Age of American Imperialism

The Age of American Imperialism saw the expansion of the United States’ economic, political, and cultural influence beyond its borders during the final decades of the 19th century through the beginning of World War I (1914). The Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War occurred during this time, as did the building of the Panama Canal and exertion of U.S. control over places such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Philippines, and the Hawaiian Islands.

Explore the topics below to learn more about this period through newspaper articles and clippings.

U.S. Immigration Station, Angel Island, San Francisco Bay

Angel Island Immigration Station

Angel Island Immigration Station was an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay which operated from January 21, 1910 to November 5, 1940, where immigrants entering the United States were detained and interrogated. The island was originally a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians, then it was a haven for Spanish explorer Juan …Read More

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a 48-mile-long man-made waterway located in Central America. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through a series of locks, channels, and artificial lakes. The canal was begun by the French in the late 1800s, but that project ended in failure. It became the pet project of President Theodore Roosevelt, and …Read More