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Monroe Doctrine reflects special US interests in Americas
The United States knew that it's security depended on the security of Latin America. Then US feared being taken over by European countries, so the president, James Monroe issued a Doctrine saying the US could not be taken over. -
China and Britain clash in the Opium War
China did not like it that the British had a ban against opium in their own country, but sold the drug to the Chinese without a second thought. When the British refused to stop trading opium, there was a fight between them and the Chinese. Because China had been closed off from the rest of the world for so long, they hadn't industralized, and their boats and weapons were outdated, so they lost the war. -
Commodore Perry enters Tokyo Harbor
Japan refused to trade with anyone, but everyone wanted to trade with them.Finally, Commodore Perry took four ships powered by steam and loaded with cannons into Tokyo Harbor. The Japanese were so impressed, they recieved Perry and a note demanding that the Japanese allow free trade with the US. -
U.S Wins Spanish-American War
The United States had an economic stake in the fate of Cuba and objected to the Spanish putting the Cubans into concentration camps. In 1898, the US joined the Cuban War for independence. The conflict lasted only four months because the US attacked two Spanish colonies (Cuba and the Philipine Islands), which the Spanish were not prepared for. -
Mexican Revolution Begins
Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico, but we very unpopular because he was corrupt and jailed and killed thousands.Francisco Madero led a revolution after being put into exile by Diaz. -
Panama Canal Opens
The United States wanted to build a canal so that it would be possible to get from coast to coast without going around the tip of South Africa.Roosevelt offered to pay Colombia $10 million for the right to build the canal. The Colombians refused, so the US helped Panamanians win a revolution aganist the Colombians.Panama then gave the US permission to build the canal.
