Map

Hawaii

U.S. wanted Hawaii so their sugar could be sold in the U.S. duty free, but Queen Liliuokalani opposed so Sanford B. Dole overthrew her in 1893, William McKinley convinced Congress to annex Hawaii in 1898

Philippines

Spanish colony in the Pacific whom the US helped free from the Spanish, but soon after took as their own colony

Puerto Rico

Given to the US by Spain as a payment for the cost of the Spanish American War

Alaska

Purchased by the US from Russia in 1867 for $7.2M - significant because it removed foreign powers from the continent

Pearl Harbor

Naval base in Hawaii attacked by Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. The sinking of much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet brought the United States into World War II.

Normandy

Site of Allied invasion of occupied France, the turning point in WWII

Okinawa

The scene of the last great U.S. amphibious campaign in World War II. It Showed that the Japanese would "fight to the death"

Hiroshima

The first city to face nuclear attacks during World War II