In the late 19th to the early 20th century, the United States sought to expand the size of their nation. The US went through the Mexican-American War, which led US to expanding after the war. We gained influence in Puerto Rico, Philippines, and China. United States also took the huge task of building the Panama Canal. America, just like the rest of the world, wanted to extend their economic, political, and military control over weaker territories. This included adding new states to their country. Europe wanted African territory and by the early 20th century, only Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent. Admiral Alfred T. Mahan and the rest of Americas desire for military strength had 9-steel hauled cruisers built between 1883-1890. In 1867 William Seward arranged to buy Alaska for $7.2 million but had trouble persuading the House of Representatives to approve funding. In 1959 Alaska became a state. Hawaii's farmers wanted annexation but President Cleveland refused unless majority of Hawaiians favored it. August 12, 1989 Congress proclaimed Hawaii as American territory and in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.
By the end of the 19th century, Spain, once the most powerful colonial nation on earth, had lost most of its colonies. It retained only the Philippines and the island of Guam in the Pacific, a few outposts in Africa, and the Caribbean Islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Americas. The U.S. had long held an interest in Cuba, but Cuba wasn't an independent country. The Cubans rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878, it was not successful but in 1886 Cuba forced Spain to abolish slavery.The war escalated in 1896, when Spain sent General Valeriano Weyler to Cuba to restore order. American resentment toward Spain turned into outrage. In 1898, President McKinley had ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to bring home citizens. On February 15, 1898 the ship exploded. April 11, President McKinley asked congress for authority to use force against Spain.