-
American Settlement of Hawaii
The first permanent American settlement is established in Hawaii. This was done out of a push for an increase in the sugar industry, which would shape future legislation. -
The Purchase of Alaska
For decades, Great Britain and RUssia both laid claim to Alaska. However, after Russia assumed control of the area and established a seal hunting colony, they sold it to the Americans for 7.2 million due to the economic burden and the threat of British invasion. For years, America saw no value in it, and only bought it after Seward's efforts and Russia's support of the Union in the Civil War -
"The Influence of Sea Power Upon History"
Written by Alfred Thayer Mahan, this book influenced navies across the world, prominently American and even Japanese navies. Mahan argued that a strong navy was essential to establishing a country's foreign markets. Using these arguments, the U.S. Navy convinced Congress to commissioned the creation of steel ships, and the acquisition of oversea islands, such as Samoa, for coal and the establishment of defensive and supply bases. -
Yellow Press
Yellow press was sensationalism journalism, with bold headlines designed to garner attention. This was the main promoter of war. Papers such as Joseph's Pulitzer's "War" and William Randolph Hearst's "Journal" printed exaggerated and false accounts of Spanish atrocities in Cuba, which the public believed and pushed Congress for war. -
Queen Liliuokalani Overthrown
In 1893, expansionists aided in overthrowing Queen Liliuokalani, despite President Cleveland's opposition of imperialism, and his efforts to block Republicans from annexing Hawaii. -
Cuban Revolt
After several fights by Nationalists to overthrow Spanish control they renewed the fight in 1895. They hoped to either overthrow Spanish control or pull the US in as an ally, and destroyed plantations. IN response, the Spanish general Valeriano Weyler and a small army to crush the revolt. The general forced civilians into camps, where many died due to disease and starvation, and earning the name "The Butcher" in American Press. -
Invasion of Cuba
This was the final battle of the Spanish-American War. A poorly trained American forced landed in Cuba, and together with a supporting force of Cuban rebels, defeated the Spanish on land and sea. With the victory of Roosevelt's cavalry charge up San Juan Hill and the defeat of the Spanish Navy on July 3rd at Santiago Bay. With the loss of their navy, the Spanish approached the US for a peace treaty. -
McKinley's War Message
Despite the Spanish's agreement to a ceasefire in Cuba, due to public pressure, McKinley sent a war message to Congress with the reasons to end the violence in Cuba, protect U.S. citizens and properties in Cuba, end the economic threat presented by the revolution,and to end the threat to peace presented by the disorder in Cuba. -
De Lôme Letter
This was a letter from the Spanish Ambassador that was leaked to the American Press, and was highly critical of President McKinley. Many Americans viewed this as an insult to the U.S. and its honor. -
Sinking of the USS Maine
While the battleship USS Main was anchored in Havana, Cuba, an explosion occurred on the ship and killed 260 Americans aboard. On the backs of the De Lôme Letter, which was published in a newspaper a week earlier and was seen as an insult to the US on behalf of Spain, and yellow press calling for war and expansion, the US blamed Spain for the destruction of the ship and claimed it was sabotage, which they used as reason to declare war on Spain. -
Teller Amendment
The US Congress passed the Teller Amendment, which authorized war with Spain. A stipulation was that once the war was over, the US would not take control of Cuba and that they would be free to govern themselves. -
Battle of Manila Bay
The Naval battle took a single day to end and was a decisive American victory, due to the efforts of Commodore Dewey and his advanced steel ships. The land battle took longer, which through the efforts of a joint army of Manila soldiers and Americans, which resulted in Manila being surrendered to the Americans on August 1st. -
The Philippine Question
Imperialists and Anti-Imperialist clashed on the question of annexing the Philippines. Anti-Imperialists argued against the Treaty of Paris due to the provision that would annex the Philippines. Anti-Imperialists argued that it violated the principles of the "Declaration of Independence, and would create political issues for the US in Asia. -
Emilio Aguinaldo
Emilio Aguinaldo was a Filipino leader who fought alongside the US during the Spanish-American War, but then began to fight against US control of the Philippines. He lead a 3 year war against the US in the Philippines that costs thousands of lives on both sides, which ended in 1902 -
Annexation of Hawaii
With the outbreak of war in the Philippines, President McKinley and Congress were given an excuse to complete the process of annexation, which was completed in 1900. -
Boxer Rebellion
Due to a rise in xenophobia and nationalism in China, the Society of Harmonious Fists (Boxers) lead a rebellion in order to drive out the foreign influence. Attacking American settlements and Christian ministries, they drew the attention of the world. America and several European countries marched into Peking (Modern day Beijing) and crushed the rebellion. The Chinese had to pay a large sum in reparations, leading to the decline of the imperial throne. -
Hay's Second Round of Notes
Fearing the risk that America may occupy China and destroy their independence, Hay issued a second round of notes modifying the imperial powers of the US, which stated that they would protect the independence of China and protect equal trade between other powers. The Open Door policies established by Hayes would influence the US relationships with Japan in the 1930's -
Revolution in Panama
Roosevelt orchestrated a revolution to overthrow Colombian control in order to get the Panama Canal. After a brief and virtually bloodless revolution, Roosevelt forced the new government to sign for the Panama Canal and give all control to the US and treating it as if it was under sovereign American control. -
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
In response to European pushes into Latin America, Roosevelt declared that the US would intervene to prevent disorder in South America. He would send us warships to the ports of countries who were in debt and control taxation until the Europeans were satisfied. Later presidents would abuse this power and use it to justify sending troops into Haiti, Nicaragua, and more, leading to poor relations with the US across all of Latin America. -
Building the Panama Canal
Construction began in 1904 and ended in 1914, and was Completed due to the work of Colonel George Goethals, who was the chief engineer, and Colonel Dr. William Gorgas, who mitigated the threat of yellow fever from mosquitoes. Most Americans approved of the determination Roosevelt had, but not his methods, which caused great tension between the US and Latin Americans, and resulted in Congress giving Columbia 25 million in compensation in 1921. -
Great White Fleet
Roosevelt ordered a fleet of ships tour throughout the world in order to demonstrate American naval power to Japan and the rest of the world. -
Root-Takahira Agreement
Both the U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root and Japanese Ambassador Takahira exchanged notes pledging support for the Open Door Policy in China and the mutual respect for each countries possessions in the Pacific. -
Dollar Diplomacy
President Taft relied on a expansionist policy that relied on improving US trade relations and supporting American enterprises abroad rather than the threat of military force. -
Tampico Incident
This was te first incident where issues were settled by a joint effort between the US and Latin Americas ABC powers. After attempting to aid revolutionaries fighting against Huerta in Mexico by establishing an embargo and sending troops to the port of Vera Cruz, several troops went ashore and were arrested by Huerta, who refused to apologize, and nearly causing a war between the US and Mexico. -
Lusitania Crisis
This was the first challenge to U.S. neutrality. A German submarine sank the British Passenger ship RMS Lusitania, resulting in the majority of the passengers drowning, including 128 Americans. -
Sussex Pledge
In March 1916, a German Submarine sunk the merchant ship Sussex. As a result, President Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic relations to Germany, a step towards war. Rather than the US side with great Britain in the war, Germany backed down and pledged to not attack unarmed ships without warning. -
National Defense Act
This act increase the regular standing army of the US to 175,00. A month later, congress approved the construction of 50 more ships of various types. This act came about after President Wilson switched from a neutral position to actively pushing for an increase in the US military's capabilities. This was met with major opposition by the Democrats and other isolationist parties in the US -
Pancho Villa and the US Expeditionary Force
Woodrow Wilson ordered force of troops to enter Mexico to track down the rebel Pancho Villa, who's followers challenged the new government. Mexico's President Carranza disapproved of the US presence, and Wilson was forced to withdraw troops without catching Villa due to the looming threat of WWI. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
German reauthorized unrestricted submarine warfare, which was done with the belief that, despite the risk of American intervention, Germany would be able to end the war by cutting off Allies suppliers. Shortly after, the US broke all diplomatic relations to Germany. -
Russian Revolution
On March 15, the autocratic Russian czar was overthrown, removing an obstacle to Wilson's decision to join WWI. Due to the principle of moral diplomacy, Wilson did not want to be allied with a country ruled by a monarchy. With the revolution, Wilson had no obstacles in regards to his allies. -
Declaration of War
In 1917, Wilson asked Congress to recognize a state of war between Germany and the US, on the grounds that Germany's submarine warfare was an attack on all of mankind. On April 6th, Congress voted overwhelmingly to go to war with Germany. -
Zimmerman Telegram
On march 1st, the US intercepted a message from Germany to Mexico offering an opportunity to reclaim land lost to the US in exchange for allying with Germany. This caused a rise of Nationalistic anger within the American public and convinced Wilson that Germany was fully prepared to go to war with the US. -
The Red Scare
Anti-German sentiments quickly transformed into Anti-Communist sentiment, launching the Red Scare. This quickly lead to a rise of xenophobia, leading to limitations of immigration in the 1920's. The Palmer Raids were a result of the Red Scare, and resulted in the arrest of 6,000 people, all accused of being radicals and communists on limited grounds, especially people who were labor agitators, socialists, and anarchists.
