Imperialism & WWI Flashcards
Social Darwinism
Darwinist ideas of natural selection and survival of the fittest, but applied to races or nations
Sig? Caused imperialism because the US wanted to demonstrate their strength & superiority by acquiring territories and “civilizing” them
Yellow press & Jingoism
Jingoism=intense form of nationalism calling for an aggressive foreign policy
Yellow Press= eg NY World and Journal printed sensationalized reports of things (like the terrible conditions in Cuba) to gain readers
Sig? Both led to a shift in public opinion that pressured McKinley to declare war on Spain
Olney Interpretation
If a foreign power has a problem w/ a W. Hemisphere country, they have to go through the US first
Sig? Shown in the Venezuela crises where British Guyana and Venezuela fought over border claims–> US offered to mediate and threatened military force if GB didn’t accept –> we mediate and rule mostly in favor of GB–> friendly relations with GB!
De Lome Telegram
Letter from a Spanish diplomat that was critical of McKinley
Sig? Considered an insult to US national honor and further provoked opinion against Spain
Teller Amendment & Platt Amendment
Teller- part of war message that said we had no intention of controlling Cuba, we wanted to give them control of their own gov’t
Platt- ended military occupation of Cuba on 3 conditions
1. they couldn’t sign a treaty that would compromise their independence
2. US can always interfere in Cuban affairs
3. US gets naval bases including Guantanamo Bay
Sig? Although we said we didn’t want to control Cuba we occupied it for 3 years and then instituted kind of oppressive policies that contradicted Cuban sovereignty
Treaty of Paris
- recognition of Cuban independence
- US gets Puerto Rico and Guam
- US buys Philippines for $20 mil
Sig? If you just look at results… One of the main motivations of the war was just to gain Spanish colonies. Plus it was only passed by 1 vote- shows division between imperialists and anti-imperialists
Insular cases
SC decided that constitutional rights were not automatically extended to territories
Sig? Further destroys the notion that imperialism was for ideals of freedom in the places we conquered
Open door policy
Instituted by John Hay- all nations have equal trading privileges in China while still respecting “Chinese sovereignty” to keep it weak
Sig? Spheres of influence are bumping against each other in China- foreshadowing of WWI?
Jones Act
- granted territorial status to Philippines
- guaranteed BoR & universal male suffrage
- promoted independence as soon as Filipinos established a stable gov’t
Sig? Shows WW’s moral diplomacy- this is actually for interest of Philippines, not US
TR’s gunboat diplomacy
Acquired Panama Canal, invaded Santo Domingo bc they didn’t pay debts to GB, mediated Russo-Japanese war, agreed to stop segregation of Japanese if they stopped sending people, created great white fleet, Root-Takahira agreement splits up Pacific possessions
Sig? Aggressive foreign policy meant to transform US into a world power & mediate peace in other countries. Again, also shows how spheres of influence are bumping against Japan’s
Taft & $ Diplomacy
Tried to encourage financial investment in China & C. America to create stability and promote US business
Attempted to create railroads in China, intervened in Nicaragua
Sig? Now imperialism is meant to protect US economic interests, not military ones
WW & Moral diplomacy
Jones act, granted US citizenship to PRs, arranged a lot of conciliation treaties. But also sent US troops to Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, almost went to war with Huerta’s Mexican gov’t because of the Tampico Incident (US soldiers were arrested), sent troops after Pancho Villa (an opponent of the new Mexican democratic regime)
Sig? Because WW valued morals, he intervened way more than the other presidents
Zimmerman note & unrestricted sub warfare
In Jan. 1917 Germany broke their promise to US and went back to unrestricted sub warfare
Zimmerman- Germany tells Mexico to invade the US to recover lost territories w/ G’s help
Sig? US cuts off diplomatic relations with Germany and public opinion shifts towards war
War declaration in 1917
WW says the causes are bc Germany’s sub policy is a “warfare against mankind” and he wanted to make the world safe for democracy. Overwhelming approval from Senate
Sig? US had to become prepared for war really fast! Created temp wartime agencies which increased gov’t control of economy a ton
Sedition & Espionage Acts
Espionage- imprisonment of up to 20 years of anyone who tried to incite rebellion or obstruct draft
Sedition- prohibited anyone from making disloyal or abusive remarks about US gov’t
Sig? 2,000 people prosecuted, half convicted, including Socialist leader Eugene Debs. Also gov’t has so much control during times of war it even controls free speech!
