Chapter 10 - America Claims an Empire

Valeriano Weyler

Spanish General sent to restore order in Cuba accused of many attrocities

Volunteers

The US army during the Spanish American War was made up mostly of ill prepared ___________________.

Protectorate

A country whose affairs are partially controlled by a stronger power, though it is officially independent

"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick"

A favorite saying of TR reflecting his particular brand of international policy

Sanford B. Dole

A wealthy plantation owner in Hawaii who led the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and set up a new government under himself

Alfred T. Mahan

Admiral of the US Navy; encouraged the US government to build up its navy to compete with the powerful European nations

John J. Pershing

American general ordered to arrest Villa in Mexico, was ultimately unsuccessful

Nicaragua

An alternative option for a canal through Central America that would be longer, but over easier terrain (including a large lake)

Canal Zone

Area proposed for the Panama Canal

Spheres of Influence

Areas where European nations claimed special rights and economic privileges in China.

Philippine-American War

Armed conflict between the Philippines and the United States from 1899-1902. It was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence. The Philippines declared war on the US and it became a savage conflict with guerilla warfare. Villages were destroyed, civilians were murdered, and prisoners were tortured. The war ended when Aguinaldo surrendered in 1902.

Armistice

Cease-fire agreement

George Dewey

Commodore of the US Navy who defeated the Spanish at their colony in the Philippines

Russo-Japanese War

Conflict between two world-powers that was eventually mediated by President Roosevelt for which he won the Noble Prize

Jose Marti

Cuban revolutionary who led the rebellion against the Spanish

Factors fueling American imperialism

Desire for military strength; thirst for new markets; belief in cultural superiority

The McKinley Tariff

Effectively raised the cost of importing Hawaiian sugar by removing it's duty-free status; led to the push to make Hawaii part of the US

Foraker Act

Ended military rule and established a civil government in Puerto Rico

Belief in cultural superiority

Factor fueling American imperialism driven by the Social Darwinism ideal that Americans needed to spread Christianity and "civilization" around the world.

Desire for military strength

Factor fueling American imperialism driven by the US wanting to become a global military presence

Thirst for new markets

Factor fueling American imperialism driven by the advances in technology that increased US production and caused them to need new markets to sell agricultural and manufactured goods in as well as access to new raw materials.

Guerrilla Warfare

Fighting by unorganized troops including hit-and-run tactics; technique used by Cuban revolutionaries

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino rebel leader who initially helped the US defeat Spain, but then fought against the US imperial rule in the Philippines.

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)

Gave the US the exclusive right to build and control a canal through Central America

War fever

Growing popular sentiment calling for war with Spain largely due to exaggerated stories read in newspapers

King Kalakaua

Hawaiian king who was forced to amend Hawaii's constitution to give sole voting power to wealthy landowners

William Seward

Lincoln's secretary of state who facilitated the purchase of Alaska from Russia

Tampico

Location of the arrest of a group of American sailors by Huerta's officers (the opportunity to intervene that Wilson was waiting for)

Manila, Philippines

Location of the first battle of the Spanish American War

Sugar plantations

Main American businesses that had long occupied Hawaii and other Caribbean and Central American territories.

Veracruz

Mexican city occupied by the Americans after the Tampico Incident

Porfirio Diaz

Military dictator who had ruled Mexico for over 30 years; friend of the US, but overthrown by Francisco Madero

Victoriano Huerta

Military general who took over Madero's reform government when it was unable to follow through on promises; Wilson refused to recognize his government.

France

Nation that first attempted the Panama Canal

Colombia

Nation that initially controlled Panama and would not grant the US rights to build a canal through Panama.

Venustiano Carranza

Nationalist leader who replaced Huerta when his regime collapsed and was recognized by the US government

Hawaii

New territory acquired when American businessmen overthrew the ruling monarch.

Alaska

New territory purchased from Russia by William Seward for only $7.2 million

William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Putlizer

Newspaper tycoons who printed sensational stories to lure in readers

"The Sick Man of Asia"

Nickname for China as it was weakened by war and foreign intervention

"Splendid Little War"

Nickname for the Spanish American War because it was short and caused relatively few US casualties and damage

Open Door Notes

Policy statements issued by John Hay that stated that the leaders of other imperialist nations needed to share their trading rights in China with the US

Pearl Harbor

Port of Hawaii that would become a naval base for the US

De Lome Letter

Private letter written by the Spanish minister to the US stolen by a Cuban rebel and printed in the newspaper; criticized McKinley calling him weak, a "bidder for the crowd"

Francisco Madero

Promised democratic reforms to the Mexican people and was able to overthrow Diaz's 30+ year government, but was overthrown himself two years later when he was unable to carry through on his promises.

Panama Canal

Proposed water route to be cut through Central America to speed up travel from the Atlantic to Pacific. Its construction took tremendous effort.

Reasons for American interest in Cuba

Proximity to the US; American business interests (esp. sugar cane planations) in Cuba

Queen Liliuokaliani

Queen of Hawaii who tried to regain "Hawaii for Hawaiians", but ultimately was overthrown by Sanford Dole.

Francisco "Pancho" Villa

Rebel leader who wanted the US' support to overthrow Carranza and reacted against the US when Wilson recognized Carranza's governemnt by killing several Americans

Yellow Journalism

Sensational writing style that exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers

San Juan Hill

Site of a strategic US victory in the Spanish American War

Monroe Doctrine

Stated that European nations needed to stay out of Latin American affairs

Teller Amendment

Stated that the US had no intention of taking over Cuba

Panamanian Rebellion

Supported by the US to rid Panama of Colombia's control, allowing the US to build a treaty through Panama's isthmus.

Roosevelt Corollary

TR's addition to the Monore Doctrine that added the threat of force to Monroe's declaration that Europe stay out of Latin America

Big Stick Diplomacy

TR's willingness to use force to protect US interests in Latin America

Blockade

Tactic used by the US navy in the Caribbean to cut off the Spanish naval fleet.

Dollar Diplomacy

Taft's brand of diplomacy that encouraged American bankers to lend to Latin American nations by insuring the debts

"Seward's Folly"

Teasing name for the purchase of Alaska, viewed then as a vast and useless wasteland.

Platt Amendment

The Cuban government was required to add this to their constitution. It stated that Cuba couldn't make treaties limiting its independence, the US had the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba couldn't go into debt to other nations, and the US could buy or lease land in Cuba for naval stations

US acquisitions under the Treaty of Paris

The Philippines, Guam, & Puerto Rico

Reasons people debated the Treaty of Paris

The US was being imperialistic; the Philippines were so far away; the prinicples of the Declaration of Independence said the Philippines should have self-government; there were other more crucial issues that should be dealt with at home

Imperialism

The policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories.

Annexation

To make a territory part of a larger nation

Treaty of Paris

Treaty ending the Spanish American War

Yellow Fever and Malaria

Two serious threats that had to be eradicated in order to build the Panama Canal; accomplished by reducing mosquitos by draining swamps, etc.

John Hay

US Secretary of State who issued the Open Door Notes

Insular Cases

US Supreme Court cases that decided the Constitution didn't apply to people in US territories

William McKinley

US president who approved of and oversaw the annexation of Hawaii

USS Maine

US warship sent to Cuba to bring home American citizens and protect American property; The Spanish were blamed for its mysterious explosion in the harbor at Havana.

Midway Islands

Uninhabited Pacific Ocean island chain acquired by the US and largely ignored by the rest of the world

Boxer Rebellion

Uprising by a group of Chinese nationalist members of a secret martial arts society who wanted to rid China of the foreign, western influence.

Concentration Camps

Used by Weyler to contain the rural population of Cuba and prevent guerrilla troops from hiding amongst them; 300,000 imprisoned, thousands died

Rough Riders

Volunteer calvary unit led by TR adn Leonard Wood

Military Rule

Way Puerto Rico was originally governed by the US following the Spanish American War

Missionary Diplomacy

Wilson's brand of diplomacy that stated that the US had a moral obligation to not recognize any nation that was undemocratic, opressive, or hostile to the US

Watchful Waiting

Wilson's policy of waiting for an opportunity to intervene in Huerta's new Mexican government.