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Alaska
Discoveries of gold in Alaska caused inflation under the money supply of the gold standard. This raised the prices of farms, the tariff, factory production, and the stock market. -
Alfred Thayer Mahan
In his book The Importance of Sea Power upon History, Mahan argued the importance of a nation’s sea power in historical supremacy. This book won great recognition as it came out in a time of technological advancements in warships. -
Causes of the war
An intense nationalism calling for the US to become a world power, eventually leading towards a demand for war with Spain. -
Cuban revolt
Cuban nationalists fighting to overthrow colonial Spanish rule sabotaged and destroyed Spanish plantations. In response to the Cuban revolution, Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler and 100,000 troops to stop the revolts. -
Yellow press
“Yellow journalism” went to extremes by exaggerating and falsifying accounts of Spanish brutality in Cuba, thus leading to Americans believing what they read and going to Congress to try and intervene in Cuba. -
McKinley’s war message
Although president McKinley and Spain agreed to a ceasefire on certain conditions, McKinley yielded to the pressure from the public and appealed to Congress for war. His appeals were to stop the awful things happening in Cuba, to protect Americans living in Cuba, to end the damage to trade and commerce, and to end the “constant menace to our peace.” -
Fighting the war
The first shots of the war were fired in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and the last shots were fired a few months later in August. From how short the US victory was, the Secretary of State John Hay called it “a splendid little war.” -
Annexation of Hawaii
With the overthrowing of Queen Liliuokalani, aided by American settlers, and catalyzed by the war in the Philippines, Hawaii was annexed in 1898. -
De Lome letter
A Spanish diplomat’s letter written to the US that was critical of McKinley. It was considered an official Spanish offense to the US. -
Sinking of the Maine
The US battleship the Maine was harbored off of Havana, Cuba when it exploded killing 260 Americans. The yellow press blamed the Spanish for this, although it was eventually concluded to be an accident. -
Teller Amendment
An authorization of war, declaring that the US would not take control of Cuba and after peace was restored the Cubans would rule with their own government. -
Commodore George Dewey
Commanded the fleet of ships sent to the Philippines by president Roosevelt to gain control of the Spanish run islands. -
Opening fire
The US fleet opened fire on the Spanish on land as well as sea. The war lasted around 3 months until the US, with assistance from Filipino rebels, captured the city of Manila. -
Boxer Rebellion
As nationalism and fear and hatred of foreigners grew in China, a secret society of Chinese nationalists, the Boxers, attacked foreign settlements and murdered Christian missionaries. US troops went into China and succeeded in crushing the rebellion. China was also forced to pay indemnities. -
Territory
Hawaii becomes a territory of the US in 1900. -
Hay’s second round of notes
As a sequel note to the one he wrote about an open door trade with China, John Hay wrote again to the imperialistic powers in an effort to preserve China’s territorial integrity and independence. -
Theodore Roosevelt
After President McKinley was killed, Teddy Roosevelt was sworn into presidency. -
Panama Canal
Congress decided to use Panama as a route, however the Colombian senate would not accept the 10 million dollars for the six mile area. The people of Panama wanted to rebel because they wanted the peace that they hoped the construction of the canal would bring. -
Crossing Panama
To end rebellions the United States’ naval forces stopped Colombian soldiers from crossing Panama. -
Russia and Japan
Both countries wanted to have control of Port Arthur in Australia. -
Big stick in Cuba
The President of Cuba sent an appeal to the US to bring in the marines to halt revolutionary disruption. -
Dollar Diplomacy
In order to boost American political interests abroad, Taft used American investments. -
General Victoriano
General Victoriano Huerta took power in Mexico. -
Fall of Huerta
Due to opposition from rebellious forces, Huerta fell from power. -
Submarine Warfare
By warning the British that ships entering the war zone were endangered by German submarines, the Germans were able to counteract the blockades. -
Lusitania Crisis
German submarines sunk a British passenger liner. Most of the passengers died, 128 being Americans. -
More Sinkings
The Arabic, another passenger ship, was attacked by the Germans. -
WWI
America declared war against Britain and Germany. -
Espionage Act of 1917
Any profane or disloyal speech said about the form of the US government was prohibited. -
Red Scare
Communism and anarchism were being spread widely throughout the world. -
Fourteen Points Address
Wilson gave a speech to Congress and to troops to inspire them to keep fighting. -
Sedition Act
Anything poorly spoken about the US government or war efforts was prohibited. -
50th state
Hawaii becomes the 50th state in 1959.
