North Catholic High School
The United World Power
Jake Fischer
United States History
Miss. Freyvogel
November 7, 2018
Post-Civil War, America began to industrialize, and built a superior railroad system to
transport the goods being mass produced across the country. The United States became a leading
competitor in imports and exports, becoming wealthy along the way. The United States became
a world power because of the annex of Hawaii, the Spanish American war, and the building of
the Panama Canal.
The annexation of Hawaii played a huge part in The United States becoming a world
power. It gave The United States access to valuable crops, specifically sugarcane, it allowed
American businessmen to assert dominance, it provided the United States with money for the
economy, and finally, the annexation of Hawaii showcased America’s authority by overthrowing
the monarchy. The monarchy was overthrown by wealthy United States businessmen. They
overthrew the queen because without her, there would be no regulations on the sugarcane and
therefore no regulation on the businessmen’s income. The United States inhabited Pearl Harbor,
a naval base off the coast of Hawaii. This base was used to ward off any other country viewed as
competition or a threat. With a presence in the Pacific Ocean no other world power dared tread
on the abundance of crops. With these reasons taken into consideration the United States used the
Annexation of Hawaii to further their aspirations of being a world Power.
The Spanish American war took place in 1898 and assisted in the United States becoming
a world power because after America won, they claimed Spain’s territories. These territories
included Cuba and Puerto Rico, as well as others. Also, because of the war the United States
were forced to build a strong Navy that no one wants to mess with, giving America a sense of
security. The United States needed a navy because every other world power had one, and because
most of America’s newly acquired land was islands. The United States needed a presence in the
Pacific Ocean. America furthered their goals of being a world power just by winning the war, as
an inferior country the United States defeated Spain, who was, at the time, already a heavily
influenced world power. Theodore Roosevelt returned to America a national war hero, Roosevelt
led a group of soldiers commonly called “RoughRiders”, these were soldiers that volunteered to
fight alongside the troops. In 1901 he began his eight-year term as the twenty sixth president of
the United States. Therefore, the Spanish American War catapulted the United States to the head
of world power.
In 1903 The United States began a treacherous eleven-year project that would claim the
lives of many. Drowning was only guilty for some though, the greatest culprit was Malaria, from
the bite of infected mosquitos. This unfortunate infection allowed the United States to advance
medically with developing cures and vaccines. The Panama Canal greatly progressed the United
States in the mission of world power. The United States accomplished soothing that France,
another world power, could not do. America engineered what could be considered a wonder of
the world, built well before it should have been possible. With the Panama Canal trade routes
were cut almost in half and large sums of money saved. Before the canal was built, routes went
down and around South America, and now, with the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans united routes
went straight through Panama. The Panama Canal, a trophy of sorts, gave the United States
prime reasoning that they are a world power.
The United States is now a world power because of the annex of Hawaii, the Spanish
American War, and the Panama Canal. The United States defeated Spain in the war, Spain was
already a world power, this made the defeat much more impressive. The annex of Hawaii was a
strategic move because of the plentiful goods available. These crops fetched a high price, making
the United States even more wealthy. Finally, the Panama Canal, this feat cemented the United
States as a world power because of the sheer magnitude of the project. The United States united
the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, displaying their capabilities along the way. Now, in
2018 the United States is the biggest world power, with what is believed to be the strongest
nation in the world, thanks to what was accomplished a century ago.
