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The U.S. Purchases Alaska
Congress purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, but fails to see the value in it until later years. -
Alfred Thayer Mahan Publishes The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
The book states that controlling the sea would lead to world dominance. Also, the book would start the naval race between world powers. -
Queen Liliuokalani Is Overthrown
The Hawaiian Queen is overthrown with the help of American settlers and allows for the future annexation of Hawaii. -
Cuban Revolt
Cuban nationalists tried to destroy Cuban plantations in order to remove Spanish colonial rule or to get the U.S. involved in their fight. This caused Spain to send troops to end the rebellion. -
Hawaii Is Annexed
McKinley and Congress decide to annex the island due to war and fight for the Philippines. -
De Lome Letter
The New York Journal publishes the Spanish minister's letter the U.S., which was critical of McKinley. Americans considered this as the Spanish insulting the U.S. -
Joseph Pulitzer's New York World Details the Cuban Revolt
The exaggerations printed in "yellow journalism" caused Americans to urge Congress to intervene in Cuba. -
Sinking of the Maine
The U.S. ship, Maine, exploded in Cuba. The explosion killed 260 Americans and Spain was excused of intentionally blowing up the ship. -
McKinley Issues His War Message
After the Sinking of the Maine, war was on the horizon. McKinley issues his war message which states 4 reasons the U.S. should intervene in the Cuban revolution on behalf of Cuba. -
Teller Amendment
After McKinley's 4 reasons, Congress passes a joint resolution authorizing war. The amendment states that the U.S. did not want to take political control over Cuba and one peace was restored, Cuba would control their own government. -
Battle of Manila Bay
Realizing how important the Philippines were to Spanish control, the U.S. opens fire on Spanish ships in Manila Bay. Allows U.S. troops to capture Manila. -
Philippine Declaration of Independence
Written to declare the Philippine's independence from Spain, but is undermined when the U.S. decides to gain control. The U.S. lack of honoring their independence will start the Philippine-American War. -
Battle of Santiago De Cuba
The U.S. navy destroys the Spanish fleet at Santiago Bay. The Spanish realize that they can not fight without a navy, and later asks for peace. -
Philippine Annexation
The Treaty of Paris is ratified and Spain ceded the Philippines to the U.S. -
Hay's Open Door Note
John Hay sends his open door note which breaks up the spheres of influence in China and instead implements equal trade opportunities. -
Boxer Rebellion
Reacting to foreign influence in China, Chinese nationalists started the Boxer Rebellion to try and relieve foreign presence. The U.S. responded by sending a military to end the rebellion. -
Hawaii Becomes A Territory of the U.S.
Allowed for Hawaii to have its own local government and also allowed for U.S. interests to be involved in Hawaii politics -
Hay-Paunceforte Treaty
The treaty ended the joint control between the U.S. and Britain of Central America canals. Allowed the U.S. to build the Panama Canal without English involvement. -
Revolution in Panama
The U.S. supported the Panamanian Rebellion against Colombia in order to begin building the Panama Canal. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Latin American countries were unable to pay their debts to European Countries, so the U.S. implemented a policy that they would occupy the countries in debt until the debts were able to paid to the European countries. -
Great White Fleet
Under Roosevelt, the U.S sent a fleet of battleships around the world to demonstrate its power to other countries, especially Japan. -
Root-Takahira Agreement
Agreement between U.S. and and Japan that recognized each countries respective Pacific Ocean possessions and Japan's support for the Open Door Policy -
U.S. Involvement in Chinese Railroads
Taft wanted U.S. bankers to be involved in investing in Chinese railroads. The first attempt at Taft's Dollar Diplomacy. -
Tampico Incident
Wilson sent a fleet to block the port of Vera Cruz in order to support rebels against Huerta. American seaman were arrested and when Huerta refused to apologize, the U.S. occupied Vera Cruz. -
Sinking of Lusitania
Tested U.S. neutrality in WWI when Germany sunk the British ship, Lusitania. The attack caused for Wilson to send Germany a message that they would be held accountable if the attacks continued. -
Pancho Villa and the U.S. Expeditionary Force
Wilson ordered the "expeditionary force" to purse Villa after he murdered people along the Mexican-American border. -
Selective Service Act
Legalized the draft, which called for all groups to be represented in the military. -
Zimmerman Telegram
A secret offer made by Germany to Mexico was intercepted by Britain. The telegram contained a proposition for Mexico to ally itself with Germany and in return they would gain back U.S. territory. Caused Americans to want to enter the war. -
Russian Revolution
Russia was overthrown by revolutionaries who declared it a republic. This got rid of any barriers to joining the Allies, as they could now fight in the name of democracy. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act imprisoned anyone who tried to start a rebellion in the the armed forces against the involvement in WWI. -
The Fourteen Points
Outlined what Wilson wanted to happen as a result of WWI. -
Treaty of Versailles
Following the armistice, a peace conference in Versailles was held to draft the treaty to end the war. The treaty would penalize Germany for the war and would create the League of Nations. -
Palmer Raids
In response to the growing fear of socialism and unhappiness with the peace process, Palmer gathered information on radicals to prevent uprisings. Mostly targeted foreign born people in the U.S. as the communist takeover in Russia was a concern.
