-
The Cry For Annexation
During the mid-19th century, American-owned sugar plantations, with thousands of imported laborers from Japan, Portugal and China, made up three-quarters of Hawaiian wealth. Initially, these sugar plantations were able to export Hawaiian sugar duty-free in 1875. But, the title of duty-free exports was taken away by the McKinley Tariff in 1890. Therefore, American planters located in Hawaii requested the US to annex the islands so they wouldn't have to pay the duty allowing them to build the base -
The Second War for Independence
During the late 1800's, specifically during 1895, a Cuban poet and journalist located in New York, due to exile, decided to launch a revolution. He had prepared a Cuban resistance to fight against Spain with little to no money for campaigning and purposefully destroyed property, American-owned sugar mills and plantations specifically. His aim was to free Cuba from Spain to create "a free Cuba". -
The United States Acquires Alaska
The Alaskan territory, formerly possessed by the Russians, is located directly west of the Northwest territories and was discovered during a Russian expedition in 1741. There was a surplus of scarce resources such as timber, minerals and oil which weren't known to the Russians. Originally, the House of Representatives saw this as a bad investment until these resources were discovered. -
Period: to
Panama Canal Construction
The president of the United States, Roosevelt, requested a canal to be built which cuts across Central America. The purpose of the canal was to reduce travel time for commercial and military ships. Previously, a French company had tried to set up this same canal but was unable to complete it even after 10 years. The French company managed to convince the president and Congress to purchase the claim for 40 million USD. -
Period: to
Intervention in Mexico
The US President Woodrow Wilson was attempting to act against the Mexican leader, Victoriano Huerta. This opportunity arrived in April 1914 when a group of American sailors in Tampico were arrested but were released not much later. He used this as an excuse to intervene with Mexico and ordered troops to occupy Veracruz. Other South American countries tried to lessen the tension by proposing a solution, but it was rejected immediately. The Regime collapsed and a nationalist leader took over.
