Answer to Question #312701 in History for shamier

Question

According to the US Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war. How might this have shaped McKinley’s message (tone and words) in his speech to Congress?

Answer 1

April 20, 1898, marks the day that President William McKinley requests that Congress declare war on Spain. In the beginning, McKinley wanted to avoid a military confrontation with Spain. However, the American media, backed by newspaper mogul Randolph Hearst, denigrated McKinley and stirred up public support for a war to grant Cuban freedom. In addition, he wished to safeguard American economic interests in the Caribbean region. Around the start of the twentieth century, the United States ascended to the status of superpower.