Chapter 9 Lesson 1

New Territories

EQ: What caused the Spanish-American War?EQ: Who built the Panama Canal and why?

The Nation Expands• For much of the 1800’s, the Us

gained territory in western North America. During those years, settlers from the East moved to the new lands of the West. They began to mix with the American Indians, Mexicans, and others who already lived there. By the late 1800’s, the country could no longer expand west. Some people believed the US had reached the “end of the frontier”. In the late 1800’s and early 1900s, however, the nation found new ways to continue to gain land.

Alaska and Hawaii• In 1867, Russia offered to sell

its colony of Alaska to the US.• The Secretary of State,

William Seward, convinced Congress to buy Alaska. – Many people believed that

buying Alaska was a bad idea. – 1896 Gold was found in Alaska!– Thousands of people went to

the region hoping to get rich.• Very few discovered gold.

Alaska and Hawaii

• People discovered that Alaska’s fish, forest, and minerals turned out to be worth much more than its gold!

• 1912 Alaska became a US territory.

• 1959 Alaska became the 49th state.

Alaska and Hawaii

Alaska and Hawaii• Hawaii is a group of islands in

the Pacific Ocean several thousand miles west of California.

• Map pg. 297• The first settlers were from Asia. • The first Americans to come to

Hawaii were mostly traders and missionaries. They arrived in the late 1700s.

• Americans started to set up sugar and pineapple plantations in Hawaii.

Hawaii Joins the US• By the late 1800s, the planters

owned much of the land and businesses In Hawaii.

• Many Hawaiians were unhappy with the planters’ increasing wealth and power.

• Queen Liliuokalani wanted power and land returned to native Hawaiians.

• The wealthy American plantation owners feared the queen’s plans.

Hawaii Joins the US

• They led a revolt in 1893 that forced the queen from power.

• After the revolt ended, Americans in Hawaii asked to join the US.

• In 1898, Hawaii became a US territory. In 1959, it became the 50th state.

The Spanish-American War

• The US showed the world it was becoming more powerful when it added Alaska and Hawaii.

• Some American leaders wanted land. – They wanted to build an

empire with colonies all over the world.

The Spanish-American War

• When nations build empires by adding colonies, it is called imperialism.

• A conflict with Spain would add new territories to the US.

The Spanish-American War

• In the 1890’s, Spain no longer had a large empire.

• Spain only controlled Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippine Islands and Guam.

The Spanish-American War• In 1895, The people of

Cuba revolted against Spain.

• American newspapers wrote about Spain’s cruel treatment of Cubans during the revolt.

• The news stories were shocking, BUT NOT ALWAYS TRUE!

The Spanish-American War

• New reporting of this kind became known as yellow journalism. – Yellow journalism is a

kind of writing that exaggerates news to shock and attract readers.

The Spanish-American War• In February 1898, the US

Navy ship Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

• No one knew how the explosion happened, but American newspapers blamed Spain.

• President McKinley soon asked Congress to declare war on Spain.

The Spanish-American War

• The fighting began in the Philippine Islands.

• The US Navy sank most of Spain's fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay.

• Then, the war shifted to Cuba.

Roosevelt and the Rough Riders• Theodore Roosevelt, the

Assistant Secretary of the US Navy, strongly supported American imperialism.

• He wanted to help fight the war against Spain.

• He quit his job and formed a volunteer fighting group known as the Rough Riders.

Roosevelt and the Rough Riders• The Rough Riders went

to Cuba to fight. • They were joined by a

group of African American soldiers known as the buffalo soldiers.

• Together they won the famous battle called the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Roosevelt and the Rough Riders

• Spain surrendered in August 1898.

• In the peace agreement, Spain gave Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam to the US.

• Cuba became independent.

Building the Panama Canal• After the Spanish-

American War, Theodore Roosevelt returned to the US.

• He became President in 1901 (1909)

• President Roosevelt believed that we should build a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Building the Panama Canal

• The canal would save ships the long journey around the southern tip of South America when traveling from the east coast of the US to the west coasts.

Building the Panama Canal

• The best place for a canal was at the narrowest point in Central America, which is the Isthmus of Panama. – An Isthmus is a narrow

strip that links two larger pieces of land. It has water on both sides.

Building the Panama Canal

• Panama was a part of the South American country of Colombia.

• President Roosevelt tried to buy land for the canal from Colombia.

• The Colombian government would not sell the land.

Building the Panama Canal

• Roosevelt tried another plan.

• Roosevelt helped the people of Panama win their independence. From Colombia.

• The new leaders of Panama agreed to let the US build the Panama Canal.

Building the Panama Canal• Building the canal was

difficult, dangerous and expensive.

• It took about 10 years to complete.

• The Panama Canal opened in August of 1914

• The trip from coast to coast took only weeks instead of months!!!

Lesson Summary• Alaska and Hawaii became

part of the US in the late 1800’s. Victory in the Spanish-American War gave the US the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. President Roosevelt built the Panama Canal to shorten the trip from coast to coast.

Show What You Know Time!

• Name 4 facts about the Spanish-American War.

• Why was the Panama Canal built? – Which President built the Canal?– Why did Panama agree to let the US build the

Canal?