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Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine, a statement made by President James Monroe, discouraged European interference with the newly independent Latin American countries. The undisclosed goal of the Monroe Doctrine was to keep European nations out of the Americas and to preserve the possibility of the United States conquering Latin America. The image is of President James Monroe. -
"You Furnish the Pictures, I'll Provide the War!"
In 1897, William Randolph Hearst was cedited with saying "You furnish the pictures, I'll provide the war." In this quote, he attributes the sensationalism and yellow journalism with the ability to create an unnecessary war in Cuba. With pictures and the right spin in the headlines, newspapers could create wars out of thin air. The image is of William Randolph Hearst. -
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US Occupation of Cuba
US occupation of Cuba began during 1898* during the Spanish-American War and lasted until the Platt Agreement was put into effect removing American troops from Cuban soil.- Note: The official start of US occupation is not exactly January 1, 1898, but rather occurred during the year of 1898
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The Maine Sunk
The Maine, a US battleship docked in Havanna, sunk the night of February 15th due to an explosion on board. The influence of yellow journalism shined through in the newspaper reports on the accident, which spread rumors of premeditated attacks by Cuba. This was at the height of yellow journalism. The image is a newspaper reporting on the sinking of the Maine. For more info visit
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/yellow-journalism -
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Notes of Open Door Policy Sent
Between the years 1899 and 1900, Secretary of State John Hay sent a series of notes to other major foreign powers (Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Japan) regarding trade and commerce in China. These notes asked the other powers to accept an Open Door Policy for China, not restricting access to China's ports and resources. For more info visit
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/hay-and-china -
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Boxer Rebellion
Somewhat due to the Open Door Policy, many Chinese citizens were becoming unhappy with the amount of foreigners occupying their land. Rebels, known as Boxers, encouraged by the Chinese empress, attacked Chinese cities trying to eliminate all foreign occupation. However, foreign relief was soon sent and the rebellion was deemed unsuccessful. -
Platt Agreement Signed
The Platt Agreement was a treaty between the United States and Cuba. In return for removing American troops from the country, Cuba had to agree to eight conditions including the permittance of the United States government to intervene in Cuban affairs and the requirement to sell the US territory to harvest coal and build naval bases. The Image is of the first page of the Platt Agreement. For more info visit
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/platt -
Roosevelt Corollary
Put in place to strengthen the Monroe Doctrine, the Roosevelt Corollary stated that the United States would intervene on behalf of European governments to collect the debts of the Latin American countries and to act as an "international police." The corollary was successful but seen as a way for the United States to occupy more Latin American countries. The image is of President Theodore Roosevelt. For more info visit
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/roosevelt-and-monroe-doctrine -
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William Howard Taft's Presidential Term
During his presidential term, William Taft developed the idea of dollar diplomacy. The amount of countries with struggling economies was overwhelming. As a result, Taft decided the way to create ties and infiltrate other nations was by supporting them economically. For more info visit
http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/dollar-diplo -
China Offered a Loan
Continuing with dollar diplomacy, the United States along with 5 other countries offer the new Chinese Republic a large loan in an effort to insert themselves into China's economic system and gain more control over the nation. *Note: This occurred at some point during the year 1912.
