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Queen of Hawaii is overthrown
Queen Liliʻuokalani is arrested by US Marines. Resulted in Hawaii is taken over by the United States, however the senate decided to let Hawaii keep their own government. Also any country to interfere with Hawaii's government would be considered an enemy of the United States. -
William McKinley elected President
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Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine
American naval vessel exploded in Havana Harbor, roughly two-thirds of the crew were killed. Yellow Journalism resulted in US citizens demanding President McKinley to declare war on Spain. “Remember the Maine!” became the popular rallying point for war. -
Spanish-American War
On April 25, 1898 The US Declares war on Spain. The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, a result of U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. The war only lasts 113 days, after which America came out victorious and it caused Spain to lose control of the over islands within this area -
Annexation of Hawaii
Background: In 1875, U.S. Hawaiian governments signed a trade agreement that gave Hawaii access to export sugar to the US tax free, while also agreeing to only serve American markets - making them economically dependent on the US. Over the next 3 decades the US explored other markets, leaving Hawaii struggling. January 1893, a group of US businessmen in Hawaii, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani’s regime with the support of the U.S. government. Months later they officially annexed it. -
Annexation of Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam
In the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States. -
Treaty of Paris, Spanish American War ends
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 officially ended the Spanish American War. The US agreed to pay Spain $20 Million dollars for territory. Resulted in Spain relinquishing nearly all of the remaining Spanish Empire, especially Cuba, and ceding Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. -
Period: to
Philippine-American War
When the Americans defeated the Spanish, the Filipinos cheered. They believed they would finally be free of colonial rule allowed independence. A temporary, democratic government was formed by their leader, Emilio Aguinaldo. However, when the United States made it clear that they would not allow the Filipinos to self-govern, and would annex the Philippines, war erupted between the two sides -
Open Door Policy
Policy proposed to keep China open to trade with all countries on an equal basis, keeping any one power from total control of the country. In practice, the policy had little legal standing -
Panama Canal Start
Background: The US wanted a canal through Central America connecting the Atlantic Pacific. The Colombian government refused to approve a treaty permitting construction, Roosevelt supported a revolt by Panamanian rebels, who formed a new government and gave the US rights to a canal zone in exchange for $10 million and an annual rent. The canal’s construction was a feat of modern engineering, but resulted in the deaths of and permanent injury to thousands of Caribbean contract laborers. -
President Theodore Roosevelt Elected President
Republican Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the US (1901-1909). Known for his progressive reforms, foreign diplomacy - including imperialism. -
Roosevelt Corollary
President Theodore Roosevelt established an addition to the Monroe Doctrine called the Roosevelt Corollary. It established that the United States had the right to monitor, and intervene, if necessary, in situations of political unrest in the western hemisphere. Essentially Roosevelt asserted the US would become international policemen and paved the way for more US involvement -
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Considered the triggering cause of WW1 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife Duchess Sophie were assassinated during an official visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia. The assassin was a nineteen-year-old Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip. -
America declares Neutrality
President Woodrow Wilson declared American neutrality on August 4, later warning that the United States “must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men’s souls.” -
Panama Canal Completion
The Panamá Canal construction is completed. It is a 48-mile canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, allowing for quicker trade. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
A German U-boat fired on and sank the Lusitania, a British ocean liner, with the loss of 1198 lives, including 128 Americans. The sinking of the Lusitania caused a major shift in diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany. By September, Germany pledged to restrict submarine warfare. -
Zimmerman Telegram
British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. This message helped draw the United States into the war. -
US Enters World War 1
The United States Congress declares war on Germany. The U.S. joins the side of France and Britain. -
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act allowed the Federal government to raise up an army to go fight in war- a draft, all males aged 21 to 30 were required to register for military service. -
Espionage Act
The Espionage Act made it a criminal offense to publish or express information meant to interfere with the military and the war effort, or to promote the success of enemies of the United States. In June 1918, Socialist Party leader Eugene Debs urged resistance to the draft. Within two weeks, he was arrested and was charged with violating the Espionage Act. -
Fourteen Points Plan
US President Woodrow Wilson outlined fourteen points that would serve as a foundation for peace negotiation's that would allow the end of WW1. Called for freedom of the seas, free trade, reduction of ends, an end to secret treaties and more. -
Paris Peace Conference
Leaders of the Allied powers, as well as leaders from smaller, newer nations, met in Paris to negotiate the terms of a peace treaty with Germany and Austria-Hungary. German delegates were not invited until May of 1919, when they were presented with the Treaty of Versailles.
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/online-exhibitions/world-war-i-and-america -
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles officially ends WW1. The treaty was designed to both punish Germany and keep it from waging war again. The conditions barred German participation in the proposed League of Nations until 1926, designated new boundaries for Germany and stripped it of its colonies, massively reduced the German military, and forced Germany to shoulder the responsibility for the war.