Imperialism Unit Test Flashcards
Foreign Policy
a countries policies used in its relationship with other countries
Isolationism
policy of staying out of world affairs
followed by the U.S since Washington’s Farewell Address
Imperialism
the policy by which stronger nations extend their economic, political or military control over weaker nations
similar to the European colonialism of the 1400-1800s
REASONS FOR IMPERIALISM
Economic: Competition for land and markets
Political: Military bases
Social: Spread of American values
Economic reason for imperialism
American needed trade partners to sell its products to; it was producing more than it needed and some worried our economy would collapse unless we expanded
as European countries took colonies, America felt it would become weaker and be left out of new trading markets, land, and access to raw materials
Political reason for imperialism
a strong navy and military bases and refueling stations around the world were needed to project US power and protect US access to trade markets
some worried America would be vulnerable and that expansion was a form of self-defense
Social reason for imperialism
Americans felt they were superior and it was their duty to spread Christian values and western civilization
Annexation of Alaska (year and American action taken)
1867
William Seward: Secretary of State under Lincoln and Johnson; believed strongly in expansionism
purchased the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million (2 cents an acre)
expanded US territory by almost one fifth
originally called Seward’s “Ice Box” or “Seward’s Folly,” Alaska turned out to be rich in timber, minerals, oil and gold
Annexation of Hawaii (year and American action taken)
1898
populated by American
missionaries and planters in the 1800s (all-year farming climate)
the American planters grew in power and influence
when Queen Liliuokalani tried to
limit their power, the planters
revolted in 1893 and overthrew the
queen
America saw the value of the islands, especially for a naval base and annexed it in 1898
Causes of the Spanish-American War
disapproval and outrage over Spain’s treatment of Cubans
yellow journalism: sensational and exaggerated reporting
(turned Americans against the Spanish)
sinking of the USS Maine (blamed on Spain)
desire to expand trade, gain bases and territory
Effects of the Spanish-American War on Cuba
Cuba became an independent country but was under American influence
Platt Amendment: forced Cuba to give the US the right intervene in Cuban affairs; gave the US a naval base at Guantanamo Bay
Effects of the Spanish-American War on Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico became an American territory with American officials in control
1917: the US grants alls Puerto Ricans citizenship and allows them to self-govern
Effects of the Spanish-American War on Philippines
became a US territory after the Spanish American War
America fought against a Filipino rebellion for 4 years
the Philippines were granted independence in 1946
Effects of the Spanish-American War on Guam
becomes a US territory
Expanding Interests- Japan
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause-
America desired to expand trade
American Action Taken-
President Fillmore sent Navy warships to force Japan to beginning trading with the US
Effect-
Japan was forced to open up ports to trade with the US
American/Western ideas were introduced into Japan
Expanding Interests- China
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- European countries had spheres of influence or, areas where foreign nations claimed special rights and privileges, in China
America wanted to begin trading with China as well
American Action Taken-
America put forward the Open Door Policy that stated no single nation should have a monopoly on trade with China
Effect-
European nations accepted the Open Door Policy and accepted America as an equal trading partner
America had to help put down the Boxer Rebellion, an uprising by native Chinese against foreigners
Expanding Interests- PHILIPPINES
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- A Filipino uprising had occurred
The US saw the Pacific as an important gateway to trade, resources, and a chance to extend democracy
American Action Taken-
The Filipino rebellion was successfully defeated
Effect-
The Philippines, under American control and along with other US islands gained in the Pacific, provided the US with a base for activities in Asia
Expanding Interests- PANAMA
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- America needed to better connect its Pacific and Atlantic territories and bases
(16,000 mile one-way trip around South America)
American Action Taken-
TR supported a Panamanian revolution against Colombia in exchange for land to build a canal through the isthmus of Panama
Effect-
The Panama Canal, a man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cut the distance of the trip by more than half
Thousands of workers died from malaria, a tropical disease
Expanding Interests- President Taft (Latin America)
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- US businesses wanted access to cheap goods and raw materials
(coffee, bananas, copper)
American Action Taken- President Taft encouraged American businesses to invest in and increase trade with Latin American countries
(“Dollar Diplomacy”)
Effect- American companies owned large amounts of land in Latin America The US government became concerned over European intervention in the region
Expanding Interests- President Roosevelt (Latin America)
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- The US still followed the Monroe Doctrine, the policy that barred European nations from intervening in Latin America
The US felt it should be the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere
American Action Taken- TR issued the Roosevelt Corollary (addition) which gave the US the right to intervene in Latin American to preserve stability, law and order
“Big Stick Policy”
“Gunboat Diplomacy”
Effect- The US used military force to control the domestic policies of many different Latin American countries when it felt it was necessary
Latin America harbored resentments against the US continuing through the century
Expanding Interests- President Wilson (Mexico)
(Cause/American Action Taken/Effect)
Cause- Mexico descended into a revolution
Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa raided the US and killed 17 Americans
(“Moral Diplomacy” - Wilson’s plan of using ideas like democracy to control Latin America)
American Action Taken- President Wilson sent the military into Mexico twice
Effect- Pancho Villa was not captured
Latin American countries viewed America as only caring about its interests
TR Expansion Policy
Big Stick
Ensured that the Monroe Doctrine would remain enacted. The U.S would use force against countries breaking the policy (emphasized it)
America became the police power of the Western Hemisphere
Political (military)
Taft Expansion Policy
Dollar Diplomacy
The U.S would not only aid Latin America with Military Power but as well as economic power
The U.S paid off European debt money, and then the debts were owed to America
encouraged American businesses to invest in and increase trade with Latin American countries
Economic
Wilson Expansion Policy
Moral Diplomacy
Moral diplomacy is the system in which support is given only to countries whose beliefs are analogous to that of the nation. This promotes the growth of the nation’s ideals and damages nations with different ideologies.
Wilson believed that the U.S should support democracy throughout the world (especially in Latin America)
Social (morals)
Manifest destiny
the idea that white Americans were divinely ordained to settle the entire continent of North America
William Seward
carefully managed international affairs during the Civil War and also negotiated the 1867 purchase of Alaska
Yellow journalism
Yellow journalism was a style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts
U.S.S. Maine
Maine was a United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, contributing to the outbreak of the Spanish–American War in April.
American War in April. U.S. newspapers, engaging in yellow journalism to boost circulation, claimed that the Spanish were responsible for the ship’s destruction
U.S. Navy board of inquiry ruled that the ship had been sunk by an external explosion from a mine. However, some U.S. Navy officers disagreed with the board, suggesting that the ship’s magazines had been ignited by a spontaneous fire in a coal bunker
Rough Riders
a member of the cavalry unit in which Theodore Roosevelt fought during the Spanish-American War.
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
Spheres of influence (China)
when an outside power claims rights and privileges over an area or region
China, after the First Sino-Japanese war ended in 1895, world powers controlled parts of Chinese territory for their “spheres of interest”;
The United States was unable to participate due to their involvement in the Spanish–American War. The U.S felt they would miss out on trade markets in China, so they joined the spheres of influence system, taking advantage of a war ridden China.
Open Door Policy
America put forward the Open Door Policy… so that all nations would trade with China on an equal basis, and China would stop being taken advantage of.
Boxer Rebellion
Masses of Chinese disapproved of foreign influence in their country. They created a secret society to revolt against foreigners. They were know as Boxers. This society set up a rebellion to expel foreigners. Violence commenced and eventually, the outside powers, as well as the US sent in troops to eliminate the rebellion. The U.S feared that this rebellion would be used by other countries as a reason to obtain more territory in China, Secretary Hay issued the Second Open Door Policy. This re-stated the principle of open trade and made an even more definitive statement about American intentions to maintain trade.
Panama Canal
By 1902, the United States was a world power with a strong economy and overseas colonies. The nation’s leaders were eager to extend American power and influence. They were especially interested in Latin America. This became even more important after the Spanish-American War when the U.S. Navy sent a battleship from San Francisco to Cuba. The trip– 14,000 miles around the tip of South America– took more than two months. A shorter route was needed. President Theodore Roosevelt was determined to build that canal.
In constructing the Panama Canal, American planners and builders faced challenges that went far beyond politics and engineering. The deadly endemic diseases of yellow fever and malaria were dangerous obstacles that had already defeated French efforts to construct a Panama Canal in the 1880s.
“There is too much water, the rocks are exceedingly hard, the soil is very hilly and the climate is deadly. The country is literally poisoned”
Roosevelt Corollary
The Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904 stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors, and did not violate the rights of the United States or invite “foreign aggression to the detriment of the entire body of American nations.”
Big stick diplomacy
based on the theory that the United States could use force to maintain stability in Latin America (TR)
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine is a United States foreign policy position that opposes European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. It holds that any intervention in the political affairs of the Americas by foreign powers is a potentially hostile act against the United States.
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States
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