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Seward’s Folley (414)
Russia possessed the territory and was seeking buyers due to the threat of British territory. Russia found Seward, the Secretary of State of the time, and Seward purchased Alaska for 7.2 Million Dollars. -
Influence of Sea Power Upon History (p.411)
Alfred Thayer Mahan, a US naval captain, wrote the book “Influence of Sea Power Upon History” in 1890. In the book, it was argued that a strong Navy was crucial to becoming a world power. This book was commonly read around America and by leaders in Europe and Japan. Using arguments from the book, US naval strategists persuaded Congress to finance the construction of modern steel ships and encouraged the acquisition of overseas islands. This upgraded naval militia allowed for more annexations. -
De Lôme Letter (p.413)
The Spanish Minister, Dupoy de Lôme, wrote a letter which was highly critical of President McKinley. The letter was leaked to the press and was printed on the front page of Hearst’s Journal. This letter caused a storm of outrage and many considered it an insult against U.S. national honor. -
Sinking of the USS Maine (p.413)
Less than a week after the De Lôme letter was released, the US battleship Maine mysteriously exploded while anchored in Havana, Cuba. The explosion killed 260 Americans on board. The yellow press accused the Spanish of blowing up the ship, when experts later on concluded that it was most likely an accident. This caused the public to spark a hatred towards the Spanish. -
Annexation of Hawaii (p.414)
In the mid 1890’s, expansionists began to overthrow the Hawaiian Queen, Liliuokalani. Due to the outbreak of war in the Philippines, congress and President McKinley completed the annexation. The island became a territory in 1900 and a state in 1959. -
Treaty of Paris of 1898 (p415)
After the Spanish-American War, there was a treaty of peace in Paris on December 10, 1898. This caused Cuba’s independence, and the US acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
Panama Canal (p.418)
The canal, that began construction in 1904, finished in 1914. Many Americans were happy with Roosevelt’s determination to build the canal, but many were unhappy with the amount of force that was used to obtain the land. The acquisition of the land shows the growth of power in the US and the use of military force to acquire foreign lands and territories.
