U.S. construction a 50-mile stretch across the Panama

Isthmus to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In the early stages of construction, yellow fever and

malaria frightened off the workforce.

• Panama Canal

• Philippines

• Zimmerman Telegram

• Big Four

1898 – Turning point in history; U. S. emerges as world power; ended Spain’s colonial empire

Causes: Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine, Need to protect U. S. interests in Cuba

Humanitarian concerns, Yellow Journalism, acquisitions that McKinley was “weak”

U. S. gains Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam; Cuba becomes a U.S. protectorate

• Treaty of Portsmouth

• War Industries Board

• Spanish-American War

• Sussex Pledge

Proposal to keep Chinese markets open for all without allowing any one county to gain control over the region

Hays’ letter to other world powers proposed trade to free and open to all

U. S. interests were open access for missionaries and American businesses

• Selective Service Act

• Open Door Policy

• Treaty of Portsmouth

• Sussex Pledge

1898 - after the Spanish American War, Spain ceded the Philippines to the U. S.

1899-1902 – Philippine-American War between American forces & nationals

1946 - U.S granted independence to the Republic of the Philippines

• Big Four

• The Philippines

• Public Information

• Platt Amendment

1901 – Treaty between the U.S.

and Cuba; attempted to protect

Cuba’s independence from

foreign intervention

Gave U.S. oversight in Cuba;

ensured that Cuba would

maintain a special relationship

with the U.S.

• Platt Amendment

• Teller Amendment

• Selective Service Act

• Treaty of Versailles

1904 – addition to Monroe Doctrine

T. Roosevelt’s assertive approach to Latin America & the Caribbean; U.S. would intervene (police) against foreign aggression; justified actions in Cuba, Haiti &

Dominican Republic

Roosevelt’s “Big Stick” policy

• Committee of Public Information

• Spanish-American War

• Zimmerman Telegram

• Roosevelt Corollary

1898 – joint resolution placing “conditions” on U.S. military presence in Cuba

U.S. could not annex Cuba; must leave control of the island to its people

U.S. would help Cuba gain

independence and then withdraw its troops

• Teller Amendment

• Open Door Policy

• Wilson's Fourteen Points

• Sussex Pledge

1904-05 – Treaty formally ending the Russo-Japanese War; mediated by Theodore Roosevelt

Constructed a balance of power in Asia that might uphold U.S. interests

• Treaty of Portsmouth

• Open Door Policy

• League of Nations

• Sussex Pledge

1917 – authorized the U.S. government to raise a national army for service in WWI through conscription (draft)

Canceled at the end of the war

Upheld by the U.S. Supreme

Court

• League of Nations

• War Industries Board

• Sussex Pledge

• Selective Service Act

1917 – government agency established to coordinate the purchase of WWI war supplies

Set priorities, fixed prices and standardized products to support the war efforts

Did not meet expectations; often had to negotiate with industry rather than direct it

• War Industries Board

• Sussex Pledge

• Sedition Act

• Big Four