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Annexation of Hawaii
After President Cleveland first proposed to annex Hawaii, President McKinnley decided to annex it. The U.S. extended territory to the pacific west. One of the reasons why we decide to annex Hawaii was because of the sugar cane crop, pineapple, coffee etc. as well as having a possible military base out there. Hawaii does not become a state until the 1950's. The first governor of Hawaii―appointed by the president―was Sandford Dole. -
Spanish-American War
This was a conflict between the United States and Spain. The reason why this war was started was because of an American ship was believed to be torpedoed in the Havana harbor during the Spanish-Cuban conflict. Resulting in the United States joining Cuba to help grant their freedom. The thing is with the Spanish-American war was that it was never fought in America or Spain rather, in Spain's territories. The U.S. eventually won and obtained most of Spain's territories. -
Philippine-American War
The Philippine-American war was an armed conflict between the first Philippine Republic and The United States. The reason why the Filipinos were mad is because of the Treaty of Paris. The Treaty of Paris gave the U.S. multiple Spanish territories in order for the Spanish-American war to be over. The Philippines wanted independence so they tried fighting it. The U.S. won the war and decided to interfere with the government. The U.S. set up its own government to ensure it doesn't happen again. -
Open Door Policy
The policy proposed to keep China open for fair and equal trade to all other countries. This made sure no one country could control China, no one would interfere with any treaty port, permits Chinese officials to collects tariffs on an equal basis, and to show no favorites in trading. This was mainly done for Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and Japan. -
Big Stick Diplomacy
This was the first recorded date of Theodore Roosevelt ever using the term; speak softly and carry a big stick. This became Roosevelts foreign policy. His idea was to negotiate peacfuly, yet simultaneously threaten with a "big stick" (Like the military and the authority of the US). Roosevelt used this ideology to join Panama's fight against Colombia for their independence. -
The Platt Amendment
At the end of the Spanish-American war, the Platt Amendment was passed. There were seven pledges within the act, two of the seven were allowed the US to intervene with the foreign affairs with Cuba. As well as allowing the US to use land to create naval and Military bases. This is how we obtained Guantonamo Bay. -
The Venezuelan Crisis
In December 1902, Britan, Germany, and Italy had a naval blockade of Venezuela. The reason why this happened was because Venezuela's leader--Cipriano Castro--refused to pay off war debt in the Venezuelan war with Europe. The U.S. did not intervene with the blockade even though it could pertain to the Monroe Doctrine, but Roosevelt felt like it pertained to Europe and did not get involved withing the blockage -
Alaska Boundary Dispute
This was a territorial dispute between the U.S. and Great Britan―who controlled Canada's foreign relations. It was resolved by arbitration in 1903. Ultimately the UK chose a version closer to the US' version of the boundary. Canada was upset because they did not have any all-Canada routes to all of the gold fields. The most anger was directed toward the UK because they were trying to preserve relations with America. -
The Panama Canal
The Hay-Banai-Varilla Treaty was a treaty signed on November 18, 1903, by the United States and Panama, which established the Panama Canal Zone and the subsequent construction of the Panama Canal. Construction was finished in 1914 and is still greatly used to this day with transportation of goods etc. -
The Algeciras Conference
Due to the first Moroccan Crisis there needed to be a settled dispute between France and Germany―who wanted control of Morocco. The conference was in Spain in 1909. The reason they had this is because Germany attempted to prevent France from establishing a protectorate over Morocco in what was known as the Tangier Crisis. The U.S. was in attendance and the resolution was that they fixed the banking issues and finally could pay off debt. -
RMS Lusitania
A British ocean liner, the Lusitania, was sailing from New York to Britan during WW1. Off the coast of Ireland, a German U-boat sunk the Lusitania killing 1,198 passengers and crew. Including some Americans. Which eventually persuaded American public to be okay with joining to war -
Zimmerman Telegraph
The Zimmerman telegraph was a secret communication between Germany and Mexico. Germany asked to form a military alliance in the event that the United States joins the war against Germany. Germany pledged to give land back to Mexico if they win. However, it was intercepted by the British Intelligence and given to the United States. This as well enraged the public swaying, even more, to join the war in Europe. What made it even worse was that the German Foreign Secretary verified its authenticity. -
How the U.S. Joined WW1
The United states declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary for sinking merchant American and British ships as well as things such as the Zimmerman note. The United States; however, does not declare war on Bulgaria or the Ottoman Empire. The United States at this time is separate from the United Kingdom and France. The U.S. eventually joins England and France to help defeat the Germans. -
Treaty of Versailles
In Paris, Woodrow Wilson talked about post-war Europe. The treaty stripped Germany of land to form new countries, Germany was also to give up all of their territories, meaning their territories in Africa would be given up, Germany had great restrictions on their military efforts, and Germany had to pay for all of the war damage. Wilson also demanded that there be a Leauge of Nations to watch over the globe. The senate did not sign the treaty meaning the US wasn't in the Leauge of Nations. -
League of Nations
While settling creating and arguing the Versailles Treaty Woodrow Willson demanded some things including a sort of League of Nations. Everyone else arguing the treaty agreed and wanted to join. Wilson took it back here and congress did not ratify it keeping the United States out of it. The countries that did join were Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, China, Canada, Denmark, France, Spain etc.
