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Alfred Thayer Mahan published "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"
Mahan argued that a strong navy was crucial to a country's ambitions of securing foreign markets and becoming a world power. Would lead to the country creating the worlds 3rd largest navy by 1900. -
Jacob Riis publishes How the other half live
Shows the Tenements of New York. Featuring never-before-seen photos supplemented by blunt and unsettling descriptions, the treatise opened New Yorkers' eyes to the harsh realities of their city's slums and treatment of the immigrants and poor. -
1st attempt at annexation of Hawaii
A group of American sugar planters under Sanford Dole overthrow Queen Liliuokalani, the Hawaiian monarch, and establish a new provincial government with Dole as president. The goal was to have the U.S. annex Hawaii so the planters wouldnt be hurt by tariffs on foreign goods. At the time President Clevland was anti Imperialistic and refused to annex the islands. -
Plessy v. Fergusonr
A landmark 1896 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. -
Gold discovery in Alaska
The discovery increased the money supply under the gold standard, causing inflation. Farm prices rose and factory production increased, resulting in the Dingley Tariff during McKinley's presidency. -
De Lome Letter
De Lome, the Spanish minister in Washington, sent a secret letter he wrote describing President McKinley as weak with no mind of his own, angering many Americans when the letter was intercepted and published in American papers.
This incident happened in February, as did the explosion of the battleship Maine. Both incidents stirred up war fever in America and increased cries to go to war against Spain. -
Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
The Maine was sent to Cuba to protect and evacuate Americans if a dangerous flare-up should occur. On Feb. 15, 1898 the Maine mysteriously blew up in the Havana harbor, with a loss of 260 officers and men. Main Reason for Spanish-American War. "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain." Yellow journalists fueled the fires, the public wanted a fight, and McKinley unleashed the dogs of war. -
The Teller Amendment
An amendment which declared that when the U.S. had over-thrown Spanish rule of Cuba it would give the Cubans their freedom. -
Spanish-American War
Americans declared war on Spain after the ship Maine exploded in Havana's Harbor. The War was also caused by Americans' desire to expand as well as helping Cubans gain independence from Spain because of their harsh treatment. The war resulted in the U.S. gaining Guam and Puerto Rico as well as control over the Philippines. Only lasted a few months and became known as, "A Splendid Little War." -
Annexation of Hawaii
America's annexation of Hawaii in 1898 extended U.S. territory into the Pacific and highlighted resulted from economic integration and the rise of the United States as a Pacific power. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
Ended the Spanish American War after six months of hostility. Apart from guaranteeing the independence of Cuba, the treaty also forced Spain to cede Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S. who then paid 20 million dollars for the Philippines. -
The Philippine-American War
Or Philippine Insurrection, lasted from 1899–1902 between the U.S. and Filipino revolutionaries. Fighting broke out between American forces and Filipino nationalists who sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers. The ensuing Philippine-American War lasted 3 years and resulted in the death of over 4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, and disease. -
The Open Door Policy
A foreign policy proposed by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay issued in 1899 intended to protect the rights of all countries to trade equally with China and confirming multi-national acknowledgment of China’s administrative and territorial sovereignty. -
Boxer Rebellion
A violent anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901 led by Chinese super-patriots known as the Boxers. Goal was to drive all foreigners from China. Several countries sent troops to halt the attacks, weakened China more. -
Election of 1900
Republicans nominate William McKinley on a platform that advocated imperialism while the Democrats chose Willima J. Bryan on a platform of free silver. During the election, the Republicans professed that free silver would end U.S. prosperity. McKinley won the election with an overwhelming victory in the urban areas. Teddy Roosevelt was Governor of New York, but ran on the Republican ticket as McKinley’s VP. -
Insular Cases
Court cases dealing with islands/countries that had been recently annexed and demanded the rights of a citizen. These Supreme Court cases decided that the Constitution did not always follow the flag, thus denying the rights of a citizen to Puerto Ricans and Filipinos. -
Big Stick Diplomacy
Teddy Roosevelt used the phrase "speak softly, and carry a big stick" to describe his foreign policy. Big Stick diplomacy defined his presidency. The idea is negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong. -
President McKinley Assassinated
McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901, six months into his second term. He was shaking hands with the public when anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot him twice in the abdomen. He died 8 days later. The led to Teddy Roosevelt to become President. -
Coal miners Strike of 1902
When 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike and demanded a 20 percent raise, a nine-hour workday, and the right to organize a union, the mine operators refused to bargain. Roosevelt had a talk about the strike at the White House with the opposing sides and it was settled. -
Platt Amendment
Gave the US the right to take over Cuba if the country entered into a treaty or debt that might place its freedom in danger. This amendment also gave the U.S. the right to put a naval base in Cuba to protect it and the US holdings in the Caribbean. Amendment was resented very much by the Cubans. -
Roosevelt's Collorary
Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that not only were the nations of the Western Hemisphere not open to colonization by European powers, but that the U.S. had the responsibility to preserve order and protect life and property in those countries. -
Roosevelt's Collorary
Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that not only were the nations of the Western Hemisphere not open to colonization by European powers, but that the U.S. had the responsibility to preserve order and protect life and property in those countries. -
“The History of Standard Oil”
A book written by Ida Tarbell about the Standard Oil Company that furthered the closing of the company due to their violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act -
Panama Canal
The U.S. built the Panama Canal to have a quicker passage to the Pacific from the Atlantic and vice versa. It cost $400,000,000 to build. Columbians would not let Americans build the canal, but then with the assistance of the U.S. a Panamanian Revolution occurred. The new ruling people allowed the U.S. to build the canal. Construction started in 1904, ended in 1914. -
The jungle is published
Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle to expose the appalling working conditions in the meat-packing industry. His description of diseased, rotten, and contaminated meat shocked the public and led to new federal food safety laws.
