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The Purchase of Alaska
The territory had been a huge dispute between European powers, but became an economic burden which Russia then tried to pass it off to Seward who represented the United States. It was good for resources and power over Britain. -
Alfred Thayer Mahan
He wrote the important book, The Importance of Sea Power Upon History, where he argued that strong navy power was crucial to secure world markets and become a world superpower. The book persuaded Congress to finance the construction of modern steel ships and the acquisition of overseas islands for supplies. -
Cause of Spanish-American War
There was an overwhelming support for the war against the Spanish due to jingoism which was an intense form of nationalism that led to aggressive foreign policy. The United States were begging to become a world power. -
Yellow Press in the Spanish-American War
This promoted war fever with their bold headlines and made false accounts on behalf of the Spanish atrocities in Cuba. This urged Americans to intervene in Cuba to stop the atrocities and suffering. -
Overthrow of Hawaii
American settlers aided the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarch, however, Cleveland opposed the Republican efforts to annex Hawaii. -
The Cuban Revolt during the Spanish-American War
For many years, many Cuban Nationalists fought to overthrow Spanish rule and attempted to either force Spain's withdraw or help the United States fight against them. The response of the Spanish was to send 100,000 troops to suppress the revolt. -
Outbreak of War over Hawaii and Philippines
The fight for the Philippines gave Congress and McKinley the pretext to complete annexation. -
Treaty of Paris
"Treaty of Peace" that recognized Cuban independence and the U.S. purchase of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Phillipines. -
Results of the Spanish American War
Imperialism was a major issue still after the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. Anti-Imperialistic League, led by William Jennings Bryan, opposed the expansion into the Pacific. -
U.S. Becomes World Power
U.S. victory brought pride to all Americans and made Southern states more attached to the Union. France, Britain, and other European states recognized the United States as a first class power with a strong navy and the willingness to take active roles in international affairs. -
Start of the Philippine-American War
Controversy of the Treaty of Paris, the Philippines thought that the U.S. was violating their own DOI because annexing the Philippines would ultimately deprive them of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness thus breading political conflict in Asia. -
Election of 1900
Republican candidate was McKinley because he was a war hero, while the Democratic candidate was William Jennings Bryan who attacked the growth of American Imperialism. -
Boxer Rebellion
Chinese nationalists, the Society of Harmonious Fists/Boxers attacked foreign settlements and killed Christian missionaries. To keep American lives and property, U.S. troops invades and shut the rebellion down. -
Territory of Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands became U.S. territory of the U.S. and eventually a state, the 50th in our union, and it gave us even more land and more power. -
Insular Cases
Philippines question whether the U.S. Constitution applied to the territories that were under U.S. control. Anti-Imperialists argued they did, Imperialists argued they didn't. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Imperialists. Rights were not automatically given to territories but were decided to be given by Congress. -
Big Stick Diplomacy
McKinley was fatally shot and VP Roosevelt was succeeded into office. His motto was "speak softly and carry a big stick" which showed his aggression towards foreign policy. -
Cuba and the Platt Amendment
Although resented by Cuban nationalists, this amendment required Cuba to never sign a treaty with foreign powers who ceased its independence, to not build high public debt, to allow U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs to keep its independence and maintain law and order, and allow U.S. to keep naval bases. -
Revolution in Panama
Roosevelt wanted to begin the construction of a canal through the terrain of the isthmus of Panama. He supported a revolt in Panama in 1903. With United States backing, the rebellion succeeded immediately and almost without bloodshed. -
Panama Canal
As a result of the Spanish American War, the new american empire stretched from Puerto Rico in the Carribean to the Philippines in the Pacific. -
Russo-Japanese War
Imperialist rivalry between Russia and Japan led to a war between the two which Japan was winning. To end the war, Roosevelt arranged a diplomatic conference between two representatives. Although Russia and Japan agreed to the treaty of Portsmouth, Japanese nationalists blamed the United States for not giving their country what they wanted from Russia. -
Dollar Diplomacy in Latin America and East Asia
Taft believed that private American financial investment in China and the Nation of Central America would lead to greater stability there, while at the same time promoting U.S. business interests. -
William Howard Taft and Dollar Diplomacy
Taft adopted a policy that was mildly expansionist but depended more on investors dollars than on the navy's battleships. -
Railroads in China
Taft first introduced his policy in China, he wanted U.S. bankers to be included in a British, French, and German plan to invest in railroads in China and succeeded with an agreement in 1911. -
Conflict in Mexico
Wilson's moral approach to foreign affairs was tested by a revolution and civil war in Mexico. He refused to recognize the military dictatorship of General Huerta who had seized power in Mexico in 1913 by arranging to assassinate the democratically elected president. -
Tampico Incident
American soldiers were arrested by American authorities because they wanted an arms embargo against Mexico. They were later released when they went to Tampico and demanded by U.S. naval officers to apologize but did not. War was averted by South American powers who offered to mediate the dispute. -
Building the Canal
Completed in 1914, hundreds of laborers lost their lives. Completed by the skills of Colonels, chief engineer and Dr. Gorges whose efforts eliminated mosquitoes that spread yellow fever. -
Spark of World War 1
With the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Frank Ferdinand by a Serbian Nationalist, the government of Austria delivered and ultimatum and they eventually invaded Serbia. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The U.S. remained neutral during the first few years of World War 1, but when a German U-boat shoots a torpedo at a U.S. passenger ship sparking the end to the U.S. neutrality. -
Loans and Taxes
Wilson's war government managed to raise 33 billion dollars by using loans and taxes to help fund the war. Congress imposed a excise tax on luxury goods to also help fund the government. -
Russian Revolution
Russian revolutionist overthrew the Czar of Russia and create a republic. It later develops into a Communist Government. -
Zimmerman Telegram
Germany sent a telegram to Mexico asking them to work together, but Britain intercepted the message. Wilson believed that this act showed that Germany wanted the U.S. to join the war. -
The Fourteen Points
Wilson drafted the fourteen points as a way to achieve war aims. Many of the points relates to territorial questions regarding France but his main point was the world peace organization. -
Treaty of Versailles
Peace treaty created by the Big Four (Wilson, George, Clemenceau, Orlando) and all the Allied forces. The treaty resulted in Germany paying for all the damages done in the war and the creation of the League of Nations. -
Red Scare
After the war, Russia became a communist country and all the anti-German hysteria turned into an anti-communist hysteria resulting in the term called the Red Scare.
