The "yellow press" called for war after the sinking of the Maine. This contributed to public support for the participation of the US in the Cuban Independence war against the Spanish which, after the intervention of the US, was denominated Spanish American War. President McKingley signed for US intervention in the conflict in 1898.
The US cruise USS Maine sunk under misterious circumstance in the Havana Harbor. Inflamatory articles were published in the US "yellow press" that blamed the Spanish and called for action against them, as they were commiting cruelties against the Cuban population, even civilians, and who had now killed US crew in the USS Maine too.
