-
Christian missionaries arrived at Hawaii to spread Christianity. There children became sugar plantation owners in Hawaii. -
William Seward was the secretary of state under Lincoln and Johnson -
Alaska was found to be rich in timber, minerals, oil. -
Seward's folly, also known as Seward's icebox, was the nickname given to the buying of Alaska as Americans believed they would get nothing from it. -
The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million -
America wanted to buy Cuba from Spain, but Spain refused. America had invested millions on large sugar plantations in Cuba. Cubans attempt to rebel against Spain. -
Imperialism has been going on for centuries, but the age of "new imperialism" began in the late 1800's. Imperialism is the policy in which stronger nations extended their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. -
The U.S. needed raw materials to bolster its growing factories. -
Social Darwinism swayed many Americans to believe that their are superior to other countries. They believed they had a responsibility to bring Christianity and "civilization" to the world's "inferior" peoples. -
Admiral Alfred T. Mahan pushed for the building of America's navy. The battleship USS Maine was launched. -
Sugar plantation owners sold most of their crop to the U.S. The U.S. put import taxes on the sugar, making the owners have to compete with the U.S. market. To fix the problem, Hawaii had to be annexed into the U.S. -
Business groups in Hawaii, encouraged by Ambassador John L. Stevens, overthrew the Queen Liliuokalani and set up a government headed by Sanford B. Dole with the help of the U.S. marines. -
The USS Oregon battleship was launched, and America became the third largest naval power in the world. -
Jose Marti was an exiled Cuban poet/ journalist in New York who began the revolution. He used guerilla warfare on the U.S. plantations to provoke them into war. -
China was weakened by war and sought after as a vast potential market. Settlements had already been established in China by France, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Russia. -
Spain sends General Valeriano Weyler to restore order in Cuba. Cuban rebels were sent into concentration camps where thousands died from hunger and disease. Yellow journalism exaggerated these events, creating sympathy in America. -
Previously the De Lome Letter, written by Enrique Dupuy, criticizing President McKinley, was leaked to the New York Journal, increased tension between America and Spain. The straw that broke the camels back was when the U.S.S Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor, picking up U.S. citizens to get away from the conflict. Though no on knew for sure, Americans blamed Spain for the explosion. -
Began with a naval blockade in Cuba; U.S. volunteer fighters were ill equipped. A group of volunteer cavalry under the command of Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt was called the Rough Riders. Their first battle was on Kettle Hill and made way for the very important battle at San Juan Hill. Theodore Roosevelt was hailed as a hero following the battle. -
During the Spanish-American War, U.S. forces occupied Cuba which is called military rule; they were there to protect the Cubans and their property. -
The U.S. declares war on Spain. Begins in the Philippines; they had the support of the Philippines and easily destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila (Philippine capital). -
President Cleveland wouldn't allow annexation unless majority of Hawaiians agreed. When President McKinley succeeded him he annexed them into the U.S. -
The U.S. and Spain agree to meet in Paris to sign a treaty. Spain agreed to free Cuba, turn over the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico, and the U.S. bought the Philippines for $20 million. -
U.S. soldiers occupied Cuba following the Spanish-American War. They provided food and clothing for thousands of families and helped in many other ways. -
The officials that served under Spain remained in office following the Spanish-American War. This angered many Cubans. -
Filipinos are outraged by the Treaty of Paris, which called for U.S. annexation of the Philippines. -
Emilo Aguinaldo was a rebel leader in the Philippines that believed the U.S. had promised them their independence. He vowed to fight for freedom. -
The U.S. feared that China would be carved into colonies and they would be shut out. To prevent this, U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, issued a policy of statements called the Open Door notes. They were letters addressed to the leaders of imperialist nations proposing that the nations share their trading rights with the U.S. -
The Filipinos, led by Aguinaldo, rose in revolt using guerilla warfare. The U.S. forced Filipinos into zones that had poor sanitation, starvation, and disease which killed thousands. The U.S. was doing no better than the Spanish were. Some African American soldiers even deserted to the Philippines. The war lasted 3 years and cost a lot of money and many lives. -
Congress passed the Foraker Act following the Spanish-American War. It ended military rule and set up Puerto Rico's civil government. -
Puerto Rico's governor and upper house of legislator were appointed by the president, while Puerto Ricans could elect their lower house of legislator. -
There was much resentment in China at the foreign occupation. Secret societies such as the Boxers formed. The Boxers killed hundreds of missionaries and other foreigners as well as Chinese converts to Christianity. Troops from Britain, Japan, Germany, and France joined forces to put down the rebellion. -
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not automatically apply to the people in U.S. territories. -
Cuba couldn't make treaties that might limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control any part of its territory. The U.S. reserved the right to intervene in Cuba. Cuba was not to go into debt that its government couldn't repay. The U.S. could buy or lease land on the island for naval stations and refueling stations. -
The U.S. feared that after the raking down of the Boxer rebellion, countries would use the victory to take greater control of China. In response, John Hay issued a second series of Open Door notes stating that the U.S. would safeguard for the world the principle of equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire. -
John Hay's second series of Open Door Notes reflected the American belief in the growth of U.S. economy depending on exports, the U.S. had a right to intervene abroad to keep foreign markets open, and they feared the closing of an area to U.S. products, citizens, or ideas threatened U.S. survival. -
The Platt Amendment was a list of amendments to the Cuban Constitution -
The U.S. won the war, but set up a government similar to that of Cuba's. -
The U.S. would not withdraw from Cuba until the Platt Amendment was adopted. Cubans were angry and protested, but ended up ratifying the amendment. This amendment remained in effect for 31 years. Cuba became a U.S. protectorate: a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power. -
The world needed a better way of crossing between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. At first the U.S. was going to build it with Britain, but they backed out. They bought the French Company's Route for $40 million because the French gave up on the task. The U.S. still needed permission from Colombia who refused. In response the U.S. supported Panama in their rebellion, and Panama received their independence. -
The Roosevelt Corollary added to the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that the U.S. would use military force if European nations interfered in economic interests in Latin America. -
Theodore Roosevelt won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating peace terms between Russia and Japan in the Treaty of Portsmouth(1905). -
The Taft administration followed the policy of using the U.S. government to guarantee loans made to foreign countries by American business people. -
Mexico's people were poor and their officials were rich, so they revolted. They overthrew Diaz, led by Francisco Madero. Madero proved unable to satisfy the country's demands and was overthrown by General Victoriano Huerta and killed two days later. The U.S. did not recognize Huerta's government and called it "a government of butchers". -
Gave the Monroe Doctrine a moral tone. Denied recognition to any Latin American government if viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests. -
Workers had to battle through disease and soft volcanic soil. Swamps had to be cleared and drained. The total cost was $380 million. Finally the canal was open for business -
U.S. waited for an opportunity to intervene, which came when Huerta's officers arrested a group of American soldiers. Wilson used this as an excuse to intervene in Mexico. U.S. and Mexico were brought close to war, but Chile, Argentina, and Brazil intervened. Huerta's Regime soon collapsed and Venustiano Carranza became president. Wilson recognized the government and pulled his troops out. -
Some Mexicans were opposed to the new government such as the fierce nationalist, Villa who courted the support of the U.S. When Wilson recognized the Carranza government, Villa threatened reprisals against the U.S. and acted on them. -
General John J. Pershing and expeditionary forces were sent to capture Villa. Wilson placed 150,000 guards along the Mexican border, which angered the Mexicans. With the U.S. facing war in Europe, both sides backed down, and Wilson pulled Pershing out of Mexico. Carranza later became oppressive and Alvaro Obregon (a moderate) came to power in 1920. -
Puerto Ricans were finally granted U.S. citizenship and were able to elect all members of legislator as well as be set up with their own bill of rights. -
The Philippines finally gained their independence. -
Alaska becomes the 49th state in the U.S. -
President McKinley grants the territory Hawaii statehood, and they become the 50th state in the U.S.