Imperial States of America

Imperial States of America
===                                                    In which the United States adopts expansionism as standard policy after the Spanish-American war, becoming the Imperial States of America, and creating a large colonial empire. ===                                                                         First Empire

1890's-1914-Birth of an Empire
1890- The U.S Census shows no areas on the continental United States to be uncolonized. The Western frontier has come to an end.

1893- In his book the " Frontier Thesis", Frederick Jackson Turner declares the frontier to be closed. What had given Ameriac its' character throught western expansions has ended. Many Americans are distraught, and begin advocating for overseas expansion. When the government of Hawaii is overthrown by American businessmen, it is viewed as the perfect oppurtunity for American expansion. However, President Grover Cleveland's objection to annexation menas Hawaii remains independent- for now.

1895- An insurrection in Cuba is harshly crushed by the Spansih, resulting in popular support in the United States.

1896- William Mckinley is elected president on an expansionist platform.

1898- With tensions over Cuba rising between the United States and Spain, the sinking of the american ship the Maine, is blamed on the Spanish, resulting in war. American forces storm Cuba, a win a major victory at the battle of San Juan Hill. Spain sends a large fleet to the Carribean, which is crushed at the battle of Puerto Rico. The American navy then captures Spanish held Manilla with the aid of Filipino rebels, insuring control over the Phillipines. Spain cedes control of its' remaining colonial empire in the new world in the Treaty of Paris. The holdings seceded include Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and all of the Spanish East Indies. The Spanish government collapses after the treaty's ratification. And with the annexation of Hawaii, 1898 is hailed as the year the Spanish Empire died, and the American one was born.

1899- Resistance to to the Americans in the Philipines breaks out into war, lasting untill 1901. Citing the " savageness" of the natives and the need to "civilize" them, the occupying American forces claims it is the white man's burden to occupy " savage" nations. The Americans win the war.

1900- After helping to crush the Boxer Rebellion in China, the United States gains control over Hainan island, with British support.

1901- President William McKinley is shot to death by an anarchist. Theodore Roosevelt, a progressive yet imperialist thinker, becomes President. Roosevelt has grand ambitions for the American Empire. He begins by annexing the Philipines.

1903- The United States temporarily sends troops to Honduras. Roosevelt warns a second occupation may be permanent.

1904- After Colombia refuses to allow the United States to build a canal in Panama, Theodore Roosevelt invades Colombia to aid Panama separatists in order to build a canal. Panama is successfully conquered, and given official independence, though with a protectorate over the nation, the United States is the real power behind the Panama government. The Roosevelt Corollary is stated to justify the invasion, stating the United States had the right to intervene in the affairs of any nation that couldn't govern themselves, and that the United States had the right to govern for them. It is thus used as the basis of American Imperialism, and a warning to nations such as Germany to back off the American " sphere of influence".

1905- Construction on the Panama Canal begins.

1906- After the lease on Cuba expires, the United States formally annexes the island, sparking the second Cuban revolt, which is crushed with little coverage from American newspapers. Roosevelt negociates an end to the Russian- Japanese war.

1907- The United States occupies Honduras for a second time, boostering the pro- American government. U.S military bases a built in the area in order to support American fruit companies.

1908- William Taft is elected president of the United States. He continues the imperialist policies of Roosevelt.

1912- American troops occupy Nicaragua in order to end a rebellion against a Pro- American government. Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama are placed under the Central American Zone of operations, in which the U.S had total control over security in the area. It effectively serves as an American territory. Meanwhile, Woodrow Wilson is elected president.

1913- Victoriano Huerta becomes the dictator of Mexico, threatening American interests.

World at War- Adulthood for the First Empire 1915-30
1914- After the heir to the Austrian throne is assassinated, tensions in Europe simmer to the boiling point, resulting in World War I. Wilson declares U.S neutrality in order to focus on problems closer to home. Mexican aggresion was becoming increasingly dangerous. U.S businesses in Mexico were subject to high taxes, and often violence. Wilson began preparing to deal with Mexico militarily if necessary.

1915- After a military dictator takes control in Haiti, Wilson sends in the Marines. The marines overthrow him, and occupy the country. Mexico feels threatned by this military move, and with the Alabama affair, it draws closer, to war. Accepting a treaty of alliance with Germany, its' soldiers cross the Rio Grande. Soon, German submarines begin attacking American shipping. Congress declares war on both of these nations. Wilson sends troops under the command of General John Pershing into Texas, crushing the invading forces at the Battle of Corpus Christi. Pershing heads south, capturing the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Cuohuilia, and Nuevo Leon. Meanwhile, American troops occupy Veracruz, and attack the Yucatan. However, the Germans lead a surprise assualt on Miami, and land a relief squad in Mexico. These attacks, and the workings of German diplomats, convince Guatemala to join the war, allying itself with Mexico to prevent total American encirclement. Colombia, taking advantage of the distractions, lands troops in Panama, attempting to take over its' former territory and the recently completed canal. It is defeated at the battle of Panama City. With German attacks on American holdings in the Carribean, soon all of Central America is engaged in war. This leads to the solidification of Anglo-American relations, with Britain allowing the United States access to its' bases in Belize and the Carribean.

1916- As battles rage across North America, British and American troops repel Guatemalan raids, and in early February, invade the country. The takeover is complete by April. Also in February General Pershing captures Monterry and Durango, and Baja falls in March. The war is proceeding well for the United States, but a German-backed coup in the Dominican Republic leads the U.S diverting troops there to prevent German occupation. German interference in the Americas, and British pressure, leads Wilson to deploying troops to Europe to aid British and French troops. Eventually, this and the German navy's defeat at the Battle of Barbados leads to the Germans withdrawing nearly entirely from the Americas. American troops continue to press into Mexico and Columbia, despite heavy guerilla resitance across Central America. The military begins to feel overextended. Mexico City falls in late October, but it comes too late for Wilson, for the long war has cost his reelection, losing to Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

1917- Unlike Wilson, Lodge is an imperialist who envisions an American Empire streching across all of the Carribean and Central America. During his presidency, several nations are annexed, and the U.S truly becomes an American Empire. Guatemala is the first, shortly annexed after his inauguration. While fighting against Mexican resistance soldiers, Lodge orders an invasion of Colombia, and the United States slowly proceedes south to Bogota. As the navy sinks German ships in the Atlantic, Lodge steps up the pressure on Germany by sending more troops to France. And slowly but surely, the Central Powers are being squeezed. Bogota falls in August, and the remaining sections of the Mexican army fall at Nayarit the next month. Lodge builds military bases across the newly conquered lands, and further solidifies American holdings.

1918- As the allies slowly converge on Germany, on August 9th, the Kaiser calls for a ceasefire. With the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires collapsing, the Kaiser is deposed. A ceasefire is agreed upon on August 12th. American troops are called home to manage Central America. The region is stabilizing, so Lodge begins withdrawing troops from the area, though several thousand troops remain. Mexico is annexed. Pancho Villa leads a rebellion against occupying American forces that becomes a pain to manage.

1919- The Allies negociate and sign the Treaty of Versailles with Germany. The treaty imposes harsh terms on Germany, splitting much of its' territories to the allies. Due to Lodge's imperialist ambitions, Secretary of State Charles Fairbanks secures British backed mandates for Armenia and the Hejaz. Soon, Allied troops stationed in the Caucus aid White Russian troops in the Russian civil war. Border disputes with Azerbaijan leads to nation being assimilated into American Armenia. Soon, White Russian troops use it as a base. Eventually, a treaty leads to a power sharing deal between the Menshevik revolutionaries and the Conservatives, eding the war, and creating a temporary peace.

1920- In the Treaty of Montreal, Britain cedes its' remaining territories in the Americas excepting Bermuda to the U.S. The U.S congress annexes British Honduras, Jamaica, Guyana, the Bahamas, Barbados, and the Virgin Islands. It also formalizes the Anglo-American alliance, stating that both sides will aid each other in times of war. In Asia, Allied forces partition Anatolia, with American Armenia gaining a coast on the Black Sea, and Greece receiving Istanbul and much of Turkey. Italy, France, and Britain gain territories in Southern Anatolia. In Mexico, Pancho Villa is captured, heavily damaging the Mexican rebellion.

1921-29- The Roaring Twenties- A time of great prosperity for the U.S, reaping the harvests from its' colonial empire.

1921- The Dominican Republic is annexed, along with Columbia. Meanwhile, the Republic of Georgia invades Armenia over a border dispute. American troops stationed there invade and conquer Georgia, which brings them into tension with Russia. Lodge signs a treaty with Greece allowing easier access to Armenia, and allying itself with Greece. Britain also aids U.S efforts in the Caucus.

1922- Haiti is annexed by the U.S. American troops stationed in the Hejaz repel Ghazi holy warriors with British help.

1923- Nicaragua is annexed by the U.S.

1924- Costa Rica, surrounded by the U.S and its' territories, applies to become an American protectorate. In the treaty of Panama City, Costa Rica allows free access to the Americans, but retains sovreignty. Later this year, Charles Dawes is elected President over Al Smith. Honduras is annexed. More Ghazi warriors are repeled.

1925- Workers in Panama strike, leading to a small revolution. This revolt is crushed by the U.S with little effort.

1926- An anti-american military government takes power in Ecuador. Fearing an invasion of Colombia, or the government otherwise threatnening U.S interests, the U.S army crushes the Ecuadorian army, and Dawes orders occupation of the nation. Imperialists who have been clamoring for expansion southwards gain more support. Dawes does not extend the occupation, but does not appear averse to the Imperialists within his party.

1927- More Ghazi warriors attempting to take Mecca are killed with British aid.

1928- Frederick Jackson Turner proclaims the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.

1929- Stocks plunge, leading to the begining of the Great Depression.