-
Period: to
Imperialism and Progressivism
-
Hull House
Hull House is opened by Jane Addams in Chicago. It is the first settlement house which offers English classes, childcare, medical clinics, citizenship test preparation. -
Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaii is overthrown.
Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaii is overthrown is overthrown by American planters. -
USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor
The battleship the USS Maine explodes in Havanna, Cuba. It is immediately blamed on Spain by American newspapers but was later found to have been caused by an internal explosion. -
Teller Amendment
A joint resolution by the US Congress in which they promise Cuba its independence (the US will not take over). -
US declares war on Spain
America attacks Spain in Cuba but also attacks Spain's holdings in the Pacific Ocean. Often referred to as the "splendid little war". -
US officially annexes Hawaii
The US under McKinely votes to annex Hawaii. -
Treaty of Paris, 1898
The US signs a treaty with Spain ending the Spanish American War. The US is granted the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam as well as the Philippines for $20 million dollars. -
Open Door Policy
The United States did not have a sphere of influence in China. Secretary of State John Hay produced the Open Door Notes which declared that China should be open to trade with all countries (including the US) regardless of spheres. -
Platt Amendment
The US places restrictions on Cuba's independence: Cuba cannot go into debt to another country, Cuba was lease a naval coaling station to the US (Guantanamo Bay), the US can intervene anytime it deemed it necessary. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Roosevelt gives his State of the Union speech and declares that the US would intervene in Latin American countries in order to keep European countries out. -
Panama Canal
The US begins construction of the Panama Canal, after paying Panama $10 million for the right to do so and promising them $250,000 annually for rent. -
The Jungle
The Jungle is written by Upton Sinclair. It was originally intended to show the plight of the workers in the meatpacking industry, but Americans were more outraged at the conditions of the meat produced in the plants. -
Meat Inspection Act
Law required the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect all meat packing plants, it was partly in response to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
Required companies to properly label food and drugs with the product's ingredients. -
Gentlemen's Agreement
An agreement is struck between Japan and the US, Japan promised not to allow its citizens to emigrate to the US and in return the US promsed to end racial discrimination against Japanese children in San Francisco schools. -
The Great White Fleet
16 US battleships circumnavigate the globe in an effort to demonstrate the naval might of the US navy. -
Dollar Diplomacy
US policy created under William Howard Taft which was aimed at furthering the interests of the United States abroad by encouraging the investment of U.S. capital in foreign countries. -
Seventeenth Amendment
Amendment requires direct election of Senators. -
Eighteenth Amendment Ratified
Amendment bans the manufacure, sale and transportation of alcohol throughout the US. -
Nineteenth Amendment Ratified
Amendment grants women the right to vote nationally.
