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Monroe Doctrine reflects special US interests in Americas
To protect the U.S. and Latin America from getting reconquered the U.S. signed a document that basically said the Americas are free countries and can no longer be colonized by Europeans. -
China and Britain clash in the Opium War
Britain was losing the favorable balance of trade to China, they were buying silk and porcelain from China but were not selling anything to China. The Brtitish finally discovered that the Chinese woulld buy Opium, which is a narcotic. The British were sneaking it in to China for nonmedical purposes. The British wouldn't stop so, the Chinese declared war. The Opium war took place at sea. China wasn't modernized so, they lost badly and as a result gave up Hong Kong and extrateritorial rights. -
Commodore Perry enters Tokyo Harbor
After many years under the Tokugawa Shogunate in isolation Commodore Perry of the U.S. came to open trade up. He asked if the Japanese would open up trade and said that when he came back he would have double the ships he had then and would recieve their reply. -
US wins Spanish American War
Cuba had been fighting a brutal war against Spain for their independence, the U.S. had business affaires in Cuba, so they joined the war. The U.S did not attack Cuba, they attacked the Phillipines, snce the Spanish were not ready they lost. The U.S. controlled Cuba after the war, even though Cuba was cinsidered independent. The U.S also got Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines. -
Mexican Revolution begins
Many Mexicans did not like Porfirio Diaz's rule. This started a revolutionary spirit. Diaz stepped down nad Francisco Madero became president. This led to much political instability until 1929 when the Institutional Revolutionary Party was created. -
Panama Canal Opens
The U.S wanted to build the Panama canal so they would not have to go all the way around South America. Panama was under Columbian control, the Columbians did not want the U.S. to build a canal. The U.S. joined Panama's side and won their independence, in return Panama let the U.S. build the Panama canal.
