During the late 19th and early 20th centruries, American interest abroad increased as the United States began to establish an empire. The imperialistic acquisitions of the United States created a need for a greater American presence abroad. During the Spanish American War, the United States fought the Spaniards in Cuba. The American fleet of battleships was in San Fransisco at the time, making it difficult to get the ships to Cuba in a timely manner, as the ships would have to sail all the way around South America. The trip around Cape Horn, located at the tip of South America, took months and oftentimes was a perilous journey with rough waters and fierce storms. After the difficult maneuvering of ships for the Spanish American War, it was clear that action needed to be taken to create a shorter route from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.