Imperialism Flashcards
Imperialism
-Policy of extending a nation’s authority over other countries by economic, military or political means
-US imperialism had economic roots (US wanted new markets for new industrial goods being produced)
-Three factors fueled US imperialism: Economic competition w/ industrial countries, political and military competition, and belief in racial and cultural superiority (Anglo Saxonism)
-Hawaii (1897); important location b/c US overthrew the queen
-Spanish-American War (1898)
-De Lome Letter: Spain called McKinley weak and made US mad
-USS Maine: one of our new steel ships that was sunk off the coast of Cuba
-Rough Riders: volunteer cavalry led by Teddy Roosevelt and made him famous and popular
-Territories the US acquired after the war: Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines
-Congress passed the Foraker Act to establish the relationship of Puerto Rico and US
-Cuba became a US Protectorate
-US required Cuba to add the Platt Amendment to their new constitution + it established the relationship between the two countries
Yellow Journalism
-Type of journalism that exaggerates a true story
-Purpose was to gain more readers and attention
-Had huge influence on American support for the Spanish-American War
Panama
-Work began in 1904 under Teddy Roosevelt and was completed in 1914 under President Taft
-US helped Panama get its independence from Columbia in order to build it
-It cut the distance for travel from Atlantic to the Pacific b/c you no longer had to go around South America
-Specifically aimed to help military and trade between US and Asia
-US maintained control of the Canal until 1999 when control was given back to Panama
Open Door Policy
-Written by John hay in 1899 and ratified 1900
-Purpose was to secure trading rights to China w/o interference from other countries trading there
