Unit 5a: American Imperialism

Question 1

“Seward’s Folly” 1867

Answer 1

U.S. Secretary of State, William H. Seward, buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million; aka “Seward’s Icebox”

Question 2

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Yellow Journalism

Answer 3

journalism that has catchy headlines but lacks legitimate research; exaggeration; sensationalize; Pulitzer and Hearst

Question 4

William Randolph Hearst

Answer 4

newspaper publisher; yellow journalism; democrat in House of Representatives; political influence and public opinion which helped start war with Spain in 1898

Question 5

Spanish-American War 1898

Answer 5

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”

Question 6

“Remember the Maine, to hell with Spain”

Answer 6

mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Bay; Teddy Roosevelt angered; yellow journalism coined the phrase

Question 7

Teller Amendment

Answer 7

U.S. military involvement status;U.S. cannot annex Cuba; leave control of island to its people

Question 8

Rough Riders

Answer 8

1st U.S. Volutary Cavalry; saw action in Spanish-American war, led by Teddy Roosevelt

Question 9

Queen Liliuokalani

Answer 9

Queen of Hawaii before it was taken over by U.S. sugar planters; taken down; resisted U.S. forces

Question 10

Emilio Aguinaldo

Answer 10

Filipino general, politician, and independence leader; Philippine’s 1st president; key role in the independence movement resisting American occupation

Question 11

“White Man’s Burden”

Answer 11

reason for America becoming imperialist power; Social Darwinist thinking; U.S. burden to help everyone else

Question 12

Platt Amendment 1903

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Open Door Policy

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Boxer Rebellion

Answer 14

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

Question 15

“Big Stick” Policy

Answer 15

“Speak softly and carry a big stick”; Teddy Roosevelt; negotiating peacefully but having the “big stick” threat behind it

Question 16

Roosevelt Corollary 1905

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Panama Canal

Answer 17

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

Question 18

“Dollar Diplomacy”

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Matthew C. Perry

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Sanford B. Dole

Answer 20

American endorsed leader of Hawaii who came into power after the monarchy was overthrown

Question 21

Jose Marti

Answer 21

Cuban poet and journalist who organized a guerilla revolution against Spain in 1895. “Cuba Libre” free Cuba was his battle cry

Question 22

Valeriano Weyler

Answer 22

Spanish general sent to Cuba in 1896 to crush the rebellion. His brutal tactics earned him the nickname, “Butcher.”

Question 23

U.S.S. Maine

Answer 23

Ship that exploded off the coast of Cuba in Havana harbor and helped contribute to the start of the Spanish-American War

Question 24

Treaty of Paris

Answer 24

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

Question 25

protectorate

Answer 25

a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power

Question 26

Pearl Harbor

Answer 26

American naval base in Hawaii used as a refueling station for American ships