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Timeline
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Sinking of the USS Maine
The battleship Maine was sent to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban War for Independence. It mysteriously exploded in Havana Harbor which led many to think it was sabotage by the Spanish. This became the final straw in convincing the U.S. to wage war against Spain and help Cuba. -
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Spanish-American War
This war was fought between the U.S. and Spain for the purpose of supposedly liberating Cuba and the Philippines. Previous revolts in Cuba helped build the tension until the war finally started. It ended up with a U.S. victory and Spain lost its rights to Cuba and the Philippines. -
Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine
This was part of Theodore Roosevelt's State of the Union Address in 1904 after the Venezuela crisis of 1902-1903. It stated that the U.S. would take a police role and intervene in conflicts between a European and Latin American countries and enforce legitimate claims themselves. -
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World War I
Known as the 'Great War", this conflict between several European nations would rage chaos across the continent and involve America as well. The 2 sides were the Central and Allied powers. The amount of nations involved was a result of alliances and military buildup prior to the war. The Allied Powers were mainly the U.S., Great Britain, France, and Russia. The Central Powers were mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The Allies won and punished Germany harshly. -
Sinking of Lusitania
The ship Lusitania was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean by a German U-boat. This event turned the public of America and many other countries against Germany. It also was part of the cause of America entering the War because the seas were now threatened. -
Good Neighbor Policy
This Policy was established after the Montevideo convention in 1933. Its main point was non interference or intervention in domestic affairs in Latin America. -
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World War II
This war was fought between the Axis and Allied Powers. Unlike WWI, this war spanned the Pacific, Asia, and Africa. The Allies were mainly the U.S., Great Britain, and Russia. The Axis were Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allies won the war in two separate theatres with two-front invasion and island hopping. The war was mainly caused by some of the unfair conditions towards Germany and Italy in the Treaty of Versailles, as well as the militaristic leaders on Japan. -
The Bombing of Pearl Harbor
This was a Japanese surprise attack on the naval base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was staged as a result of the U.S. oil embargo on Japan. This event lead FDR and Congress to take immediate action and enter World War II against Japan. When the U.S. did this Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. so it entered the European theatre also. -
Potsdam Declaration
This declaration was written and issued by the Allied Powers to the Empire of Japan. It listed the terms of Japanese surrender and demanded they do so immediately or else they would face "prompt and utter destruction".