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United States Aquires Alaska
William Seward arranged for the U.S. to buy Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. in 1959 Alaska became a state after some troublesome persuading of the House of Representatives. For about 2 cents an acre, we aquired a land full of timber, minerals, and oil. -
National American Woman Suffrage Association
In May of 1890, the National Women Suffrage Association united with another group to create the National American Woman Suffrage Association. State by state they convinced state legislatures to grant women the right to vote. The only states who allowed this were Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Washington and Idaho before all were required to do so by the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919. Women fought for suffrage for 72 years before being granted this right. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act was created to prevent trusts and monopolies from forming and gave the government the power to dissolve these trusts. -
Second War for Independence
Jose Marti wanted a free Cuba. He launched a revolution in 1895 destroying American owned sugar mills and plantations. Some Americans wanted to support Spain to protect investments and others were all for the rebel cause but he knew the U.S. wouldn't do anything to the Cubans because the U.S. didn't want to side with the evil ways of Spain. Spain sent Valeriano Weyler to restore order. 300,000 Cubans filled his concentration camps and thousands of them died from starvation and poor sanitation. -
United States Takes Hawaii
Hawaii had been economically important to the United States for nearly a century. In 1887 we wanted to build a naval base at Pearl Harbor. It became a refueling station for American ships. When Queen Liliuokalani came to power in 1891, a government headed by Sanford B. Dole overthrew her. in 1897, William McKinley(favored annexation) succeeded Cleveland as president. In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state of the U.S. -
Treaty of Paris
On August 12, 1898, the U.S. and Spain agreed to a cease-fire. On December 10, 1898, the U.S. and Spain met in Paris to agree on a treaty. As a result Spain freed Cuba, gave the U.S. Guam and Puerto Rico, and sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. -
Filipinos Rebel
Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, the Philippines rose in revolt. United States acted similar to Spain in which they forced Filipinos to live in designated zones where poor sanitation, starvation and disease killed thousands. Throughout the war, 20,000 Filipino rebels died, 4,000 Americans died and cost the U.S. $400 million. -
Pure Food and Drug Act/Meat Inspection Act
These Acts were passed to protect the lives of American's. The Pure Food and Drug Act required all foods to have proper labeling. The Meat Inspection Act required strict cleanliness for meatpackers and all meat to be inspected before sold. -
Alliance Systems Form
in 1907 the two Alliance Systems form in Europe: the Triple Entente (Allies) and the Triple Alliance (Central Powers). The Allies consisted of France, Britain, and Russia. The Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. -
Bull Moose Party
Republicans refused to vote so they created the third party the Progressive Party "Bull Moose Party" for Roosevelt. The platform called for direct election, advocated woman suffrage, workmen's compensation, and 8-hour work days, minimum wage for women, a federal law against child labor and a federal trade commission to regulate business. -
War-related Industries Form
Around 1917 six industries were created to help with the war effort. Those were: the War Industries Board, the Food Administration, the National War Labor Board, the Fuel Administration, the Treasury Department, and the Railroad Administration. Each had their own way of helping with the war effort and each made WWI possible. -
America Acts
On April 2, 1917, President Wilson delivered his war resolution at the Capitol. A few days later Congress passed the resolution shattering neutrallity for the U.S. The United States was preparing for war. -
Selective Service Act
This act required men to register with the government in order to be randomly selected for military service. By the end of 1918, 24 million men had registered under the act and 3 million had been called up. 400,000 of them were African-American. John J. Pershing then led the American Expeditionary Force which was an American army that was made up of men from all over the country. -
Fourteen Points
On January 18, 1918, Wilson presented his plan for peace before Congress. The points were divided into three groups: 1-5 - issues he believed would prevent another war. 6-13 - boundary changes in Europe and 14 - League of Nations which would be where differences could be settled peacefully and diplomatically with the Big Four. The Big Four consisted of the U.S. - Woodrow Wilson, Italy - Vittorio Orlando, Britain - David Lloyd George, and France - Georges Clemenceau. -
Prohibition
Prohibition in America made it illegal to buy, sell, make, or transport alcohol in the United States with the exception of medicinal and religious uses. It was believed that it would improve the morals of the American citizens but it angered many Americans.
