What were the causes and effects of the Spanish-American War and the resulting imperial ventures?

• A. War began due to economic depression; territories remained under Spanish control.
• B. It led to the U.S. withdrawing from naval power
• C. The war ended with U.S. ceding territories to Spain
• D. Causes included sensational journalism and strategic interests; effects included acquisitions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines) and emergence as a world power.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that the Spanish‑American War grew from a blend of press-driven sensationalism and clear strategic aims, and its aftermath pushed the United States into overseas empire and global power status. Yellow journalism and public opinion pushed for intervention in Cuba by highlighting Spanish brutality and Cuba’s fight for independence, while leaders also pursued strategic goals—protecting American investments, securing the Caribbean and Pacific naval routes, and projecting power overseas. When the war ended, the United States gained control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and Cuba became independent in name but remained heavily influenced by American policy. This shift marks a turning point: the United States moved from a continental to a global power with imperial ventures, a change that carried lasting consequences, including new debates over how to use and justify that power. The other statements don’t fit the actual causes or outcomes—one misattributes the cause to an economic depression and claims Spain kept the territories; another suggests a withdrawal from naval power; another says the United States ceded territories to Spain.