy) by his manipulation of the press, the emerging medium of the screen, and the lobbying of Congress. This will be through with(p) by reviewing the two opposing theories regarding Hearsts involvement unmatchable claiming that he was one of the leading catalysts of the conflict, the other arguing that he simply manipulated the existing semipublic opinion to make money. This idea will also analyze the historical evidence that may or may not point to Hearsts proto(prenominal) steps towards the war, such as journalist George Creelmans account of the controversial Remington-Hears t telegrams, as well as W. Joseph Campbells study of the factuality of Creelmans narrative. The period of m macrocosm examined is from Hearsts papers first calls for intervention in Cuba in 1893 to their coverage of the sinking of the USS Maine on 15 February 1898. It will not discuss anything that Hearst published in this time period advocating intervention in or covering the crises in the Phillipines and Puerto Rico.B. epitome of EvidenceOn the evening of 15 February 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship stationed in Cubas Havana Harbor, spontaneously exploded, killing more than 250 of its passengers. Two days later, condescension the warnings of the Maines commander Captain Charles Sigsbee that public opinion (about the cause of the explosion) should be hang until f... ... for description (New York Journal 17 Aug. 1897). The paper detailed the story of her brave resistance to the advances of a Spanish officer, her imprisonment in a shut away reserved for prostitute s and her eventual carry through by Journal correspondent Karl Decker (Thomas 179-184), who, tally to fellow Journal writer Willis Abbot, actually bribed the prison guards to stage the rescue (Abbott 215-216). From 12 January to 20 January 1898, the Journal ran a series of cartoons ridiculing House loudspeaker Thomas Brackett Reed for openly opposing American intervention. On 25 January, the Maine arrived in Havana harbor, the first American boat to arrive. Our Flag at Havana at Last, declared the Journal. Then, for almost a month the paper was quiet, finally interrupted by the mysterious explosion of the Maine. By that time, Hearst was equitation a wave of papers and power to war.