-
Sewards Purchases Alaska
Seward offered to purchase Alaska on March 30th for $7.2 million, and it was transferred to the United States on October 18th. -
Panama Canal begun
The United States started building a canal across a 50 mile stretch of the Panama isthmus in 1881. -
William McKinley elected president
William McKinley was elected in 1896, became president on March 4, 1897, and was assassinated on September 14, 1901. -
Sinking of USS Maine
An unknown explosion sank the USS Maine, killing 266 of the 354 crew members on board, and eventually leading to a declaration of war. -
U.S. Declares War on Spain
On this date, the U.S. declared war on Spain, and the war was basically one-sided because Spain wasn't prepared for the war at all. -
Battle of Manilla Bay
In this battle, the U.S. Navy defeated the Spanish Pacific fleet, which resulted in the fall of the Philippines, and contributed to the U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
This was one of the final battles of the Spanish-American War and the most significant U.S. land victory. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The Joint Resolution passed Congress allowing the Hawaiian islands to become a part of the United States. -
Spanish-American War ends
The Spanish-American War ended by signing the Treaty of Paris, and Spain lost control over what remained of their overseas empire. -
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion lasted from 1899-1901, and it was an anti-foreigner movement by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists in China. -
U.S. Conquest of Samoa
Samoa was divided into two, and Germany gained the western islands while the United States took the eastern islands. -
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy was initiated in the U.S. in 1899 and 1900 so that there could be equal privileges among countries trading with China. -
Philippine-American War
This war could be seen as a continuation of the Philippine Revolution, and fighting still continued for several years after the war ended. -
Foraker Act
The Foraker Act of 1900 created a local government for Puerto Ricans, and sort of gave them what they asked for. -
Platt Amendment
By these terms, Cuba would not transfer Cuban land to anywhere else besides the United States, and Cuba's rights to make treaties were limited. -
Assassination of President McKinley
McKinley was the third U.S. President to be assassinated, and he was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in New York. -
Panama Canal completed
The Panama Canal was finished in 1904 and linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans together.
