Table of Contents

1: Power and Policymaking: Who Rules?; 2: William McKinley: From Niles to the White House; 3: The New President Selects His Cabinet; 4: The Decision for War; 5: Cuba and the American Press; 6: A Mobilization of the Masses?; 7: Public Pressures and the Congress; 8: On the Various Readings

About the Author

Richard F. Hamilton is emeritus professor of sociology and political science at The Ohio State University. He has written ten books and seventy articles, mostly dealing with elite- and mass-politics and their interconnections.

Reviews

-Using his well-honed psephological and sociological skills, Hamilton makes a strong argument against many popular explanations of the American decision for war against Spain in 1898 (business interests, capitalist ideology, the yellow press, or mass war fever), proposing instead an elitist-pluralist model of explanation emphasizing partisan politics. His conclusions and methodological prescriptions are important and timely for history and current politics alike.- --Paul W. Schroeder, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propagated by historians.- --Charles J. Stille, Yale University -President McKinley, War and Empire demonstrates why historical accounts of events must be periodically reexamined and, when necessary, rewritten. School textbooks have long embraced the Beards' account on the causes of the Spanish-American War. Hamilton's careful research not only smashes the Beards' version as a myth without empirical foundation; he explains why they got it wrong. Hamilton's masterly account has a fast-moving pace. Once into it, I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to the second volume and I recommend it highly for scholars and history buffs.- --William Form, The Ohio State University -Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propogated by historians.- --H.A. Turner -Proponents of the suspect interpretations will have to do a lot of explaining, unless they choose to ignore this intriguing study, a brilliant exhibition of analytical prowess.- --David Trask

"Using his well-honed psephological and sociological skills, Hamilton makes a strong argument against many popular explanations of the American decision for war against Spain in 1898 (business interests, capitalist ideology, the yellow press, or mass war fever), proposing instead an elitist-pluralist model of explanation emphasizing partisan politics. His conclusions and methodological prescriptions are important and timely for history and current politics alike." --Paul W. Schroeder, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propagated by historians." --Charles J. Stille, Yale University "President McKinley, War and Empire demonstrates why historical accounts of events must be periodically reexamined and, when necessary, rewritten. School textbooks have long embraced the Beards' account on the causes of the Spanish-American War. Hamilton's careful research not only smashes the Beards' version as a myth without empirical foundation; he explains why they got it wrong. Hamilton's masterly account has a fast-moving pace. Once into it, I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to the second volume and I recommend it highly for scholars and history buffs." --William Form, The Ohio State University "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propogated by historians." --H.A. Turner "Proponents of the suspect interpretations will have to do a lot of explaining, unless they choose to ignore this intriguing study, a brilliant exhibition of analytical prowess." --David Trask

"Using his well-honed psephological and sociological skills, Hamilton makes a strong argument against many popular explanations of the American decision for war against Spain in 1898 (business interests, capitalist ideology, the yellow press, or mass war fever), proposing instead an elitist-pluralist model of explanation emphasizing partisan politics. His conclusions and methodological prescriptions are important and timely for history and current politics alike." --Paul W. Schroeder, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propagated by historians." --Charles J. Stille, Yale University "President McKinley, War and Empire demonstrates why historical accounts of events must be periodically reexamined and, when necessary, rewritten. School textbooks have long embraced the Beards' account on the causes of the Spanish-American War. Hamilton's careful research not only smashes the Beards' version as a myth without empirical foundation; he explains why they got it wrong. Hamilton's masterly account has a fast-moving pace. Once into it, I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to the second volume and I recommend it highly for scholars and history buffs." --William Form, The Ohio State University "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propogated by historians." --H.A. Turner "Proponents of the suspect interpretations will have to do a lot of explaining, unless they choose to ignore this intriguing study, a brilliant exhibition of analytical prowess." --David Trask

"Using his well-honed psephological and sociological skills, Hamilton makes a strong argument against many popular explanations of the American decision for war against Spain in 1898 (business interests, capitalist ideology, the yellow press, or mass war fever), proposing instead an elitist-pluralist model of explanation emphasizing partisan politics. His conclusions and methodological prescriptions are important and timely for history and current politics alike.""--Paul W. Schroeder, professor of history emeritus, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign" "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propagated by historians.""--Charles J. Stille Professor of History Emeritus, Yale University" ""President McKinley, War and Empire" demonstrates why historical accounts of events must be periodically reexamined and, when necessary, rewritten. School textbooks have long embraced the Beards' account on the causes of the Spanish-American War. Hamilton's careful research not only smashes the Beards' version as a myth without empirical foundation; he explains why they got it wrong. Hamilton's masterly account has a fast-moving pace. Once into it, I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to the second volume and I recommend it highly for scholars and history buffs.""--William Form, professor emeritus, The Ohio State University"

"Using his well-honed psephological and sociological skills, Hamilton makes a strong argument against many popular explanations of the American decision for war against Spain in 1898 (business interests, capitalist ideology, the yellow press, or mass war fever), proposing instead an elitist-pluralist model of explanation emphasizing partisan politics. His conclusions and methodological prescriptions are important and timely for history and current politics alike.""--Paul W. Schroeder, professor of history emeritus, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign" "Richard Hamilton's searching examination cast much new light on the origins of the Spanish-American War and deftly demolishes a number of myths about its causes propagated by historians.""--Charles J. Stille Professor of History Emeritus, Yale University" ""President McKinley, War and Empire" demonstrates why historical accounts of events must be periodically reexamined and, when necessary, rewritten. School textbooks have long embraced the Beards' account on the causes of the Spanish-American War. Hamilton's careful research not only smashes the Beards' version as a myth without empirical foundation; he explains why they got it wrong. Hamilton's masterly account has a fast-moving pace. Once into it, I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to the second volume and I recommend it highly for scholars and history buffs.""--William Form, professor emeritus, The Ohio State University"