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Monroe Doctrine Reflects Special US Interests
Latin American countries and the United States were scared that European nations would try and conquer them. Because of this, Prisdent James Monroe enforced the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. The document said, " the American continents...are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." The United States didn't really enforce the Monroe Doctrine until 1898. Then, in 1901, Cuba gained independence. -
China and Britain Clash in the Opium War
Opium caused problems to China, so the Qing emperor wrote a letter to Queen Victoria of England. Britain wouldn't stop trading opium, and this started the Opium War. The Opium War took place mainly at sea. The British had steam-powered gunboats that had a lot more technology than those of the Chinese. The Chinese lost and then the Treaty of Nanjing was signed in 1842. -
Commodore Perry Enters Tokyo Harbor
Many officials from foreign countries wanted Japan to open up their ports to trade. Commodore Perry in 1853, brought four ships into Tokyo Harbor. The ships shocked the Japenese. They were huge wooden steam ships with cannons The shogun let Perry in and read the letter that he brought from Fillmore.He asked if the Japenese would want to trade with the US. Perry threatened Japan and said he would come back in a year with a bigger fleet to get their response.Japan then made the Treaty of Kanagawa. -
US Wins Spanish-American War
The United States wanted independence, so they joined the Cuban War (or the Spanish-American War). It lasted 4 months and the first attack with launched in Cuba. The Spanish military lost because they were prepared for a war on two fronts. Cuba was independent in 1901, but the US controlled their military. Many Cubans were upset and didn't want the US taking control. But after the Spanish-American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines to the US. -
The Mexican Revolution Begins
Many Mexicans were against the rule of Diaz. Liberals wanted liberty, farm laborers wanted land, workers wanted to have better conditions. Francisco Madero believed in democracy and wanted it in Mexico. He told everyone that he was running for president in 1910. Diaz then arrested him, so Madero called for a revolution against him. Many people created their own armies. Francisco Pancho Villa was well liked in the north and Emiliano Zapata in the south. Diaz stepped down and Madero was elected. -
Panama Canal Opens
Latin America thought of the US as the "Colossus of the North." There were railroads, but travel was still hard and long. Sea travel would be about 13,000 miles. They thought that if a canal would be created in Latin America, it would solve the problem. The US had this idea since the early 1800s. France tried in 1880 to build a canal cross Panama, but failed. Panama was a province of Colombia in 1903. Roosevelt offered them $10 million and a yearly payment to build the canal. Colombia wanted.. -
Panama Canal CONTINUED
more money, so Roosevelt said they should start a revolution in Panama. Panama won their independence and the US Navy helped them. To thank the US, Panama gave the US a zone about 10 miles wide where they could build the canal. Many challednges came with building the canal. Insects with disease, floods, mosquitoes, and rats. Even though many workers died and got sick, the Panama Canal still opened in 1914. Because of this, Latin America was a crossroad of trade.
