Saaim Khan 2.28.17 Study Guide for Chapter 20 The Spanish-American War Key Content Terms Define and explain the significance of each Key Content Term listed below. Yellow journalism: This was a style of exaggerated reporting that often stretched the truth of the stories which were published in a particular newspaper. This was most significant for the newspapers themselves as this strategy helped them gain readers by the thousands. USS Maine: This was an American battleship that was sent by President William McKinley to Cuba in order to protect American interests. Unfortunately, it was sunk in the Havana harbor, shortly after the de L?me incident. This came as an extreme shock and a reason for alarm for many Americans and eventually pushed America to war with Spain