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Purchase of Alaska
The United States purhcased Alaska from Russia, offically making it apart of the U.S. -
The Reciprocity Treaty
This treaty between the United States and Hawaii was a free-trade agreement that guaranteed a duty-free market for Hawaiian sugar in exchange for special economic privileges for the United States. -
Naval Base in Hawaii
A U.S. naval base was established at Pear Harbor as part of a new Hawaiian constitution. -
Alfred Thayer Mahan Publishes his Book
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan published "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" which argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. -
Spanish-American war originated in Cuba
Cuba rebelled against Spanish forces and Spain's brutally repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by newspapers, and American sympathy for the rebels rose. -
Explosion of USS Maine
The battleship USS Maine that was sent to protect U.S. citizens and property after rioting in Havana mysteriously exploded in the Havana harbour, which only grew the demand for U.S. intervention. -
Mckinley Urged for War
McKinley sent his war message to Congress, urging armed intervention to free the oppressed Cubans. -
Beginning of Spanish-American War
The United States declared war on Spain. -
First Battle of Spanish-American War
In the first battle of the war, U.S. Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic squadron defeat the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines. -
Roosevelt Leads "rough Riders"
Roosevelt gains a heroic reputation for leading men known as the "rough riders" up San Juan Hill. -
America Gains Hawaii
America annexes Hawaii for their sugar plantations. -
End of Conflict in Spanish American War
The U.S. and Spain sign the Protocol of Peace, ending hostilities between the two. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Spanish-American War, resulting in the United States' control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. -
Start of Phillipine-American War
Filipino nationalists erupted into fight against the American troops under Emilio Aguinaldo, who sought for independence. -
Open Door Policy
Secretary of State John Hay dispatched to all the great powers the Open Door Policy, which told countries that in their sphere of influence they would respect certain Chinese rights and the ideal of fair competition. -
Boxer Rebellion
A Chinese secret organization called the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists led an uprising in northern China against the spread of Western and Japanese influence there. -
U.S. declares need For canal
Roosevelt takes offiice and immediately declares the need to build a canal in Central America which marks the start of U.S. involvement. -
End of Phillipine-American War
President Roosevelt declared that the war in the Philippines was over. -
Venezuelan Affairs
Venezuela asked Roosevelt to negotiate a settlement for the border dispute they had with Britain. -
Roosevelt Corollary
Roosevelt's "big stick" policy became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that U.S. could intervene in the W. Hemisphere if neccessary. -
Root-Takahira Agreement
This agreement with the U.S. and Japan pledged both powers to respect each other's territorial possessions in the Pacific and to uphold the Open Door Policy in China. -
Dollar Diplomacy
President William Taft followed Dollar Diplomacy, which was form of American foreign policy to further its aims in Latin America and East Asia through use of its economic power by guaranteeing loans made to foreign countries. -
Completion of the Canal
An unbroken waterway connects the Atlantic to the Pacific marking the completion of the canal itself, but isnt first in use until january 7, 1914. -
Tampico Affair
Begun as a minor incident invloving US sailors and Mexican land forces but led to a breakdown of US and mexico relations and US invading of Vera Cruz. -
US invades Vera Cruz
Wilson sends US forces to occupy Vera Cruz in Mexico in response to the Tampico Affair while USA wants to remain nuetral as the European war breaks out. -
Francis Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo, WW1
Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie the Duchess of Hohenburg, are killed by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip. The Austrian government suspects that Serbia is responsible. -
Austria Declared War on Serbia, WW1
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, effectively beginning the First World War exactly one month after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. -
First battle of the Marne
German invasion of France is stopped in the First Battle of the Marne as German troops are forced to the north side of the Marne River, causing the the Schlieffen Plan to fail. -
Bread Rationing Introduced in Germany
Each citizen and neutral foreign national is issued a bread card limit and this shows the stress the war put on germany on the homefront. -
Turkish army Disarms its Armenian Troops
Ottoman Turkish army disarms and segregates Armenian soldiers into labor battalions fearing Christian Armenians are aiding Orthodox Russians in their fight against Turkey. -
Germany resumes unrestricted U-boat Campaign
By this time, the Germans feel they have no other choice but to the submarine beacuse it is the only weapon that gives them an advantage. -
Germany Signs The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versaillles was one of the peace treaties signed at the end of WW1 and it ended the state of war between Gernamy and the Allied Powers. -
Smith Act, Red Scare
The Smith act, passed in 1940, made it illegal to advocate or assist the overthrowing or destruction of any government in the U.S. by force or violence.
