he Spanish-American War began in the newspapers of New York. From the time the USS “Maine” exploded, yellow journalists like William R. Hearst promoted America going to war through sensational stories based on little fact. This war against Spain proved the superiority of the United States Navy, shot Theodore Roosevelt into the limelight, and made America an imperialist power. Thus began an imperialistic era when the United States would have a powerful influence on foreign policy around the globe.