How did the Spanish-American War affect American society?

The Spanish-American War had far-reaching effects on American society. With the victory, the United States acquired colonies in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This spurred a great debate about America's participation in imperialism. Many believed that the United States was hypocritical in fighting against Spanish imperialism only to take on colonies of their own. The Philippines, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, resisted American colonial rule which resulted in a bloody three-year conflict in the Pacific.

The Spanish-American War also created a sort of folk hero out of Theodore Roosevelt. His heroics in Cuba, which were greatly exaggerated, made him a legitimate political force in the United States. This led him to be selected as William McKinley's vice president in 1900. He would become president when McKinley was assassinated and continued to push for American expansion. The war also pointed to a need to create a canal in Panama to connect the oceans for military purposes. This was pushed forward by Roosevelt as he was instrumental in the construction of the Panama Canal as President of the United States.

The Spanish-American War also transformed the American press. The coverage of the War was very popular on the home front and a number journalists became powerful as a result (Joe Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst are the most obvious examples.) The Spanish-American War marked the birth of the newspaper as a major popular media form.