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The Alaska Purchase
The purchase of Alaska from Russia was instrumental in United States imperialism, as the US gained a very large colony that was later discovered to be full of natural resources. -
Sea Power
Alfred Thayer Mahan writes "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History", a book on the importance of the sea in history and warfare. His writings were influential enough to delay the use of convoys as a defense against U-boats in WWI. -
Hawaii and the Committee on Annexation
The United States Committee on Annexation, a party of politicians and businessmen that had previous trade relations with the Hawaiian monarchical government, decided to overthrow the Queen of Hawaii. They did this because they believed that the new constitution the monarchy was planning to ratify would be financially counterproductive. -
The Annexation of Hawaii
Roughly 6 years after the Hawaiian Queen Lili'uokalani was overthrown, the US federal government officially annexed Hawaii. This was largely done to support war efforts during the Spanish-American War. -
The Sinking of the USS Maine
The USS Maine was sent to Havana, Cuba in order to protect American interests in the area. However, the ship sank from an explosion, which was blamed on Spain. This event would eradicate American patience with Spain, leading to war soon thereafter. -
Declaration of War with Spain
Congress declares war with Spain. The declaration passed in the Senate 42:35 and in the House 311:6, both in favor of the war. This war was largely driven by American nationalism. -
Capture of Guam
The island of Guam was captured by US Captain Henry Glass without a single battle taking place. Guam, largely unaware that war had even broken out, quickly surrendered to the US. -
End of Hostilities
After months of conflict, the Protocol of Peace was signed between the US and Spain in Washington DC. This was meant to prevent further conflict, although the official treaty still had to be negotiated. -
Federal Taxation of Long Distance Phone Calls
In order to generate revenue to support the war effort, the federal government passed an excise tax on long-distance phone service. However, this tax was not repealed when the war ended, and remained in effect until 2006. -
Yellow Journalism
Realizing that the Cuban War for Independence was a gold mine for newspapers, publishers such as the New York World and the New York Journal published false or exaggerated stories of the atrocities in Cuba. This angered the public, raising the demand for war. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was accepted by both the US and Spain. This officially ended the Spanish-American War, provided the US with temporary control of Cuba, and ceded the ownership of several Spanish territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines) to the US. -
Philippine-American War Begins
After US forces captured Manila in a false battle, the Filipino revolutionaries realized that the US and Spain made a secret alliance that excluded the revolutionaries. Unable to accept this, the revolutionaries later declared war with the US. -
The Open Door Policy in China
This policy was initiated by the US, stating that foreign countries trading in China should have equal trading privileges. It also stated that Chinese administration was to be respected. Although no foreign countries trading in China contested this policy, they technically did not agree to it either. -
Boxer Rebellion
A group of Chinese nationalists called the Society of Right and Harmonious Fists (or simply Boxers) led a revolt in China. This revolt was against foreign interference in religion, trade, technological development, and politics in China. One of the nations deemed "guilty" of this practice was the US. -
Roosevelt and Big Stick Diplomacy
In an interview with Theodore Roosevelt when he was but a governor, he revealed his policy on foreign diplomacy. This policy utilized aggression and intimidation in order to pacify threats before they became trouble. He later became president and put this policy in place. -
Teller and Platt
The Teller Amendment was a promise to Cuba that the US was not declaring war in order to gain control Cuba, but to free it from the clutches of Spain. The Platt Amendment established US dominance over Cuba without officially violating the Teller Amendment, increasing US power over the region. -
Defeat of the Filipino Revolutionaries
After US soldiers snuck into the Filipino Revolutionaries' base of operations by pretending to be captives, they quickly attacked and defeated the guards. The Filipino leader, Aguinaldo, was forced to surrender and accept an oath that stated that the American government had authority over the Philippines. -
The Venezuelan Affair and the Big Stick
In the first official use of Big Stick Diplomacy in foreign affairs, Venezuela was being blockaded by British and German naval forces. The two European power felt as though their subjects in Venezuela were mistreated, but Roosevelt disagreed. Seeking to protect a fellow republic, Roosevelt prepared a naval force of his own in Cuba as a means of threatening the Europeans. The threat worked, as they pulled out of Venezuelan waters. -
New Leadership at the Panama Canal
John Frank Stevens, the chief engineer of the Panama Canal, resigned and was replaced by Major George Washington Goethals. Goethals had experience in engineering canals and was able to finish work on the Canal two years ahead of schedule. -
Dollar Diplomacy in the Honduras
President William Howard Taft attempted to create US power in the Honduras by paying for the nation's debt to Britain. However, this scheme would fail. -
The Ten Tragic Days
A coup was planned to assassinate Mexican President Madero and Vice President Suárez. This plot had an unusual assistant in its planning: US ambassador H. L. Wilson. The murders of the President and VP led to the rise of the Huerta regime, who would be an enemy of the US. -
J. P. Morgan and World War I
For the duration of the first World War, the bank of J. P. Morgan financed the war efforts of Britain and France. The US federal government claimed neutrality, but the private bank was able to profit off of the war. -
The US and the Huerta regime: Veracruz
After Mexican officials arrested several US sailors, the US demanded an apology on the States' terms. When they did not receive one, the US responded with the bombardment and occupation of Veracruz. The true goal of US President Wilson was actually to overthrow the Huerta regime, which he refused to acknowledge. -
Opening of the Panama Canal
After working on the canal for roughly a decade, the United States opened the Panama Canal. This canal provided safe and quick passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making the cross between oceans much more reasonable a task. The US stood to benefit as well, as they were exempt from paying the dues to cross the canal. -
The RMS Lusitania
The RMS Lusitania was an unarmed British passenger ship. During an attack by German U-boats, it was sunk by a torpedo. 128 Americans went down with the ship, enraging the American public. This further intensified public hostility towards Germany. -
The First Red Scare
After the October Revolution, US governments (both federal and local) realized the threat of Communists and other intensely socialist groups. Through strikes and even a bombing campaign, a general state of hysteria spread over the public. This would last until 1921, when a massive radical uprising was projected to happen on May Day; however, nothing of significance occurred, and the hysteria died out. -
The Zimmermann Telegram
British intelligence intercepted a telegram from the German Foreign Office to the Mexican government offering a secret alliance. This alliance would have allowed Mexico to take back "lost territory" from the US if they agreed to the alliance. This enraged the US, generating massive support for US entry into WWI. -
The U-Boats
After promising the US to cease unrestricted submarine warfare, the German navy resumed its attacks on any and all ships approaching Allied powers. This included US merchant ships, which would generate more fury from the US. -
President Wilson's Declaration of War
The American public, outraged at Germany's actions against the neutral US, roared in approval when President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war. This declaration was passed, officially making the United States of America a part of World War I. -
The US vs. Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, a Central Power, was an ally of Germany and utilized similar submarine operations to Germany. This made it a threat to the US. The US Senate voted 74 to 0 in favor, and the House voted 365 to 1 in favor. -
End of the First World War
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I, although combat operations had ceased for seven months prior. The US Senate supported this treaty, though it did not ratify this treaty in the US. The US did not technically end involvement in WWI until the Knox-Porter Resolution of 1921. -
Japan vs. the Open Door Policy
Japan seized control of Manchuria, a region in China. This was in direct violation of the Open Door Policy the US had created. However, since the policy was never enforced by law or contract, there were no actual repercussions for this. The US federal government would remember this insult. -
Hawaii, the 50th State
The Hawaiian Islands finally became a full state, after an annexed territory for over 60 years. Its ratification made the US border extend into the Pacific Ocean.
