The Mexican Revolution Reilly Quick

The United States is one of the strongest countries in the world, but does that mean they can do whatever they want? One of the times the U.S. did get into something they should not have was during the Mexican Revolution. The United States getting into the Mexican Revolution was a bad idea because, the president did not know all of the true facts about people in Mexico, people were in danger, and the Unites States could have avoided many conflicts by not getting into it. Though the U.S. is strong, they still do not have the right to do whatever they please.

The first reason why the Unites States getting involved in the Mexican Revolution was a bad idea was that President Woodrow Wilson did not know all of the true facts about the people in Mexico. When Francisco Madero was elected president of Mexico, he was quickly overwhelmed. He was soon overthrown by Victortiano Huerta, who was the commander of the government troops in Mexico. Many European nations recognized Huerta’s government, but the United States did not. Wilson viewed Huerta as an assassin with no legitimate claim to power. Wilson’s point of view of Huerta started the Tampico incident which lead to many other conflicts. Wilson needed to know more about Huerta’s government before he went to Mexico and tried to settle things that did not need to be settled.

The second reason why the United States getting involved in the Mexican Revolution was a bad idea was that people were in danger. One time when people were put in danger was during the Tampico Incident. On April 9th, 1914, nine crew members of the USS Dolphin went for supplies in the Mexican port of Tampico. They were arrested by soldiers who were loyal to Huerta. Although the American soldiers were released, shortly after being arrested, they still could have been harmed even though they were not. Wilson knew that his soldiers could probably be harmed, but he put his men in danger anyways. Another time people were harmed was during the Battle of Veracruz. Wilson ordered the U.S. Navy to seize Veracruz after hearing that a German ship loaded with weapons for Huerta was heading for Veracruz. When the U.S. arrived, a violent battle erupted-the Battle of Veracruz. The Americans expected to seize control with little bloodshed. Really seventeen Americans and three-hundred Mexicans died. For the 6th months after the battle, U.S. troops occupied Veracruz. War almost began during this time which would have hurt a lot more people. The soldiers and people in Mexico could have been hurt and they were in a lot of danger.

The final reason why the United States getting involved in the Mexican Revolution was a bad idea is

that the United States could have avoided many conflicts. One event they could have avoided was the Battle of Veracruz. They could have avoided almost going into war with Mexico, while occupying Veracruz, by not going to Mexico in the first place. Another conflict we could have avoided was the conflict with Huerta. If Wilson had not worried so much about his power and government we could have avoided the Tampico incident. By not going to Mexico, we could have avoided any conflicts we had with them. So, the U.S. getting into the Mexican Revolution was not such a good idea because, President Wilson did not know all of the true facts about people in Mexico, people were in danger, and the U.S. could have avoided many conflicts if they stayed out of it. Even though the U.S. has a lot of power, that does not mean they can do whatever they want to.

Hawaiian Annexation Madeline VanderVinne

When I interviewed a Hawaiian citizen she clarified that the Queen did not want Hawaii to become part of the United States, why the U.S. Military wanted the island, and about Dole and the sugar planters.

The first thing we talked about was Hawaii becoming part of the United States. Their ruler, King Kamehameha, was in charge until he died and his sister became the Queen. Queen Liliuokalani was very proud of her heritage as a child. She didn't want Hawaii to become part of the United States. The only problem with this is all of the citizen did want to become part of the United States. In January of 1893 sugar planters staged an uprising against Queen Liliuokalani. They forced her to abdicate, while they were attacking they raised an American flag in Honolulu. The second idea we talked about was why the United States Navy wanted Hawaii. The United States thought that Hawaii would be a good Navy base because if was in the middle of no where. If the United States were attacked it would not matter because there Navy base would be some where else. Another reason they wanted it was because there was not much land left. Everything was already someone else’s territory.

Also by taking over Hawaii it extended their land into the Pacific. The United States was worried that if they did not take it that a European Nation would concur it. Hawaii also had a lot of people who owed sugar ranches.

The third thing that we talked about is the sugar planters and Dole. In 1980 sugar planters started to lose money because of the United States demand for foreign sugar. The planters knew that if Hawaii was annexed by the United States they would not have to close down their sugar ranches. This is when they all got together and decided that they wanted to abdicate Queen Liliuokalani. Dole was the leader of all the citizens who wanted Queen Liliuokalani to give up her power. After she renounced, Hawaii elected Dole to become the first governor of Hawaii.

In this interview I learner a lot about Hawaii becoming part of the United States, why the Navy wanted Hawaii, and Dole and the Sugar planters.

The third thing that we talked about is the sugar planters and Dole. In 1980 sugar planters started to lose money because of the United States demand for foreign sugar. The planters knew that if Hawaii was annexed by the United States they would not have to close down their sugar ranches.

This is when they all got together and decided that they wanted to abdicate Queen Liliuokalani. Dole was the leader of all the citizens who wanted Queen Liliuokalani to give up her power. After she renounced, Hawaii elected Dole to become the first governor of Hawaii. In this interview I learner a lot about Hawaii becoming part of the United States, why the Navy wanted Hawaii, and Dole and the Sugar planters.

The Spanish American War Austin Ingles

The Spanish-American

War was important because the United States freed Cuba from the Spanish, the United States received the Philippines, and the United State declared war over a miscommunication.

The United States freed Cuba from the Spanish. Thousands of Cubans were being imprisoned in camps by the Spanish and one-third of the prisoners died from disease and starvation. The Cubans revolted from the Spanish several times. Cuba was originally an independent country. The United States received the Philippines after the war. The Philippines were an important trade location since it was farther south and in the ocean. The Philippines have important ports for import and export. The Philippines can also house important navy bases.

The Spanish American War was started over a miscommunication. The USS Maine was a navy vessel that was destroyed from a coal fire inside the ship. The United States blamed the Spanish for destroying the ship. This brought the United States into war with the Spanish.

The Spanish American War was important because the United States freed Cuba from the Spanish, the United States received the Philippines, and the war was

started over a miscommunication.

The Panama Canal Abby Sears

Acquiring the Panama Canal,

diseases, and construction were issues faced by the United States government. The U.S. dreamed of finding a faster way to move between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean without traveling all the way around South America.

A first issue was acquiring the Panama Canal. A previous attempt to build the Panama Canal was in the 1880s when a French company began to build the 50-mile-wide Isthmus of Panama. The French company eventually went bankrupt and abandoned the canal. At the time the Panama Canal was under control of the Republic of Columbia. In 1902, the U.S. bought the rights from the French canal property and equipment. John Hay (Secretary of State) began to

make negotiations with Columbia to gain permanent use of the strip of land that the canal would cut through. In 1903, a treaty was made for a drafted canal zone, but Columbia’s senate would not ratify it. Theodore Roosevelt (President) had an interest in building the canal. Panamanian revolutionaries plot to break free of Columbian rule, and Teddy supported the rebellion. Panama then declared independence, and the treaty with Panama gave the U.S. complete and unending sovereignty over a 10-mile-wide canal zone.

A second dilemma was

diseases. Many accidents, deaths, and lost equipment were discovered. Yellow Fever was a disease much like the flu that caused shortage of labor and materials. A disease even worse was malaria which was spread by mosquitos. It struck out almost all of the workers within the first month of building. The workers had to try and eliminate the mosquitos by draining swamps, clearing vegetation, spreading oil on pools of standing water, and by breeding spiders, ants, and lizards to feed on the mosquitos. The diseases were almost all gone by 1913. The third issue was with building the canal. Theodore Roosevelt appointed John F. Stevens as chief engineer and architect. John tackled many technical problems

while Dr. William C. Gorgas focused on improving sanitation and health. John resigned in 1907 and let Lt. Col. George W. Goethals take over. George was known as the “Genius of Panama Canal.” At the site there were 44,000 workers that were recruited from the British West Indies. In 1914, the SS Ancon was the first ship to pass officially through the Panama Canal. In the end the Panama Canal was very successful, even though it had many struggles and difficulties. Some of these were acquiring the canal, diseases, and construction.

The United States and the Philippines had a unbalanced relationship because , the Philippines helped the U.S in battle but, then fought America because of Emilio Aguinaldo’s command.

Theodore Roosevelt sent Commodore George Dewey to take over the Philippines Spanish fleet. May1 1898, the Spanish and American Soldiers began war in a matter of hours the Americans won the battle against the Spanish fleet. 400 Spaniards were killed or injured. Not one single American life was lost.

Dewey had thoughts of battle in the capital of Manila he was helped in battle by Emilio Aguinaldo, who had been fighting for independence along with his rebel army the “ Filipinos.” Dewey's army and Aguinaldo’s army surrounded Manila and the Spanish forces to surrendered on August 14 1898. The United States made a strategy in Cuba was to capture the pot city of Santiago. 8,000 soldiers fought to take control of Kettle and San Juan Hills. July 3rd the U.S navy sank the entire Spanish fleet two weeks later, the Spanish troops in Cuba surrendered. Soon after their battle the U.S defeated Spanish soldiers in Puerto Rico.

Philippine Insurrection Kee'Anne Miles

The United States then wanted to annex the Philippines. This raised rage in the United States because, Americans feared of flooding of immigrant. After a long debate February 6 1899, the Senate approved the treaty of annexation of the Philippines. While the U.S was at war with Cuba, Emilio Aguinaldo had a government set up and made himself president of the new Republic of the Philippines. Emilio warned the U.s if they tried to take over his military would begin war. War broke out for three years, 4,000 American soldiers were killed and about 220,000 Filipinos had died . The war ended in 1901.

Imperialism in China and Japan Rory Gant

Beginning in 1898, groups of peasants in northern China began to band together into a secret society known as I-ho ch'üan ("Righteous and Harmonious Fists"), called the "Boxers" by Western press.

Members of the secret society practiced boxing and calisthenic rituals (hence the nickname, the "Boxers") which they believed would make them impervious to bullets

President McKinley passed the “Open Door Policy” which allowed other nations to openly be involved in China’s market.

On the surface, it appeared that the United States had advanced a reform viewpoint, but the truth was otherwise.

The Open Door Policy

The Russo-Japanese

war: The war was fought in the very far east of Russia. Most of the citizens lived very far away from the war and felt removed from it. The news of the war travelled slowly. A Russian government official named Plehve and a grand duke named Sergius were assassinated at almost the same time.

This was a disaster for

Russia and Tsar Nicholas. Russia’s only year round naval base was captured in January of 1905. Overall the Russo-Japanese War was a terrible military campaign for the Russians. After Tsar Nicholas appointed Prince Nirsky to be the minister of the interior Russia went into a deep economic slum.