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The United States had always sought to expand the size of their nation, expanding its territory across the country to the Pacific coast. Many political leaders also believed that the U.S. should join European superpowers by establishing colonies overseas. Throughout the 19th century, the U.S. would practice Imperialism, fueled by competition, strength, and new markets.
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Because of its location, being only 90 miles south of Florida, the United States has long held interest in Cuba and in 1854 diplomats recommend to the President to attempt to buy Cuba from Spain, though this proved fruitless. When the Cubans revolted against Spain, the Americans gave their sympathy's to Cuba, though this revolt did not succeed. American business men start investing millions into sugar cane plantations.
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Seward purchases Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars with the purpose of American expansion. The purchase was widely criticized by the public, and it would be until 1959 when Alaska became a state and it was revealed to be a land rich in timber, minerals, and oil.
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The same year the United States purchases Alaska, the U.S. also takes the Pacific Islands of Midway. This action did not bring too much attention however, as the Islands were uninhabited.
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With the urging from Admiral Mahan, the U.S. constructs nine new steel-hulled carriers. Making the U.S. the worlds third largest Navy. A country's strength was determined by the size of it's Navy.
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Hawaii was economically important to the U.S. White sugar farmers profited greatly from trade with the U.S., however with the pass of the McKinley Tariff, the farmers, who greatly outnumbered the native population, cried for annexation. With the help of U.S. marines, farmers overthrew the native monarchy. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the U.S.
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A Cuban journalist and poet launched a second revolt against Spain and routinely provoked the U.S. to intervene on their behalf by destroying American plantations. Because of this U.S. public opinion was split.
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In response to the Cuban revolt, Spain sends General Valeriano Weyler, who herds large populations of around 300,000 Cuban civilians into concentration camps so that they could not help the rebels. Thousands died from disease and hunger. This increases American sympathy for the rebels.
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In an attempt to prevent war with Spain, U.S. president William McKinley tried diplomatic means for peace. Though this seemed successful at first, things took a turn when a private letter written by the Spanish Minister to the U.S., which insulted the U.S. president, was publicly published by a popular U.S. newspaper.
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Early in 1898, the U.S. president ordered the USS Maine to Cuba in order to protect American interests. On February 15, 1898, the Maine explodes in harbor and more than 260 were killed. The public largely blames Spain.
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With the destruction of the Maine, the U.S. declares war on Spain. The first battle took place in the Philippines in which the U.S. destroyed every ship there, taking the Philippines.
In the Caribbeans, the U.S. Navy blockaded Cuba, and troops landed in June 1898. The Spanish fleet tries to escape the blockade which ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. The U.S. then invades Puerto Rico on July 25, and then the U.S. and Spain sign an Armistice. Spain gives up Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba. -
Out of fear that the large markets of China and other Asian countries would be closed to America, U.S. Secretary of State issued the Open Door notes in 1899, which essentially created a door for the U.S. into China, allowing America to trade with Asian markets.
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When the U.S. defeated Spain, gaining control of the Philippines, the Filipinos thought that it was with the purpose to give them their independence, however the U.S. presumed the same role as the Spanish. Because of this the Filipinos rebelled.
After suppressing the rebellion, the U.S. set up a similar government that had been established in Puerto Rico. Under U.S. rule, the Philippines eventually gained their independence in 1946. -
The debate of the treaty was whether or not the U.S. should annex the Philippines. In 1899 the debate was settled with the approval of the Senate and the U.S. now had control over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
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Many Puerto Ricans were divided on whether they wanted independence or to become a state, therefore the U.S. governed Puerto Rico with the military station there while they decided on what to do. Puerto Rico was determined to be too strategically important to the U.S. so in the 1900, congress passed the Foraker act which ended military rule and established a civil government, citizenship was extended to the citizens of Puerto Rico in 1917
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Because other European countries largely controlled China, resentment of these foreign "devils" grew and a secret group known as the boxers was formed. The boxer rebellion resulted when the boxers killed hundreds of missionaries and other foreigners. In august of 1900, thousands of troops from Britain, Germany, France, Japan, and the U.S. arrived to put down the rebellion resulting in thousands of Chinese deaths.
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Even after Puerto Rico established a government, a U.S. military presence remained in Cuba and would continue to do so until Puerto Rico signed the Platt Amendment. Despite protest, the Puerto Rican government signed the treaty and Cuba became a U.S. protectorate.
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With the assassination of William McKinley in 1901, Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt becomes president of the United States
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In order to ensure that the U.S. was the prominent power in the Caribbean and Central America, Teddy Roosevelt added to the Monroe Doctrine with the Roosevelt Corollary stating that the U.S. would use force if necessary to protect American interests.
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The U.S. felt that a canal that cut through Central America was needed in order to increase the speed of trade. When the request to purchase the land needed from Colombia broke down, the U.S. backed the Panama rebellion. A dozen U.S. warships were present when Panama declared independence and they agreed to sell the needed land to the U.S. Difficult construction of a canal soon began and the Panama Canal was opened for business in august of 1914
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War between Japan and Russia erupted in 1904 over control of Korea. After a series of victories, Japan was running low on money and men and sought the U.S. for help in making peace with Russia. Japanese and Russian delegates met and were able to make peace with the help of Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was awarded with a Nobel Peace prize for making peace between these two countries.
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In 1911, Mexican workers and peasants overthrew the military dictator, Diaz, who was backed by the U.S. Madero, who led the rebellion was placed as leader but was unable to make any meaningful change. Within days, he was murdered by general Huerta who appointed himself leader. President Wilson refused to recognize their government.
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After these incidents, the U.S. started waiting for any reason to intervene and took the opportunity when several American sailors. U.S. Marines were sent to occupy an important Mexican port, and despite fruitless negotiations, The Marines withdrew when the Huerta regime collapsed and the U.S. recognized the new Carranza government.
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When the U.S. recognized Carranza's government. Villa, who had previously spoken friendly of the U.S., threatened reprisals. Villa's men killed American engineers on their way to mines and some of his followers raided Columbus, New Mexico and killed several Americans. The American public demanded revenge and an expeditionary force was sent to hunt Villa down.
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During this time, Villa evaded the U.S. forces. The Mexican people were angered by the U.S. presence and U.S. troops clashed with Carranza's army. Carranza demanded the removal of U.S. troops, of which Wilson refused. However, with war rising in Europe, the U.S. needed peace with its southern border and both sides backed down. In 1917, Wilson ordered General Pershing to back down and U.S. forces returned home.