US Purchase of Alaska - It was not a state til 1959. America purchased it from Russia for 7.2 million dollars.
US Taking of Hawaii - America wanted to buy Hawaii, because of the massive amounts of sugar cane. The King of Hawaii died, and his sister took over as Queen. When she became Queen, she was overthrown. In 1897, McKinley wanted to take Hawaii, but President Cleveland didn't want to. When he became president, he annexed to get the state. Queen Liliuokalani tried to get rid of the American influence, which didn't work very well. August 12, 1898 is when we officially annexed it. We forced our way into the island, rather than purchase is like Alaska.
Spanish-American War- By 1900, Span was a dwindling empire. Philippines, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and a few colonies in Africa(Morocco and Western Sahara). The US had been interested in Cuba for a long time. Us tried to buy Cuba in 1854. Cubans had been revolting against Spain frequently, (1868, 1878, 1886, 1895.) wanting independence.
Causes -
- The USS Maine sinking
- There was an ammunition supply too close to the heat of the ship, and it over heated and caused the ship to sink.
- The Yellow Press
- Instigated the war
- Butcher Weyler and his treatment of Cubans in the concentration camps.
- United the general public to want war with Spain.
- Made people feel sorry for the Cubans.
- The Yellow Kid was the first color in a newspaper.
- The Yellow Press really stretched the truth.
- The De Lome Letter
- Criticized McKinley.
- "...McKinley is weak and catering to the rabble, and besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party."
- Jose Marti's destruction of US property in Cuba - Making it look as though Spain did it. He was a Cuban nationalist. He was educated in the United States. Cuba revolted against Spain about every decade. He started to destroy American property in Cuba, but made it look like Spain was doing the damage. The newspapers printed that Spain was destroying American's sugar plantations.
- Criticized McKinley.
- "...McKinley is weak and catering to the rabble, and besides, a low politician who desires to leave a door open to himself and to stand well with the jingos of his party."
Battles/Famous People Involved - Teddy Roosevelt fought in the war, before he was president. He was a true war hero.
Results/Treaty - The US won the war. The United States lost 3,000 men, but only
US Control of Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico is a US territory.
US Control of Cuba - Cuba is a communist country. In 1898, Spain gave control of Cuba to the United States with the Treaty of Paris. In 1902, the United States granted Cuba its independence as promised with the Teller Amendment. The US retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability with the Platt Amendment. The US got control of Guantanamo Bay as well, a naval base we still have control of today. In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed.
US Control of Philippines - The United States purchased the Philippines for 20 million dollars.
- "...there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize the,, and by God's grace to do the very best..."
Open Door Policy in China - This policy guaranteed China's independence and free trade for all countries.
Boxer Rebellion in China - The foreign people were moving into China and wanted to convert them religiously. The Boxer's didn't like that, so they started a war and many people were killed during this time.
Teddy Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize - Japan shocked the work by defeating Russia. Treat of Portsmouth, Japan received Southern half of Sakhalin Island from Russia. Japan over took Russian interests in Manchuria and Korea.
Getting Control and Building Panama Canal - The Panama Canal was built for a fast transportation between countries, otherwise people would have had to sail around South America. Bogota is the capital of Panama. Teddy Roosevelt told the people of Panama to revolt and declare independence, and he told them our Navy would protect them. They did so, and then we paid them to let us build the canal. We also paid Columbia.
Roosevelt Corollary and Monroe Doctrine - It was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine. It said that the US would be the police officer between Latin America and Europe. The US would use force to protect interests in Latin America.
Big Stick Diplomacy--"Speak softly and carry a big stick" - The Big Stick was the military. The Panama Canal was an example when they wouldn't let us build the canal, until we sent our Navy down.
Taft's Dollar Diplomacy -
Wilson's Missionary Diplomacy -
US issues with Mexico -
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