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Alfred Thayer Mahan
U.S. Navy Officer who's ideas on the importance of sea power, published in The Influence of Sea Power, 1660-1783, prompted naval buildups before WWI. -
McKinley Tariff
Congress approves the McKinley tariff which raised import rates on foreign sugar, causing a depression in the Hawaiian islands. Of course, the depression would disappear if Hawaii were to be annexed by the U.S. -
Hawaii Uprising
American sugar planters in Hawaii staged an uprising to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani and asked for the protection of United States forces. -
Klondike Gold Rush
Discovery of gold in the Klondike river resulted in the migration of approximately 100,000 prospectors to Alaska, of which only about 30,000 made it to Klondike, and only about 4,000 actually found gold. -
Official Annexation of Hawaii
The Hawaiian islands were officially annexed by the United States through Joint Resolution. -
the U.S.S Maine Explodes
Sent by President McKinley to protect U.S. business interests in Cuba, The U.S.S. Maine suddenly exploded in Havana Harbor, killing approximately 260 American sailors and resulting in the U.S. declaring war on Spain. -
U.S. Congress Declares War on Spain
Prompted by yellow journalism on the explosion of the Maine, President McKinley abandoned his hope of neutrality in the Cuban-Spanish conflict and agreed to establish a Declaration of War against Spain. -
The Battle of Manila Bay
In the first battle between Spanish and American Forces, U.S. Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic squadron defeat the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines, resulting in nearly 400 Spanish sailors killed, 10 Spanish warships wrecked or captured, and only 6 Americans wounded. -
Battle of San Juan Hill
The U.S. Army Fifth Corps engages Spanish forces at El Caney and San Juan Hill, successfully capturing Spanish-held Santiago de Cuba on the southern coast of Cuba the next day. -
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
This was the climactic naval battle of the Spaish-American War where U.S. battleships intercepted Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera's six ships, ending in a decisive victory for the U.S. and the destruction of the Spanish fleet. -
Spain Surrenders
The Americans set up a perimeter around the city of Santiago and arranged Spain's surrender, marking the end of the battle and the beginning of territorial negotiations. -
Protocol of Peace Signed
The U.S. as Spain sign the Protocol of Peace, ending hostilities between the two countries, and the document served as the basis for the Treaty of Paris that would be negotiated and signed. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
The Treaty of Paris is signed by representatives from the U.S. and Spain. and the U.S. acquires control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. -
First Phase Philippine American War
After the Spaish-American War, the U.S. set its sights on the Philippines, setting off the first phase of the Philippine- American War dominated by Aguinaldo’s ill-fated attempts to fight a conventional war against the better-trained and equipped American troops. -
Second Phase Philippine American War
The second phase of the Philippine-American War was marked by the Filipinos’ shift to guerrilla-style warfare and lasted through the capture of Aguinaldo in 1901 to President Theodore Roosevelt's proclaimation of general amnesty ending the conflict on July 4, 1902. -
Open Door Policy
Secretary of State John Hay proposed an Open Door Policy for the protection of equal privileges among countries trading with China and in support of Chinese territorial and administrative integrity. -
Boxer Rebellion
After China's defeat by Japan in 1895, Western forces swept in to reap the benefits, but secret Chinese groups called "boxers" lead an uprising in Northern China to remove all Western and Japanese influence, evnentually being put down in 1901 and trpping Chia into paying an indemnity of $333 million. -
Roosevelt Uses Big Stick
After the treaty offering $40 millon for rights to the Panama Canal Zone was rejected by the government of Columbia, Roosevelt instead encouraged and supported Panama's revolt against Columbia, which succeeded, in order to gain control of the Canal as payment. -
Roosevelt Corollary
During the Venezula Crisis Roosevelt amended the Monroe Doctrine to read that the United States would get involved with the affairs of its Latin American neighbors if they defaulted on its debt to Europe. -
Great White Fleet
Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet of 16 U.S. warships on the first world naval tour in history to demontstrate military strength mostly aimed at intimidating Japan. This resulted in Japan working harder on their weapons and military, leading to WWII. -
Gentlemen's Agreement
The Gentlemen’s Agreement represented an effort by President Theodore Roosevelt to calm growing tension between the US and Japan over the immigration of Japanese workers in which it was agreed to end the segregation of Japanese students in return for Japan's banning of the immigration of laborers to the U.S. -
Manchurian Railroads
Taft sent a telegram to the Chinese Government on behalf of American investors interested in railroads in the Yangtze Valley, and Secretary of State Philander C. Knox offered to purchase the railroads from Russia and Japan in order to retur them to Chinese control; Japan and Russia refused the offer. -
Panama Canal Opened
John F. Wallace, overseer of the Panama Canal project, devised a system of locks and channels that would make construction easier, 2,500 men were tasked to dynamite walls, and 19 million pounds of explosives were used; altogether these efforts put the Canal's construction ahead of schedule. -
Aggressive Moral Diplomacy
Mexican officials arrested several American sailers and Woodrow Wilson used this as an excuse to order the U.S. Navy to occupy the port city of Veracruz, weakening the power of the antirevolutionarly leader of Mexico, General Victoriano Huerta. -
Archduke Assassinated
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo, setting off WWI when the country declared war on Serbia, dragging many other countries into the picture. -
Russia Mobilizes Forces
Russia moves in to protect its ally, Serbia, from Austria-Hungary, which sets off a chain of other major European Powers joining the war. -
Germany invades Belgium
After declaring war on Russia, Germany invades Belgium in attempt to neutralize opposition from France, causing Britain to join the war in order to defend France. -
Lusitania Sinks
A German submarine sinks the passenger liner Lusitania carrying 1,198 people, 128 of them Americans, sparking international outrage. In response Germany limited submarine use in attempt to keep the US out of the war but the US was able to supply the Allies more efficiently. -
Pancho Villa
After being abandoned by his former supporter Woodrow Wilson against Carranza, Pancho Villa led an army of about 1,500 guerillas across the border to stage a raid against the small American town of Columbus, New Mexico. Wilson ordered General John Pershing to lead 6,000 American troops into Mexico and capture Villa. -
The Red Scare
The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution resulted in Lenin becoming the virtual dictator of the first Marxist state in the world, sparking fear of communism in the United States. -
Zimmerman Telegram
British intelligence gives President Wilson the "Zimmerman" telegram in which German foreign Secretary Zimmerman proposes that Mexico side with Germany in the event that the US and Germany go to war. This telegram launches American public opinion in favor of the war and WIlson outlines his cas for war to Congress. -
US Enters War
Congress authorizes the Declaration of War against Germany and the U.S. joins the War on the Allies' side, including Britain and France. -
End of War
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates on November 9, destroying all hopes of victory for Germany, and Germany signs an armistice with the Allies to end WWI. The League of Nations is later formed.
