America expands Flashcards
Isolationism
country that wants to stay out of world affairs.
Expxansionism
policy of extending a nation’s boundaries.
Interests
freedom, money, land.
Open of Japan
America conducted foreign trade to Europe and Asian countries such as China. Japanese rulers feared outsiders and cut themselves off to the rest of the world in the 1600s. Any ship wrecked sailors who wrecked on shores of Japan were not allowed to leave. Americans wanted Japan to open its ports to trade. 1853-54 President Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan to ask Japan to open trade relations with the U.S.
Gunboat Diplomacy
Using military forces to frighten foreigners into signing agreement.
Treaty of Kanagawa
Japan accepts to help shipwrecked sailors. It opened up two ports to American trade. Japan begins to become an industrial nation.
Imperialism
the policy of power countries seeking to control the economic and political affairs of weaker countries.
Reasons for imperialism
Industrialized nations needed raw materials and new markets.
Racism
belief that one race is superior to another. Many Europeans felt they had a duty to spread their religion and culture to people who were less civilized.
Competition
European countries took over areas and closed their markets to other countries.
America Seeks Empire
Many felt that the American economy would collapse unless the U.S. gained foreign markets. They need to expand the U.S. Navy and to acquire Naval bases throughout the world.
Naval Captain Alfred T. Mahan
wrote The Influence Of Sea Power Upon History- the book argued that the prosperity of America depended on trade and a bigger Navy was needed to protect merchant ships.
Hawaii
Rich in soil, warm, climate, and plentiful rainfall, allows farmers to grow crops all year round. American missionaries were eager to convert Hawaiians to Christianity. Americans had set up large sugar plantations. As the sugar industry grew so did the power of American planters. American planters rebelled against Queen Liliuokalani, the U.S. Marines were sent in to protect American lives. Queen Liliuokalani gives up her throne. Hawaii was annexed in 1898.
Seward Looks to the Pacific
Secretary of State William Seward wanted the U.S. to dominate trade in the Pacific. Seward persuaded Congress to annex Midway Island.
Annex
add on or take over.
Alaska
Seward helps to buy Alaska form Russia from Russia for $7.2 million. “Seward’s Folly” many Americans thought of Alaska as barren land of icy mountains and frozen fish. Alaska was rich in gold, timber, copper, petroleum, natural, gas, and the lowlands were suited for farming.
Sphere of Influence
an area usually around a seaport, where a nation had special trading privileges. 1800s Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan carved spheres of influence in China. The U.S. was eager to gain share of the China trade.
Open Door Policy
policy issued by Secretary of State John Hay that allowed a nation to trade in any other nation’s sphere of influence in China. Many Chinese resisted foreign influence, some formed a secret society called the Righteous Fists of Harmony or Boxers.
Boxer Rebellion
1900, the boxer attacked westerners foreign governments organized an international army to put down the uprising.
Causes of Spanish American War
Spanish atrocities, wartime acts of cruelty and brutality. Americans had invested $50 million in Cuban sugar and rice plantations, railroads, tobacco, and iron mines. American trade with Cuba was worth $100 million a year.
Sinking of Maine
Feb. 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine explodes killing 260 sailors.
Yellow Journalism
reporting that relies on sensational stories and headlines.
Spanish American War
Lasted only 4 months. War took place in the Caribbean and the Philippine islands.
Buffalo Soldiers
African Americans of the 9th and 10th Cavalries.
