Chapter 10: America Claims an Empire Flashcards
Imperialism
• policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military strength to weaker territories
• fueled by desire for military strength, thirst for new markets, & belief in cultural superiority
? US acquired an abundance of land & eventually became dominant in Western Hemisphere
Alfred T. Mahan
• US Navy admiral that heavily advocated for American military expansion
• urged US gov to build up naval power so we could compete with other powerful nations
? construction of 9 steel cruisers transformed US into 3rd largest naval power
Yellow journalism
• style of writing that exaggerates the news to lure & engage readers
• stories of Cuban concentration camps spread through yellow journalism
? false accounts through the news of what was happening in Cuba deepened Americans’ sympathy for Cuba
U.S.S. Maine
• President McKinley had ordered U.S.S. Maine to bring US citizens home form Cuba
• ship was in Havana harbor & exploded, killing more than 260 men
? Americans blamed the Spaniards, which ultimately started the Spanish-American War
Rough Riders
• volunteer cavalry led by Leonard Wood & Theodore Roosevelt
• Roosevelt declared hero after victory in SanJuan Hill, even though he had a minor role
? took part in battles that resulting in US troops invading Puerto Rico
Treaty of Paris, 1898
• US & Spain met in Paris after war to agree on treaty
• some people argued that US should let new land have a self-gov & were opposed to getting new land
? freed Cuba from Spain, gave Guam Islands & Puerto Rico, & sold Philippines to US
Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico became US territory after Spanish-American War
• under military control until foraker Act set up gov
? gave US a presence in Caribbean & protected Panama Canal that the US wanted to use
Platt Amendment
• Cuba made constitution after gaining independence from war, but it never specified relationship between Cuba & US
• passed in 1901, it limited sovereignty by making conditions Cuba had to abide by
? made Cuba a US protectorate even though it was technically independent
Philippine-American War
• Treaty of Paris called for annexation of Philippines, even though US had promised independence
• Forced Filippinos to live in areas of poor sanitation, starvation, & diseases
? war took 3 years, 20,000 Filippino lives, & cost $400m , which was 20x the purchase price
Open Door notes
• China was weak so foreign countries were coming in & influencing the country
• policy statements addressed to leaders of imperialist nations that proposed they should share their trading rights with US
? made sure no single nation would have a monopoly on trade with any part of Cuba
Boxer Rebellion
• Europeans had dominated most of China, causing resentment
• societies, like the Boxers, were formed to rid China of foreigners
? killed foreigners & anyone else thought to be changing the Chinese culture
Panama Canal
• US could build canal in Panama or Nicaragua, but eventually received land to build in Panama
• building cost $380m & reatured amazing technology that allowed ships to pass over natural incline of land
? reduced travel times for ships by creating a shortcut between the Atlantic & Pacific Ocean
Roosevelt Corollary
• Latin America had been borrowing money from European banks & Roosevelt feared Europe would intervene
• Roosevelt added corollary to Monroe Doctrine in 1904, stating that the US would use force to protect its economic interest in Latin America
? the US wanted Europe to stay out of the western hemisphere so that they could remain in control
