The media has always had the power to shape public opinion and influence policy, especially during times of conflict. But can the media actually start a war? The Spanish-American War (1898) gives students the chance to dig into this question by examining newspaper articles, political cartoons, and songs from the time leading up to the U.S. decision to go to war. Students will analyze how exaggerated and emotional reporting—known as yellow journalism—helped build support for U.S. intervention in Cuba and decide for themselves how much influence the media had in pushing the country into war.