Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs Flashcards
Imperialism
a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force
Annex
append or add as an extra or subordinate part; especially to a document
Platt Amendment
Approved on May 22; 1903; the Platt Amendment was a treaty between the U.S. and Cuba that attempted to protect Cuba’s independence from foreign intervention. It permitted extensive U.S. involvement in Cuban international and domestic affairs for the enforcement of Cuban independence.
Open Door Policy
a term in foreign affairs initially used to refer to the United States policy in the late 19th century and early 20th century outlined in Secretary of State John Hay’s Open Door Note; dispatched in 1899 to his European counterparts.
Roosevelt Corollary
a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine that was articulated by President Theodore Roosevelt in his State of the Union address in 1904 after the Venezuela Crisis of 1902-3
The de Lome letter
a note written by Señor Don Enrique Dupuy de Lôme; the Spanish Ambassador to the United States; to Don José Canelejas; the Foreign Minister of Spain; reveals de Lôme’s opinion about the Spanish involvement in Cuba and US President McKinley’s diplomacy.
Rough Riders
cavalry unit in which Theodore Roosevelt fough during the Spanish- American War
Dollar Diplomacy
the use of a country’s financial power to extend its international influence
Big Stick Diplomacy
a major component of Theodore Roosevelt’s international relations policy. The theory is that leaders strive for peace while also keeping the nations aware of its military power
Great White Fleet
the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons; along with various escorts.
Central Powers
An alliance during World War I that originally consisted of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Other nations; including Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire; joined later.
Propaganda
information; especially of a biased or misleading nature; used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Lusitania
A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat on May 7; 1915. 128 Americans died. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans; helping the move towards entering the war.
Sussex Pledge
was a promise given by the German Government to the United States of America on May 4th 1916 in response to US demands relating to the conduct of the First World War. Germany promised to alter their naval and submarine policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and stop the indiscriminate sinking of non-military ships. Instead; Merchant Ships would be searched and sunk only if they contained contraband; and then only after safe passage had been provided for the crew and passengers.
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act or Selective Draft Act enacted May 18; 1917 authorized the federal government to raise a national army for the American entry into World War I through conscription.
Convoy system
can be defined as a group of merchant vessels sailing together; with or without naval escort; for mutual security and protection; has a much longer history than sometimes suggested.
Armistice
an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.
Liberty Bond
a war bond that was sold in the United States to support the allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time.
Price Controls
a government regulation establishing a maximum price to be charged for specified goods and services; especially during periods of war or inflation.
Fourteen Points
was a statement given on January 8; 1918 by United States President Woodrow Wilson declaring that World War I was being fought for a moral cause and calling for postwar peace in Europe.
Versailles Treaty
was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919; exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Banana republic
a small nation; especially in Central America; dependent on one crop or the influx of foreign capital
Spanish American War
On April 25; 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15; 1898. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10; 1898.
Sphere of Influence
a country or area in which another country has power to affect developments although it has no formal authority
Monroe Doctrine
a principle of US policy; originated by President James Monroe in 1823; that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US
Yellow Journalism
journalism that is based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration
U.S.S. Maine
blown up in the Havana Harbor on the evening of the 15th of February; critical event on the road to war
Treaty of Paris (1898)
was an agreement made in 1898 that resulted in the Spanish Empire’s surrendering control of Cuba and ceding Puerto Rico; parts of the Spanish West Indies; the island of Guam; and the Philippines to the United States
Panama Canal
a 77.1-kilometre (48 mi) ship canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade
Mexican Revolution (Wilson)
pushed US to become involved in Mexico’s affairs; sent troops; didn’t recognize people as leaders; did not declare was but the Ypiranga affair strained relations
Pro-Imperialist v. Anti-Imperialist
Anti-imperialist were a group including such luminaries as William James and Mark Twain that argued against to combat American imperialism. Disliked the American annexation of Spanish territories. Imperialists were countries who took over other countries for their natural resources or raw materials to advance their economic and military benefits. While they did improve conditions in ‘conquered’ countries they inhibited the local culture and customs and forced host country government on the beleaguered country. The big argument against imperialist was denying the beleaguered country the right to self government and the right to control their own raw materials and economy. The argument for imperialism is that they furthered the host countries economy and sphere of influence. Imperialist also made the claim they were improving the lot of the beleaguered country.
Allies
An alliance during World War I that originally consisted of Russia; France; and Britain. Many other countries; including Belgium; Canada; Greece; Italy; Japan; and Romania; joined later as associate powers. Although the United States never joined the Allied Powers-preferring on principle to fight the Central Powers independently-it cooperated closely with the Allied Powers once it joined the war in 1917.
Causes of WWI
Militarism; Alliances; Imperialism; Nationalism; Industrialism
Zimmermann Note (Telegram)
Telegram from German Foreign Secretary Zimmerman to German minister in Mexico that was intercepted by the British. Proposed that Mexico attack the United States in the event that America entered World War 1. Germany would return lost territories of Texas; New Mexico; and Arizona to Mexico in victory. Telegram released publicly and ensured American support for was against Germany
Russian Revolution
the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917; which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Russian SFSR.
American Expeditionary Force (AEF)
consisted of the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside French and British allied forces in the last year of the war; against Imperial German forces.
Zeppelin
a large German dirigible airship of the early 20th century; long and cylindrical in shape and with a rigid framework. Zeppelins were used during World War I for reconnaissance and bombing; and after the war as passenger transports until the 1930s.
Influenza Epidemic
an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza; these pandemics occur irregularly; with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in recorded history.
Rationing
allow each person to have only a fixed amount of (a particular commodity).
Sedition
conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
League of Nations
The League of Nations was established as the body of international cooperation after World War One; with the deterrence of war and disarmament as its primary goals. However; largely due to the refusal of the United States to join; the League never grew strong enough to pass any broad measures.
Isolationism
a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups; especially the political affairs of other countries
Alfred T. Mahan
American naval officer who published The Influence of Sea Power Upon History in 1890. His views; advocating the importance of a strong Navy and a worldwide network of coaling stations to protect trading routes; held great influence on military thought in both the US and Europe around the time of the Spanish-American War
Henry Cabot Lodge
a conservative Republican politician; proved a long-term adversary of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson and; ultimately; his nemesis.
Frederick Jackson Turner
United States historian who stressed the role of the western frontier in American history (1861-1951)
Theodore Roosevelt
Twenty-sixth U.S. president; who took office after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. Roosevelt; already famous for his aggressive policies; continued them as president both at home and abroad. His domestic policies; collectively known as the Square Deal; sought to protect American consumers; regulate big business; conserve natural resources; and help organized labor. His Roosevelt corollary to the Monroe Doctrine asserted American influence and power in Latin America. Although Roosevelt endorsed William Howard Taft in 1908; he split the Republican Party by running against Taft in 1912 on the Progressive Party; or Bull Moose Party; ticket.
