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Secretary of State, William Seward, arranged the purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867. It is bought by the U.S. for 7.2 million dollars. -
The US annexes the Midway Islands, an uninhabited island chain in the pacific. -
The United States acquires exclusive access to Pearl Harbor. -
Queen Liliuokalani becomes queen of Hawaii. She is the last sovereign monarch of Hawaii. -
A letter from the Spanish diplomat, De Lome, is intercepted and published in the New York Times. The letter calls McKinley a weak president and angers many Americans. -
The American warship, USS Maine, explodes in Havana harbor. It is blamed on the Spanish by yellow journalists, but the real cause was probably a fire. 260 people die. -
The Spanish-American War was a war fought between Spain and the United States over the issue of Cuba's independence. The United States wanted to protect their business interests in Cuba, which were threatened by the Spanish, and as a result, this war broke out. The United States emerged victoriously and annexed Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
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George Dewey, an American Commodore, leads a successful naval attack on Manila Bay. His victory allows the US to annex the Philippines. -
The Battle of San Juan Hill was a major battle fought by the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders up the nearby Kettle Hill.
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President McKinley annexes Hawaii, even though the Hawaiians did not get to vote on it -
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Spanish-American War. Cuba gained independence, and the US was given the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. -
The Filipinos did not want American rule, so they rose up against the Americans in an insurrection. It was led by Emilio Aguinaldo.
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U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, asked other Imperialist powers to share trading rights in China. -
The Foraker Act established a civil government in Puerto Rico. -
The Platt Amendment is added to the newly independent Cuba's constitution. It said all treaties must be approved by the US. -
Teddy Roosevelt becomes president after William McKinley gets assassinated. -
The US aided Panama in gaining independence from Colombia, to buy the land to build the Panama Canal. -
Roosevelt mediates negotiations between Russia and Japan, ending the Russo-Japanese War. -
The Roosevelt Corollary was added to the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that the US would intervene in Latin America to keep the peace. -
Woodrow Wilson is elected president. -
Woodrow Wilson sends Marines to the port of Veracruz. War almost breaks out between Mexico and America. -
The Panama Canal officially opens for business. -
The Philippines finally gains independence. -
Alaska officially becomes a state.
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Hawaii officially becomes a state
