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US-Mexican War
The Mexican-American War began to acquire more land from Mexico to expand the border, which eventually ended in a succesfull American campaign and acquisition of land. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty left the US with a vast amount of land in the present day south west, leaving Mexico-American relations poor and the country resentful. -
Perry Visits Japan
Matthew Perry of the US Navy arrived in Japan, showing off the US military strength and letting the Japanese know that the US intended to begin trade with them, leading to the opening up of Japan to trade and lessening of isolationism. -
Alaska Purchase
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, which was a beginning of American imperialism and would later become an important territory for oil. -
Filipino Nationalists Secure Most of Luzon
Led by Filipino Nationalist Emilio Aguinaldo, Filipinos attack take over most of the island Luzon, making the small uprisings of the Filipinos into a full war for both sides. -
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History
Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" talks about the importance of sea power to be a global power, influencing both the US and Japan to begin building strong Navies. -
Hawaii Revolution
US Marines, soldiers and American businessmen desposed the Queen of Hawaii, destorying the current government and opening up the country to the possibility of US intervention. -
Valerieno Weyler Crushes Cuban Rebellion
Due to the atrocities committed by the Spanish against the Cuban Rebels, the American people began to favor fighting against the Spanish to help the Cubans. -
McKinley elected President
McKinley is elected president, promising to free the Cubans, essentially acting to warn Spain that war is coming. -
Dupuy de Lome Letter Intercepted
Dupuy de Lome wrote a letter insulting President McKinley, angering the American people and government and furthering the decline towards a war. -
USS Maine Explodes
The USS Maine, stationed near Cuba, exploded for unknown reasons, angering the American people as the press blamed the incident on the Spanish and was a final straw for American war with Spain. -
US Declares War on Spain
McKinley asked Congress to declare war on Spain, allowing the US to attack Spain on its territories in Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines and later claim them as our own. -
Spanish Asian Fleet Destroyed
Admiral Dewey of the US Navy successfully destroyed the entire Spainsh Fleet in Asia while suffering only a single casualty, leaving the Spanish territories of the Pacific open to invasion by the US. -
San Juan Hill Taken
San Juan Hill is taken by Theodore Roosevelt, both acting as a strategic victory and giving Roosevelt fame and respect to help him in his presidential campaign later on. -
Spanish Caribbean Fleet Destroyed
While attempting to escape to open waters, the Spanish Caribbean fleet is destroyed, leaving Cuba and Puerto Rico completely open to American invasion. -
Newlands Resolution Signed
This Newlands Resolution allowed for the annexation of Hawaii, which created poor relations with the natives and encouraged rhe beginnings of US imperialism and assisted in allowing the US to utilize the sugar and pineapples of the islands for business. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
The signing of the Treaty of Paris caused the Philippine-American War due to how the islands were sold to the US and were placed under colonial-like rule. -
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy was created by Western Powers, including the US, in which trade and use of Chinese ports and such would be equally usable by all the western countries, eventually leading to the Boxer Rebellion after the Chinese bcame angry with the encroaching Europeans and Americans. -
Boxer Rebellion
Chinese Nationalists, upset with European and American interference, began an uprising that failed, but gave a sense of nationalism for the Chinese people. -
Hawaii Organic Act
This law created a government for the territory of Hawaii, a captial at Oahu and granted citizens of the Republic of Hawaii with citizenship among other things. -
Miners Strike
When Coal Miners began to strike for better pay and work conditions, Roosevelt decided to run the mines for public interest with his Big Stick ideology, leaving the Mine companies with only the option to agree to the miners' terms. -
Negotiations for Panama
Roosevelt, wanting to build a canal, bought the rights from the French, but when attempting to purchase the land from Columbia, was denied, leading to the US promoting the revolution of Panama. -
Panama Revolt
With the usage of Big Stick Diplomacy, the US began a revolution in Colombia which allowed Panama to become a seperate nation and begin the construction of the Panama Canal. -
Roosevelt Corollary
When Britain and Germany blockaded Venezuela, Roosevelt stated that he wanted Europe to respect the Monroe Doctrine and sent the Navy to Cuba to help persuade the European powers to leave the Americas. -
Dollar Diplomacy Enacted
With the beginning of Tafts Dollar Diplomacy, the US military was used to protect foreign interests, benefitting American businesses and restricting foreign ones. -
Franz Ferdinand Assassination
After Austrian Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian, tensions rose to the point where war broke out as sides were taken in the issue and alliances were forced to be abided by. -
Gallipoli Invasion Failure
With the failure of the ANZACs to invade into Turkey through Gallipoli, Russia was left unsupplied and isolated from the rest of the Allies and this was a major factor in their surrender later on. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
After the Lusitania was sunk by German U-Boats, American popular opinion greatly sided against the Germans and the Central Powers. -
Zimmerman Telegram
A telegram intended for Mexico from the Germans asking Mexico to join the Central Powers and attack the US was intercepted by the allies and forced the US to become involved in the War and side with the Allies. -
Treaty of Brest-Livosk
With the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Livosk, Russia was out of the war, leaving Germany with a single front war against the French, British and Americans. -
Sedition Act of 1919
During the fear of communism, Woodrow Wilson passed the Sedition Act of 1919 which allowed the deportation of political enemies, which was in response to fear of communism. -
Armistice Signed
With the signing of the Armistice, the fighting ceased and a proper treaty was able to be created, namely the Treaty of Versailles. -
Treaty of Versailles
The treaty of Versailles set harsh punishments on Germany, who was blamed for starting the war, leading eventually to the rise of Nazism and WWII.
