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The Maine Incident
The USS Maine had been sent to Havana to protect U.S. lives and property. The battleship exploded on Feb. 15 killing 260 sailors. Although there was no evidence of foul play the headlines screamed, 'DESTRUCTION OF THE WAR SHIP MAINE WAS THE WORK OF AN EMEMY!" On April 11th Congress declared war on Spain in response to the Presidents urging. -
Annexation of The Philippines
Emilio Aquinaldo, a freedom fighter who aided the US in removing the Spainards, claimed presidency of the Philippines. After a fiece battle that lasted three years Emilio and US forces fought for control. In 1902 the US crushed the rebellion. -
Spanish American War
Commodore Dewey fought in the first battle, which took place in the Spanish controled Philippines. Deweys fleet easily defeated the small fleet stationed there. The fighting in the Carribbian proved more difficult. As the war raged on the Spainards grew tired and the war became costly. The Spainards gave up any claims to Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the USA along with the Philippines for $20 million. -
The Annexation of Hawaii
Sanford B. Dole, the U.S. minister to Hawaii, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani acting without authority and named himself as president of the newly formed goverment of the Independant Republic of Hawaii. The new government petitioned the U.S. for annexation, but the current President Grover Cleveland refused. Unwilling to use military force to restore Queen Liliuokalani to the throne The President did nothing. When President William McKinley won election he eagerly annexed Hawaii. -
The Boxer Rebellion
A secret society call the Fists of Righteous Harmony, or better known as the Boxers by those in the West, was formed. This society resented the foreigners and missionaries for their troubles and in the spring of 1900 attacked the foreigners, killing more than 200 people. An international military force was formed and, after an eight-week siege, rescued the foreigners. -
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
Gave the United States complete and unending sovereignty over a 10-mile-wide Canal Zone. -
Building the Panama Canal
Harsh working conditions and shortages of labor and materials hampered U.S. efforts. Yellow fever hit and severly worsened the conditions. Approxiametly 160 trainloads of dirt were taken out of panama daily with the help of 60 giant steam shovels. On August 15,1914 the canal was finished. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Was out in to the Monroe Doctrine because President Roosevelt feared that the Dominican Republic would be forced by its European leaders to give up the money they owed them. Pledged to use armed forces to prevent any European country from seizing Dominican territory. Europeans were satisfied when the US took control of collecting all Dominican customs duties. -
The Great White Fleet
To remind the growing imperial power of Japan of America's military strength Roosevelt sent a fleet of four destroyers and sixteen battleships, all painted white, on a 46,000-mile world voyege, which included a stop in the Japanese port of Yokohama. -
Dollar Diplomacy
Taft created it as he favored "substituting dollars for bullets" as a means of protecting US interests in Latin America and Asia. First tested in Nicaragua. Nicaraguans recieved loans from American banks and Nicaraguan leaders gave the US to send in troops to Nicaragua when US leaders thought it necessary to protect American investments. -
Occupation of Veracruz
Wilson learned tat a German ship that was transporting arms to Huerta was actually heading to Veracruz. Tge US Navy seized the port and the German ship was stopped on April 21, 1914. The forces of Huerta were withdrawing from the city as the marines were coming in to take it over. In the end 19 marines were killed along with 300 Mexicans during the bombardent.
