William McKinley

Birth-Death: (1843 - 1901 ) Term: (1897-1901 )

Under William McKinley the United States became an imperialistic nation. After the Spanish American War, the US attained its first colony, the Philippines, and it was not until the end of World War II that the Philippines would be independent again.

Foreign Events of Bill McKinley

    The United States had an extensive interest in Cuba from time to time. Polk had tried to purchase Cuba from Spain in the 1840s; the Ostend Manifesto embarrassed the nation in the 1850s. Finally, in 1898 the United States had a reason to invade Cuba. The Spanish had been violating basic human rights and the United States agreed to support the Cuban revolutionists. At the same time, the nation was looking to expand into the Pacific Ocean.

    The spark that set off the war was the explosion on board of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor. Although it is still not known what caused the explosion, the press made it look as if American lives were in serious danger and the declaration of war soon followed.

    The war only lasted three months and in this time the United States had not only defeated the great Spanish Empire, but it had also acquired the Philippines and Guam as new possessions. The Spanish American war finally convinced the world that the U.S. was a world power - it was able to defeat the Spanish in only three months. The war also showed the American government the need for a canal across Central America.