Unit 5a: American Imperialism Flashcards
“Seward’s Folly” 1867
U.S. Secretary of State, William H. Seward, buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million; aka “Seward’s Icebox”
Alfred Thayer Mahan
U.S. navy flag officer; geo-strategist; “sea power” idea that countries with greater naval power have greater world impact; influenced navy strategies across world
Yellow Journalism
journalism that has catchy headlines but lacks legitimate research; exaggeration; sensationalize; Pulitzer and Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
newspaper publisher; yellow journalism; democrat in House of Representatives; political influence and public opinion which helped start war with Spain in 1898
Spanish-American War 1898
American intervention of Cuban independence from Spain because Spanish misrule in Cuba; American attacks on Pacific Islands (Philippines) mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana; De Lome Letter criticizing McKinley; De lome was Spanish ambassador to U.S.; Teddy Roosevelt fights in Cuba after resigning as assistant secretary of the Navy; “That splendid little war”
“Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain”
mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Bay; Teddy Roosevelt angered; yellow journalism coined the phrase
Teller Amendment
U.S. military involvement status;U.S. cannot annex Cuba; leave control of island to its people
Rough Riders
1st U.S. Volutary Cavalry; saw action in Spanish-American war, led by Teddy Roosevelt
Queen Liliuokalani
Queen of Hawaii before it was taken over by U.S. sugar planters; taken down; resisted U.S. forces
Emilio Aguinaldo
Filipino general, politician, and independence leader; Philippine’s 1st president; key role in the independence movement resisting American occupation
“White Man’s Burden”
reason for America becoming imperialist power; Social Darwinist thinking; U.S. burden to help everyone else
Platt Amendment 1903
replaced Teller Amendment; Cuba could not enter into any agreements with foreign powers that would endanger its independence; U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient independent government; Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to U.S. for naval and coaling station; Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt
Open Door Policy
Secretary John Hay; give all nations equal access to trade in China; guaranteed that China would not be taken over by any one foreign power
Boxer Rebellion
1900; Peaceful Harmonious Fists; “55 Days at Peking”; pro-nationalist movement in response to the spheres of influence in China; foreign powers put down the rebellion
“Big Stick” Policy
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”; Teddy Roosevelt; negotiating peacefully but having the “big stick” threat behind it
Roosevelt Corollary 1905
To Monroe Doctrine; international police power; U.S. had right to intervene to “stabilize” economic affairs of Caribbean and Central America if they could not pay international debts
Panama Canal
Panama was part of Colombia; Panamanian nationalists with U.S. backing take over Panama in “bloodless revolution”; U.S. treaty establishes right to build canal and have power over canal zone
“Dollar Diplomacy”
Taft; improve financial opportunities for American business; use private capital to further U.S. interests overseas; U.S. should create stability and order abroad that best promotes American commercial interests
Matthew C. Perry
He was the military leader who convinced the Japanese to sign a treaty in 1853 with the U.S. The treaty allowed for a commercial foot in Japan which was helpful with furthering a relationship with Japan.
Sanford B. Dole
American endorsed leader of Hawaii who came into power after the monarchy was overthrown
Jose Marti
Cuban poet and journalist who organized a guerilla revolution against Spain in 1895. “Cuba Libre” free Cuba was his battle cry
Valeriano Weyler
Spanish general sent to Cuba in 1896 to crush the rebellion. His brutal tactics earned him the nickname, “Butcher.”
U.S.S. Maine
Ship that exploded off the coast of Cuba in Havana harbor and helped contribute to the start of the Spanish-American War
Treaty of Paris
the treaty ending the Spanish-American War, in which Spain freed Cuba, turned over the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico to the U.S., and sold the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million
