Imperialism and Diplomacy: Vocabulary Flashcards
Manifest Destiny
The belief that it was God’s wish for the Americans to spread from coast to coast of the North American Continent and conquer all the land in between, it was related to American exceptionalism.
Scorched Earth
A military strategy to destroy everything when forces retreat-withdrawal, so the opposing army finds a wasteland lacking in food and shelter, and impossible to exploit. Applies to the Spanish-American war in Cuba, because the Cubans were burning the Earth, that would hurt U.S. investments and gave us justification to intervene in Cuba.
Jingoism
Extreme, mindless patriots. Roosevelt was a Jingoist and may have acted rashly to protect our nation’s honor.
Great White Fleet
The new and improved naval fleet; we requested 20 battle ships and 60 cruisers to be built.
Yellow Journalism
Reports based on crude exaggeration, Hearst and Pulitzer. Caused Americans to feel pity for Cubans and caused pressure on McKinley to engage in Cuba. An attempt to fuel the war by influencing public opinion.
Social Darwinism
Basically, the belief that The Anglo-Saxon race is superior and is supposed to control more land. The idea of “survival of the fittest.” This belief gave us justification to conquer the land in our borders.
Large Policy
Name given to the policy that is supported by expansionists who advocate that the US break any tradition of non-intervention in foreign affairs and take its place among the world powers. Americans started moving favoring a U.S. that was more involved in foreign disputes. Advocated for the construction of the Panamanian Canal.
Self-Determination
The belief that people should be given the freedom to govern themselves. This is what we had used to provide ourselves with reassurance that what we we doing to other countries were wrong. We believed in this idea, but never executed it.
Benevolent Assimilation
The idea of the US assimilating foreigners to American standards for their own benefit. It was considered a charitable act to help them grasp American ideals. The term was used by President McKinley to describe the annexation of the Philippines.
Sphere of influence
An area where a country can influence it without having official power over it
Extraterritoriality
The state of being exempted from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as result of diplomatic negotiations.
Indemnity
Security or protection against a loss or other financial burden.
