1. U.S. Acquires Alaska
Purchased by Sec. of State William Seward in 1867 from Russia for $7.2 million
“Seward’s Folly,” “Seward’s Icebox”
Land rich in natural resources: Lumber, Coal, Gold…
Became a state in 1959

2. U.S. Takes Hawaii Important economic (sugar) and military location
US established Pearl Harbor Naval Base est. 1887, with permission from Hawaiian government.
Business groups overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and took control of Hawaii
When President McKinley took over, he annexed Hawaii without a vote (1898)
Hawaii became 50th state – 1959.

3. U.S. Interest in Cuba
1854 – Tried to buy Cuba from Spain, was turned down
US was interested in Cuba because: Business interests (sugar) and had sympathy for Cuban rebels against Spanish.
Spanish American War
American troops attacked Spanish in Cuba
America won: Treaty of Paris 1898, Peace Treaty with Spain
Cuba = Independent, but a US protectorate (under the protection of American military, set up military outposts)

4. Guam and Puerto Rico and the Spanish American War
Spain owns Puerto Rico and Guam
Spanish American War begins: US wanted Spain out of Cuba and they disagreed over Spain’s use of concentration camps.
Treaty of Paris 1898: Spain gives Puerto Rico and Guam to US control
US happy with this arrangement. Puerto Rico and Guam both have economic advantages (plantation farming/cash crops) and military strategic positions (navy bases)
They both remain under US ownership to this day.

5. Panama
The US wanted to build a canal to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean so their naval ships don’t have to go all the way around South America to travel back and forth, Panama (the skinniest country) was the perfect spot.
Colombia owned Panama and refused to let US build the canal
Panama citizens wanted freedom from Colombia
US supported Panama rebels in revolution
Panama won independence and gave US permission to build and use a canal in their country
Reduced NY – San Francisco trip over 50%
From 13,000 miles to 5,200 miles

6. Philippines Annexation Debate - Philippines ANTI-Annexation
After the Spanish-American War, Spain sold the Philippines to the US for $20 million, as part of the Treaty of Paris 1898
US decided to Annex the Philippines, but Filipinos fought for their independence and began a war with the US, the Philippine-American War
During the war, more than 4,000 American soldiers, about 20,000 Filipino fighters, and an estimated 200,000 Filipino civilians died. After a long struggle, the Filipinos received their independence in 1946.
Annexation Debate - Philippines
PRO-Annexation
Educate Filipinos
Uplift Filipinos
Civilize Filipinos
ANTI-Annexation
Violated the
Declaration of Independence
Denied Self-Government to the new territories
Introduced more racial problems