Imperialism Flashcards
In 1895, José Martí, with arms and ammunition smuggled in from the United States, began a revolution against the Spanish government in _____.
Cuba
Both Hearst’s Journal and Pulitzer’s World covered Martí’s revolution and atrocities committed by the Spanish government in suppressing it, such as the decision to concentrate suspected revolutionaries in camps. Both newspapers urged American intervention.
Define:
Jingoism
Jingoism is a belligerent nationalist foreign policy. The term was used in the 1890s to describe those who supported continued American expansion, by diplomatic means if possible, but by war if necessary.
The term is often associated with Teddy Roosevelt, who was quoted in 1895, “If by ‘jingoism’ they mean a policy in pursuance of which Americans will with resolution and common sense insist upon our rights being respected by foreign powers, then we are ‘jingoes.’”
What was the De Lôme Letter?
De Lôme was the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. In February 1898 (a few weeks before the Maine sank in Havana), a letter written by De Lôme to his government, which insulted President McKinley, was leaked and published in The New York Journal.
The letter, which described McKinley as “weak and catering to the rabble,” outraged Americans.
In 1898, the sinking of the _____ in Havana Harbor provided the excuse for an American declaration of war on Spain.
USS Maine
One of America’s new battleships, the Maine exploded on the night of February 15, 1898. Although probably the result of an accident, the sinking provided a pretext for war.
A popular Spanish-American War recruiting slogan was “Remember the Maine, and to hell with Spain.”
Before requesting Congress declare war in 1898, President McKinley issued an ultimatum to Spain, demanding that Spain cease hostilities against the Cuban revolutionaries. How did Spain respond?
Spain agreed, but under domestic pressure President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war anyway. The Spanish-American War was officially declared on April 20, 1898.
What was the Teller Amendment?
Affixed to the American declaration of war against Spain in 1898, the Teller Amendment declared that after the war, Cuba would be granted self-government. For the Cubans at least, the Spanish-American War would be a war of liberation, not of conquest.
Who led the American naval attack on the Spanish forces at Manila Bay?
.
Admiral Thomas Dewey
Manila was the capital of the Philippines, Spain’s sole remaining Asian possession of importance. On May 1st, 1898, Dewey’s fleet defeated Spanish naval forces in a one-sided battle, sinking 11 Spanish ships.
Dewey suffered a single fatality, Chief Engineer Francis B. Randall of the McCulloch, who suffered a heart attack.
Following the declaration of war against Spain, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt resigned and formed his own cavalry unit. What nickname was applied to Roosevelt’s unit?
Rough Riders
Officially called the 1st United States Volunteer Calvary Regiment, the unit was known as the Rough Riders. Roosevelt recruited cowboys, miners, hunters, gamblers, Indians, and football players from Harvard and Yale.
What was the most famous battle of the Spanish-American War?
On July 1, 1898, Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders launched a successful attack against Spanish forces on San Juan Hill. Roosevelt’s efforts were aided in large part by the black soldiers of the 24th and 25th Infantry. Roosevelt received much of the credit, and became a celebrity.
On July 3, 1898, American naval forces crushed the Spanish Navy at _____ _____ _____, the largest naval battle of the Spanish-American War.
Santiago de Cuba
The battle decimated the Spanish naval forces, cutting off Cuba from Spanish reinforcements. On August 12, 1898, Spain sued for peace. The war had lasted only four months.
What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1898), ending the Spanish-American War?
Under the Treaty of Paris, the United States gained the Spanish possessions of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, for which the United States paid $20 million.
Cuba, where most of the fighting had taken place, was placed under the jurisdiction of the United States military, and achieved independence in 1902, albeit with significant limitations on its foreign policy.
The United States suffered some 5,500 fatalities during the Spanish-American War. What was the leading cause of death?
Only about 500 American servicemen lost their lives due to enemy combat, while some 5,000 died due to disease; primarily malaria, yellow fever, and dysentery.
Dr. Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician, investigated yellow fever. He determined that it was transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact. Reed’s research formed the foundation of the new field of epidemiology.
Stationed in San Francisco in February, 1898, the USS Oregon sailed around South America in time to participate in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, some two months later. What was the effect of this lengthy journey?
The Oregon’s two-month trip provided convincing evidence of the need for the Panama Canal; in the event of war with a major European power the United States would be able to ill afford the lengthy journey required to shift ships from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
In 1900, _____’s request for annexation was officially granted by the U.S. Congress.
Hawaii
American settlers overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, but their request for annexation had been rebuffed by President Cleveland and the Democrats. The Spanish-American War provided a pretext to reconsider annexation, and the island became a U.S. territory.
Define:
imperialism
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power, territory, or influence by diplomacy, force, or a combination of both.
By contrast, an anti-imperialist opposes such an extension.
