American Imperialism Flashcards
the act of negotiating with other nations peacefully.
diplomacy
a foreign policy approach of refusing to take sides among warring nations; U.S. official stance throughout the 1800s
neutrality
building an empire by acquiring lands outside of one’s borders, usually across the world.
imperialism
exaggerated reporting and sensational news stories; made popular by the New York World and New York Journal; helped lead to the Spanish-American War
yellow journalism
letter written by the Spanish ambassador to the United States that was stolen and published; the letter insulted President McKinley and intensified anti-Spanish feelings in the United States
de Lome Letter
U.S. Navy battleship that sunk in Havana’s harbor; was sent to Cuba to protect American interests in the country; 260 Americans died; final cause for the war with Spain.
USS Maine
Members of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry under Theodore Roosevelt; know for their charge of Kettle Hill and the Battle of San Juan
Rough Riders
opponents of the Treaty of Paris (1898); formed during the war to oppose U.S. colonization, believing it went agains the founding principles of freedom and democracy.
Anti-Imperialist League
In 1902 American troops were finally withdrawn from Cuba, but only after Cuba added provisions to its constitution to protect American interests; allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and buy land for naval bases.
Platt Amendment
Theodore Roosevelt’s strong-arm approach to foreign affairs; the U.S. should act a world’s police to help “weaker” nations
Big Stick Policy
Theodore Roosevelt’s speech to Congress in 1904 that proposed a more active role of the U.S. government in other countries
Roosevelt Corollary
the economic policy of William H. Taft that encouraged and protected American trade and investment across the world.
Dollar Diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson’s policy that the U.S. takes a moral and democratic approach to foreign relations;
Moral Diplomacy
project supported by the United States to link the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean; the U.S. controlled this project until 1999.
Panama Canal
official approach to relations with China issued in 1899; the U.S. wanted to prevent foreign colonization of China in order to maintain American access to Chinese markets
Open Door Policy
a strong feeling of pride in and loyalty to a nation or ethnic group; this belief system heavily influenced European countries in the late 1800s/early 1900s; leading cause of WWI
Nationalism
a policy of glorifying military power and values; European countries in the early 1900s increased the size and scope of their militaries; leading cause of WWI
Militarism
British passenger liner that was attacked by a German U-boat in 1915; Over 1,100 died, including 128 Americans; heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany
Lusitania
a note sent by the German foreign minister to an official in Mexico; called on Mexico to ally themselves with Germany if the U.S. were to enter the war in exchange for “lost territory”; brought the U.S. into the war
Zimmerman Telegram
1917 law that required every man between the ages of 21 to 30 to register for military service
Selective Service Act
the first American troops to land in France; often known as “doughboys”;
American Expeditionary Force (AEF)
the all-black regiment that served in France for the U.S. Army but under French command; fought fiercely and earned praise
Harlem Hell Fighters
the dominant form of warfare in WWI; slowed fighting to standstills with occasional charges
trench warfare
government propaganda agency that “sold” the war to the U.S. public; produced films, posters and encouraged the purchase of bonds
Committee on Public Information (CPI)
