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Purchase of Alaska
Alaska had been the subject of dispute between Great Britain and Russia. Russia began seeking buyers and in 1867, Congress agreed to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million. It would take many years for the U.S to see the value in Alaska, however. -
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History - Alfred Thayer Mahan
Mahan was an advocate of imperialism. In this book, he claimed that countries with sea power were the great nations of history. He also believed that America should acquire defensive bases in the Caribbean and Pacific, and take possession of the Pacific islands like Hawaii. -
Overthrowing of Hawaiian monarch
American settlers aided in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. -
Cuban revolt
Cuban nationalists adopted the strategy of sabotaging and laying waste Cuban plantations in order to either force Spain's withdrawal or involve the U.S in their revolution. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The outbreak of war and fight for the Philippines gave Congress and President McKinley the pretext to complete annexation in 1898. -
De Lome letter
A letter written by the Spanish minister to the U.S that was highly critical to President McKinley. Many considered it an official Spanish insult against the U.S national honor. -
Sinking of the Maine
U.S battleship, the Maine, exploded in Havana, Cuba. -
Mckinley's war message
This war message included four reasons for the U.S to intervene in the Cuban revolution on behalf of the rebels. -
Teller Amendment
Was apart of the joint resolution following Mckinley's war message. Declared that the U.S had no intention of taking political control of Cuba and that the Cuban people could control their own government once peace was restored. -
The Philippines
Commodore Dewey's fleet opened fire on Spanish ships in the Manila Bay. -
Invasion of Cuba
Roosevelt's regiment of volunteers, the Rough Riders, took charge of San Juan Hill in Cuba. -
Spanish-American War
Americans declared war on Spain after the ship Maine exploded in Havana's Harbor. The war was also caused by Americans' desire to expand as well as the harsh treatment that the Spanish had over the Cubans. -
Philippine Rebellion
The U.S brought Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino independence leader, back to the Philippines from exile to undermine Spanish rule and declare Filipino independence, leading to war. -
Philippine-American War
This war convinced American leaders of the need to prepare the island archipelago for eventual self-government. -
Hawaii becomes a territory
Hawaiian islands became a territory of the U.S. -
Boxer Rebellion
To protect American lives and property, U.S troops participated in an international force that marched into Beijing and quickly succeeded in crushing the rebellion of the Boxers. China was forced to pay a huge sum in indemnities, which further weakened the imperial regime. -
Big Stick Diplomacy
Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” The "big stick" symbolizes his power and readiness to use military force if necessary. It is a way of intimidating countries without actually harming them. -
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
Diplomatic agreement of 1901 that permitted the United states to build and fortify a Central American canal alone, without British involvement. -
The Roosevelt Corollary
Another application to Roosevelt's big-stick diplomacy involved Latin American nations that were in deep financial trouble and could not pay their debts to European creditors. An example of this happened in 1904 when Roosevelt declared that the U.S would intervene instead of the Europeans in Santo Domingo. Aka the Roosevelt Corollary. -
Root-Takahira Agreement
Agreement between the U.S and Japan. Exchanged notes pledging for mutual respect for each nation's Pacific possessions, and support for the Open Door policy in China. -
Railroads in China
Taft tested his policy by investing in railroads in China. He believed that private American financial investment in China would lead to greater stability there while promoting U.S business interests at the same time. -
Nicaragua -- Dollar Diplomacy
To protect American investments, the U.S intervened in Nicaragua's financial affairs and sent in marines. -
Panama Canal
Finished being constructed in 1914, as a result of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. -
Tampico Incident
An arrest of American sailors by the Mexican government that spurred Woodrow Wilson to dispatch the American navy to seize the port of Veracruz. -
Archduke Francis Ferdinand - WWI
A Serbian terrorist assassinates Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, which is one event that led to WWI. -
Lusitania crisis
Torpedoing and sinking of a British passenger liner, most passengers drowned including 128 Americans, Wilson responded by sending "strict accountability" message to Germany, WBJ resigned as Secretary of State. -
GB declares war -- WW1
GB, as an ally of France, declares war on Germany, which also led to WW1. -
Germany declares war - WW1
As Austria's ally, the German gov't under Kaiser Wilhelm I declares war against Russia, an ally of Serbia. Also led to WW1. -
Germany declares war - WW1
Germany declares war against France, an ally of Russia, and immediately begins an invasion of neutral Belgium bc it offers the fastest route to Paris. Also led to WW1. -
Sinking of the Arabic -- WWI
Two more Americans lost their lives at sea, another passenger ship, Wilson's note of protest prevailed when Germany pledged no other unarmed passenger ships would be sunk without warning -
Pancho Villa
President Wilson ordered General John J Pershing to pursue Pancho Villa into Mexico. This expeditionary force was in northern Mexico for months w/o being able to capture Villa. -
Sussex - WWI
Germany broke its promise, a torpedo struck an unarmed merchant ship, Wilson threatened to cut off US diplomatic relations with Germany, Germany backed down again, promised not to sink merchant or passenger ships without due warning -
Red Scare
A nationwide fear of communists, socialists, anarchists, and other dissidents suddenly grabbed the American psyche in 1919 following a series of anarchist bombings. The nation was gripped in fear. Innocent people were jailed for expressing their views (Palmer raids), civil liberties were ignored, and many Americans feared that a Bolshevik-style revolution was at hand. Then, in the early 1920s, the fear seemed to dissipate just as quickly as it had begun, and the Red Scare was over.
