Vocab Unit 7.1 Flashcards
William H. Seward
Secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson. Stopped GB and France from going to war
Monroe Doctrine
Warned European powers against interfering in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere
Seward’s Folly
1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia by Secretary of State William Seward
Queen Liluokalani
Peacefully resisted the US-backed overthrow of the monarchy and her advocacy for Hawaiian sovereignty
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Argued that the United States should seek new markets abroad
“white man’s burden”
White, Western nations had a moral duty to civilize and govern non-white, “less developed”
Pan-American Conference
Create a customs union for nations in the Americas aimed at improving economic relations
Jingoism
Extreme, often fanatical, patriotism that can manifest as a belief in one’s country’s superiority
“yellow journalism”
News reporting characterized by sensationalism, exaggeration, and often biased narratives (propaganda)
De Lome Letter
Private letter written by Spanish Ambassador Enrique Dupuy de Lôme criticizing US President William McKinley (further fueled anti-spanish beliefs)
USS Maine
United States Navy battleship that exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, a pivotal event that fueled public opinion and led to the Spanish-American War.
Teller Amendment
Stated that the United States would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War, instead supporting Cuban independence
Platt Amendment
Treaty between the U.S. and Cuba that attempted to protect Cuba’s independence from foreign intervention
Treaty of Paris, 1898
Ended the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States, and the U.S. purchasing the Philippines for $20 million
Emilio Aguinaldo
Filipino leader and politician who fought first against Spain and later against the United States for the independence of the Philippines
Insular Cases
After the US acquired territory from Spain the Supreme Court ruled that full constitutional rights did not automatically extend to these territories, leading to the concept of “unincorporated territories”.
Spheres of influence
European powers has significant influence over political, economic, or cultural affairs, often without direct territorial control in China
Boxer Rebellion
Anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North China, fueled by nationalist sentiments and opposition to foreign influence, particularly from Western nations and Japan.
TR’s “Big Stick” policy
Foreign policy approach emphasizing negotiation backed by the threat of military force, aimed to establish American dominance in the Western Hemisphere and beyond
Panama Canal
Artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitating trade and strategic military movements for US especially
Roosevelt Corollary
Asserted that the United States had the right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and order
Russo-Japanese War
Conflict between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan, primarily over control of Manchuria and Korea, resulting in a Japanese victory and significant shifts in the balance of power in East Asia
“Gentlemen’s Agreement”
Restricted Japanese immigration to the US while addressing anti-Japanese sentiment and school segregation in San Francisco, ultimately easing tensions between the two nations
Great White Fleet
Demonstrating American naval power and establishing the US as a global force, all while promoting international goodwill
International Peace Conference
Diplomatic meeting where representatives of states or warring parties gather to negotiate and sign a peace treaty after WWI
William Howard Taft
Progressive reforms, trust-busting, and his foreign policy of “Dollar Diplomacy” which aimed to expand American influence through economic means
“Dollar Diplomacy”
Exerting financial power as a form of imperialism instead of military power in foreign nations
Woodrow Wilson
Leading the nation during WWI and advocating for a new world order based on democracy and self-determination, including his “Fourteen Points”
William Jennings Bryan
Lawyer, orator, and politician, known for his passionate advocacy of populist ideals (anti-trusts)
Jones Act
Law requiring that cargo transported by sea between US ports must be carried on American-built, owned, and crewed ships to support the US merchant marine.
Pancho Villa
Mexican revolutionary and guerrilla leader who fought against the regimes of both Porfirio Díaz and Victoriano Huerta.
Lusitania Crisis
Sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat. Strained relations between Germany and the neutral United States, contributing to the eventual US entry into World War I.
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Naval strategy used primarily by Germany during World War I, involved submarines attacking merchant ships without warning, disregarding international laws and the safety of civilians
Zimmermann Telegram
Secret coded message from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States entered World War I, in exchange for Mexico regaining lost territory.
Bolsheviks
Radical faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, who seized power in Russia during the October Revolution
American Expeditionary Force
The US armed forces sent to Europe during World War I, primarily to fight alongside Allied troops in France
14 points
Outlined a vision for a just and lasting peace after World War I, emphasizing principles like open diplomacy, free trade, and self-determination, ultimately leading to the establishment of the League of Nations. - Woodrow Wilson
Big 4
Woodrow Wilson- USA
David Lloyd George- UK
George Clemenceau- France
Vittorio Orlando- Italy
Treaty of Versailles
Peace agreement that officially ended World War I, imposing harsh terms on Germany including territorial losses, disarmament, and hefty reparations.
Self-determination
People should have the right to choose their own government and live within their own borders
League of Nations
First intergovernmental organization established after World War I, aiming to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars through diplomacy and collective security.
Henry Cabot Lodge
Disagreed with the Versailles Treaty, and who was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Mobilization
Process of assembling and preparing military troops and supplies for war, including the mobilization of manpower, industries, and resources to support the war effort.
Food administration
Federal agency led by Herbert Hoover, tasked with ensuring food supplies for the war effort and rationing food for civilians through voluntary measures and educational campaigns.
Railroad Administration
USs government nationalized the railroad system, establishing the United States Railroad Administration to address wartime transportation needs and streamline operations
National War labor board
U.S. government agency, active during World War II (1942-1945), that mediated and arbitrated labor disputes to ensure industrial production for the war effort.
Liberty Bonds
War bond that was sold in the United States to support the Allied cause in World War I.
Committee on Public Information
U.S. government agency established in 1917 to influence public opinion in support of World War I through propaganda and public relations efforts.
Espionage Act
Designed to prevent interference with military operations or support for U.S. enemies by criminalizing the unauthorized disclosure of national defense information and espionage activities.
Sedition Act
Criminalized “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against the government, effectively limiting freedom of speech and press, and was used to suppress criticism of the Federalist administration.
Schenck vs US
Supreme Court established that the First Amendment’s protection of free speech isn’t absolute, particularly when speech poses a “clear and present danger” to national security
Selective Service
Independent US government agency responsible for maintaining a database of registered men, potentially subject to military conscription (draft), and preparing for a draft in case of a national emergency.
