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Seward's Folly
Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia to buy Alaska. It ended up costing $7 million, which is only $0.02 an acre. The purchase was made fun of because it seemed pointless, and was nicknamed "Seward's Folly", or icebox. But the purchase had lots of benefits - the land was rich in natural resources. -
Alfred Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, who was a lecturer in naval history and the president of the United States Naval War College, published this book. It was an analysis of the power of United States Navy as a factor in the rise of the British Empire. -
Annexation of Hawaii
Planters in Hawaii staged an uprising to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani. Doing so, they asked to be annexed by the United States. President McKinley agreed to a treaty of annexation. There was a confusion when anti-imperialist Grover Cleveland was inaugurated, but American public sentiments strongly favored annexation. -
De Lome Letter
Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to Washington, wrote a letter to ta government official located in Havana calling President McKinley "a low politician". This was later published in the press, inciting a public opinion to rise. This impacted the way President McKinley would approach the conflict with Cuba and Spain -
USS Maine Explosion
The Maine sank in the Havana Harbor after an explosion, killing many. It was most likely from a mine explosion, but lots of people blamed Spain. This was a cause of the Spanish-American War, as many wanted "revenge" on Spain. This explosion was used as propaganda, as well. -
Teller Amendment
Created by Henry Teller. Was a joint resolution to one of President Mckinley's war messages, responding to what he had to say about the status of Cuba and the US and smoothing over conflict. This alleviated the conflict with Spain and the United States, and for Cuba to be governed by its people. Although this didn't end the Spanish-American War, it led to the final steps to peacefully come to amends with Spain and the new territories -
US Defeats Spanish - In Philippines
Not much of a battle. Dewey confronted the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay, assembled by President McKinley. Spain ended up ceding this colony over to the US in the Treaty of Paris. Only six Americans wounded. -
Anti-Imperialists League
A group, which included Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, William James, etc., formed to fight the annexation of the Philippines by the United States. They cited many reasons, stated the racism and the moral wrongdoings that it contains. It died off following the Treaty of Paris. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
Also known as San Juan Heights. United States forces (as well as the Rough Riders) outnumbered Spanish forces, defeating them hours after. Allowed the US to begin siege of Santiago de Cuba. Quickly progressed to the end of the Spanish-American War, where Spain surrenders. -
Rough Riders Organized
Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the navy at the time, recruited a bunch of cowboys to become the first voluntary cavalry in the Spanish-American War. Included farmers, miners, those involved in law enforcement, and Native Americans. They participated in the capture of Kettle Hill, and helped to seize San Juan Ridge. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
This treaty ended the Spanish-American War. Guam and Puerto Rico were ceded by Spain to the United States, and the Philippines was bought for $20 million. Cuba is a bit more complicated, but still a protectorate. Spain also agreed to remove all soldiers from Cuba. -
"The White Man's Burden"
This poem, written by Kipling, was a hymn to the United States' Imperialism. The original subtitle of this poem was "The United States and The Philippine Islands", directed to the power of this territory shifting from Spain to the United States. Talked of how these "white men", essentially the United States government, was overbearing and controlling. -
Open Door Policy
This was adopted/started by US in 1899, to protect equal privileges for all the countries that are willing to trade with China. This targeted to keep the Chinese markets open for all countries and direct access. There were main principles to this policy. One was to respect the rights and privileges to this policy, continue tariff duties in all spheres, and to not discriminate against other nations in levying port dues and railroad rates. -
Foraker Act
This act allotted the Puerto Rican government to be run by their civilians, rather than the United States. Also known as the Organic Act of 1900, this addressed the impact of having the Senate run this territory and how the standard quality of living decimated rather quickly in regards to the economy and export of goods. -
Insular Cases
Opinions made by the United States Supreme court. These were about the legal status and right of the people in Puerto Rico and the Philippines under the United States territorial rule. -
Platt Amendment
An amendment to a US Army Appropriations bill. In it, it said that the United States would end "military occupation" of Cuba and to leave them to be a self-governing place. This began after the Treaty of Paris 1898, where Spain ceded the majority of its land west to the United States following the Spanish-American War. -
Boxer Rebellion
Not all of China supported western and Japanese influence. A Chinese secret organization called the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists led an uprising in China against the spread of this influence. They killed foreigners and Chinese Christians, destroyed foreign property. Created an uprising that had to be put down by American forces. -
McKinley Assassinated
President McKinley was shot two times in the chest by a Polish immigrant. The assassin said to have killed him because he was the head of a "corrupt government". Theodore Roosevelt swore in as president soon after. -
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
This agreement was achieved between Great Britain and the United States, after Theodore Roosevelt took over office. They agreed that the United States could construct and manage a Central American canal, and was to guarantee the neutrality of the canal/authorized to fortify the area if necessary. Also, it was open to all nations, with wait and equal rates. -
US Recognizes the Newly Independent Country of Panama
Panama declared independence from Colombia, with support of the United States government. The US recognized the Republic of Panama, and they signed a treaty that gave them permanent possession of the Panama Canal Zone, in return for $10 million and annuity of $250k 9 years later. -
Hay-Buneau-Varilla Treaty
An agreement between the United States and Panama, giving exclusive rights to the Panama Canal to the United States, in exchange for "financial reimbursement" and a promise to protect the new republic. This was created days after Panama gained independence from Colombia -
Roosevelt Corollary
Also known as the Big Stick Policy. This was a policy created by Roosevelt to prepare to support the nation's diplomatic objectives. This asserted the United States's dominance. -
Russo-Japanese War
Japan launched a surprise naval attack on a Russian naval base in China after Russia declined a plan drawn up by the Japanese to divide Manchuria and Korea into spheres of influence. Japan practically destroyed Russia in three battles, and following this, President Roosevelt came up with a peace treaty at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. -
The Great White Fleet
16 battleships, containing 14,000 sailors, was sent by President Roosevelt to go around the world for fourteen months. Nicknames the Great White Fleet because the ships were painted white, rather than the typical gray. This was a way to show off America's naval power. -
Dollar Diplomacy
Created by President William Taft, and was used to increase economic power among other countries by guaranteeing loans to "powerhouse" foreign countries. The goal was to create stability and order abroad that would promote America's commercial interest, improve financial opportunities for US banking corporation, and to encourage bankers to invest in foreign areas. -
Panama Canal Completed
The Panama Canal was built so the shipment of goods was quick and cheap between Atlantic and Pacific coasts. This trans-isthmian canal was overseen by Theodore Roosevelt. Had to deal with the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty between the United States and Great Britain which was negotiated back in the 1850s.
