Preview: Sparks of War Think about the major wars in U.S. History. Write down the ?spark? that ignited the following wars: Civil War World War I World War II War on Terrorism The Spanish American War ?A splendid little war.? Origins of the Spanish American War 1890- Spain?s overseas empire had been reduced to Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico and a few smaller islands U.S. raised tariff on foreign sugar? Cuba?s unemployment rose ?depression Jose? Marti declares Cuban Independence in 1895 Valeriano ?The Butcher? Weyler?s ?concentration? Policy Concentration Camps Conditions of disease and starvation ended up killing 25% of Cuban population. ?Yellow Journalism? Joseph Pulitzer New York World William Randolph Hearst New York Journal