Here are several ways in which yellow journalism provoked US involvement:
1. Propaganda and Exaggerated Reporting: Yellow journalism employed dramatized headlines, illustrations, and fabricated stories to portray Spain in a negative light and emphasize the oppression and suffering of the Cuban people under Spanish rule. This created a strong sense of sympathy among the American public for the Cuban cause.
2. Sensationalism: Newspapers resorted to sensationalist reporting to boost circulation. They often exaggerated or fabricated stories of Spanish atrocities and brutal treatment of Cubans. These reports inflamed public opinion and fueled anti-Spanish sentiment in the United States.
3. Jingoism and National Pride: Yellow journalism appealed to national pride and jingoism by presenting the United States as a champion of freedom and democracy, with a moral obligation to intervene in Cuba and liberate its people from Spanish rule.
4. Pressure on the Government: The incessant and influential coverage of the Cuban situation in the newspapers created public pressure on the US government to take action. The relentless media campaign made it increasingly difficult for political leaders to ignore the public's clamor for intervention.
5. Influence on Congress: The relentless yellow journalism campaign effectively shaped public opinion, putting pressure on members of Congress to support resolutions and measures favorable to US intervention in Cuba. The public outcry influenced the decision-making process and played a role in the passage of the Teller Amendment, which disclaimed any intention of annexing Cuba.
In summary, yellow journalism amplified and sensationalized the situation in Cuba, creating intense public sympathy and exerting significant influence on public and government opinion. This, in turn, contributed to the United States' eventual decision to intervene in the Cuban conflict, leading to the Spanish-American War.