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Americans had always sought to expand the size of their nation, and throughout the 19th century they extended their control toward the Pacific Ocean.
However, by the 1880s, many American leaders had become convinced that the United States should join the imperialist powers of Europe and establish colonies overseas.
3 reason are the desire for military strength, thirst for new markets, and belief in cultural superiority -
In 1867, Seward arranged for the U.S. to buy Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million
Seward had some trouble persuading the House of Representatives to approve funding for the purchase
Some people thought it was silly to buy what they called “Seward’s Icebox” or “Seward’s folly.”
Time showed how wrong they were. In 1959, Alaska became a state.
For about two cents an acre, the United States had acquired land rich in timber, minerals, and, as it turned out, oil. -
Hawaii is taken over by the United States, however the senate decided to let Hawaii keep their own government. Also any country to interfere with Hawaii's government would be considered an enemy of the United States. Hawaii was later annexed in 1898 and became a US territory in 1900.
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United States secretory of state, John Hays, presented the open door policy in 1899. This was a policy that tried to combat the spheres of influence in China that were already present by other European and Asian countries. The Policy Stated that all countries were entitled to even or equal trade in China.
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This war was thought to be a long time coming due to ongoing hostility between Cuba and Spain. After the United States ship the USS Maine sunk in a port by Havana Cuba the US was urged to make a move against Spain. Spanish compromise was shot down by the US and a war was declared the next day.
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The United States met in Paris to pay Spain twenty million dollars in order to annex the Philippines. There was a large discussion on whether the Philippines should be annexed or if it should be used for a trading port for the US.
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This document stated that the United States would withdrawal troops in Cuba if the Cuban government agreed to their requests. This included the right for the US to intervene if Cuban independence was threatened or if internal order was disturbed. It also gave the United States control of Guantanamo Bay, the future home of a large US naval base.
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At the turn of the 20th century Panama was fighting to gain their independence from their previous oppressors, Colombia. In order to make sure this occurred the United States provided Panama with resources for them to win the battle for freedom. In return the United States was given the right to build the Panama canal for a shorter shipping route to Asia. (The United States will control this canal until 1977)
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The Roosevelt Corollary was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine that was added after the Venezuela Crisis in 1902. This corollary stated that the United states would act as "Police" in Latin American countries. In other words if the US felt as though Latin American peace was being threatened they could intervene at any time.
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This was a year long war between Russia and Japan that delt with the fight for imperialism over Manchuria and Korea. After many Russian defeats president Roosevelt was critical in helping to negotiate the Treaty of Portsmouth which resolved this conflict. For this negotiation Roosevelt was given a Nobel peace prize.
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This was a policy that was implemented by president Taft which keyed in on the connection between America's political and economic interests overseas. This allowed other countries to benefit from American business. At the same time the United States also extended over seas markets which strengthened them both economically and politically.
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The Jones-Sha froth Act is signed by United States president Woodrow Wilson. This Act added Puerto Rico as a US territory, thus granting the citizens of Puerto Rico US citizenship as well. (This was considered statutory citizenship because it was granted by congress and not by the US constitution)