How did yellow journalism impact U.S. imperialism?

Yellow journalism played a significant role in shaping public opinion and fueling support for the Spanish-American War, which was a pivotal moment in U.S. imperialism. This style of journalism, characterized by sensationalized and often exaggerated reporting, aimed to attract readers and increase newspaper sales. During the lead-up to the war, yellow journalism emphasized the plight of Cubans under Spanish rule, highlighting atrocities and conflicts in a dramatic fashion that stirred emotional responses from the American public.

The portrayal of events like the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor was amplified through these sensationalized accounts, leading many Americans to call for intervention. Newspapers, particularly those run by figures like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, pushed narratives that framed the war as a moral imperative, urging the U.S. to liberate Cuba from Spanish oppression. This created a strong wave of public support for military action, effectively pushing the U.S. government towards engaging in the conflict.

While other options present important historical themes, they do not align as closely with the primary influence of yellow journalism during that period. In contrast, the impact of yellow journalism in mobilizing public support directly links to the imperialist actions taken by the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.