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Spanish-American War Begins
Thanks to the Spanish-American war, the United States gained 3 territories from Spain. Guam, the West Indies, and the Philippines were all in American control after the war. This was important because it was proof that the United States was becoming an imperialistic power and was in the same category as such powers as Great Britain and France -
Philippine-American War Begins
This event was important because it showed the United States some of the disadvantages to imperialism. After the U.S. bought the Philippines for $20 million, the Filipinos revolted. The U.S. took on some of the practices of the Spanish that caused the Spanish-American war and after 3 years the U.S. finally put down the rebellion and gained full control over one of their new territories. -
William McKinley Assassinated
This led to Theodore Roosevelt taking office. Roosevelt's changed America with his progressive ideals like the "Square Deal" movement which changed the progressive era by trustbusting and many acts and reforms that gave more power to the people. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and made all labels be truthful. Before this act, manufacturers would claim that their products could cure cancer and grow hair. Some products would actually contain cocaine or alchohol without people knowing. This act changed manufacturing forever and finally gave people the right to actually know what they were putting into their bodies. -
William Howard Taft Elected
William Taft won the election and was thought to basically be the replacement for Theodore Roosevelt but he was not Roosevelt. Taft went against or didn't follow the same progressive movements and changes that Roosevelt made for progressivism, and that made Roosevelt angry. Taft's election led to the wild election of 1912, where Woodrow Wilson was elected, changing the U.S.A. -
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
Essentially the cause of World War 1, the assassination of the Austrian aire to the throne by the Black Hand of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Serbia created the Great War when the ally system caused Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary, then Germany declared war on Russia and so on. -
Panama Canal Opens
The Panama Canal cut the U.S. shipping route from the west coast to the east coast nearly in half. The U.S. could get resources from the west coast to the east coast twice as fast. It was a smart investment that still is in use today and changed U.S. shipping. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
German's U-Boat attacks sunk many ships but when Germany sunk the British liner carrying 128 Americans, United States citizens and the United States government had a real reason to enter World War This event might have completely changed the U.S.'s mind on neutrality and threw the U.S. into war, helping the Allies win in the end. -
U.S. Declares War on Central Powers
Bringing the United States into World War 1 completely changed the war. The fresh new attitudes and added soldiers changed the momentum of the war for the Allies and led to the victory for the Allies. -
Selective Service Act Passed
This act which forced men in the U.S. to register for a random selection to be sent into the U.S. army to fight in World War 1 possibly won the war for the U.S. and the allies. 24 million men registered under the act and about 2 million troops reached Europe to help fight the war. This act is also still in use today and is important to young men that might need to enter the war. -
Armistice Signed
When Germany signed the armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the armistice stopped the bloodiest war in the history of the world at that time. It saved millions of lives but millions were lost. 22 million died, 20 million wounded, 10 million refugees, and the Great War cost about $338 billion. -
Beginning of Prohibition
Prohibition wasn't followed as loyally as other laws in the United States from 1920-1933 but it was important to the progressive era because it was created basically by the people. The Women's Christian Temperence Union started the crusade for prohibition and they're campaign was very successful. After the law was removed, the U.S. learned that the American people will always find a way to get what they want. -
19th Amendment Passed
This amendment changed the lives of American women everywhere. Gaining the right to vote for women was far too late but this law helped prove women's equality not only in the government but in all aspects of life. -
Alaska Becomes 49th State
"Seward's Icebox" for $7.2 million dollars proved to be a deal that changed America. For about 2 cents an acre the United States acquired a land rich in timber, oil, and other important minerals worth much more than the price they bought it for. This was another way for America to prove they wanted to be considered an imperialistic power. -
Hawaii Becomes 50th State
Taking Hawaii to be the 50th state in the U.S. proved to the rest of the world that America was ready to be considered an imperialistic power and wanted to gain more land for their country
