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Theodore Roosevelt becomes president after McKinley is assassinated
Roosevelt was Vice President during McKinley's term, but was sworn in after McKinley's untimely death. -
US builds naval base at Pearl Harbor
Once the US annexes Hawaii, they take advantage of its geographic location, and build a naval base. -
Spanish American War starts
The USS Maine explodes, the US blames Spain and declares war. -
USS Maine explodes
The USS Maine, a rescue ship for civilians near Cuba, explodes without cause, sparking the Spanish-American War. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
Vice President Theodore Roosevelt led troops into battle, took command, and led the US to win the Battle of San Juan Hill -
United States annexes Hawaii
In 1893, the US overthrew Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, in order to have full control over crops being grown in Hawaii. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
Ended the Spanish-American War -
Philippine-American War
On February 4, 1899, just two days before the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, fighting broke out between American forces and Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo who sought independence rather than a change in colonial rulers. The ensuing Philippine-American War lasted three years and resulted in the death of over 4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, and disease. -
Boxer Rebellion in China
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 was an agreement made in 1898 that involved Spain relinquishing nearly all of the remaining Spanish Empire, especially Cuba, and ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.The treaty was signed on December 10, 1898, and ended the Spanish-American War. -
Platt Amendment
passed as part of the 1901 Army Appropriations Bill; stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War, and an eighth condition that Cuba sign a treaty accepting these seven conditions. -
Roosevelt Corollary
A corollary (1904) to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the U.S. might intervene in the affairs of an American republic threatened with seizure or intervention by a European country -
William Taft is elected president
Taft was elected president in 1908, the chosen successor of Theodore Roosevelt, but was defeated for re-election by Woodrow Wilson in 1912 after Roosevelt split the Republican vote by running as a third-party candidate. -
Mexican Revolution begins
a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted ultimately in the end of the 30-year dictatorship in Mexico and the establishment of a constitutional republic. -
Woodrow Wilson is elected president
Wilson won the election, gaining a large majority in the Electoral College and winning 42% of the popular vote, while Roosevelt won 27%, Taft 23% and Debs 6%. -
Panama Canal opens
The Panama Canal officially opened on August 15, 1914, although the planned grand ceremony was downgraded due to the outbreak of WWI. Completed at a cost of more than $350 million, it was the most expensive construction project in U.S. history to that point. -
Puerto Ricans become US citizens
Puerto Ricans gained US citizenship without losing their Puerto Rican citizenship