Imperialism

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Definition: Reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine Impact: Kept the Western Hemisphere free from intervention by European powers

Platt Amendment

Definition: Restricted the rights of newly independent Cubans Impact: Effectively brought the island within the US sphere

Treaty of Paris (1898)

Definition: Treaty signed by Spain and the US in December of 1898 Impact: Officially ended the Spanish-American War

USS Maine

Definition: US Navy ship Impact: Explosion (by Spain) in USS Maine killed 250 American sailors, ignited a furor as America went to war with Spain

Spanish American War (1898)

Definition: War between the US and Spain in 1898 Impact: The US acquired territories and became a world power

Roosevelt's "Big Stick Policy"

Definition: Roosevelt's policy of creating and using, when necessary, a strong military to achieve America's goals Impact: Policy was used for US action in Latin America

John Hay's Open Door Notes & the "Open Door Policy"

Definition: Policy first established by US secretary of state John Hay Impact: Maintained trade and commercial activity between countries

"Great White Fleet"

Definition: Popular nickname for US Navy in early 1900s Impact: Completed a circumnavigation of the globe by command of Roosevelt

Taft's "Dollar Diplomacy"

Definition: President Taft's policy of expanding American investments abroad Impact: Americans busily invested in plantations, mines, oil wells, railways, and other ventures

Cultural Superiority

Definition: Belief in the inherit superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture Impact: Used to justify imperialism, "survival of the fittest"

Social Darwinism

Definition: Belief that life consists of competitive struggles in which only the fittest survive Impact: Imperialists used this to justify imperialism and ideas of racial, national, and culture superiority

Panama Canal

Definition: Human-made waterway linking the Atlantic to the Pacific across the Isthmus of Panama Impact: Became a vital trade link for the US

Captian Mahan

Definition: Military historian and officer in the US Navy Impact: Helped expand and modernize US Navy, US built new steel-plated, steam powered battleships, US has 3rd largest Navy in the world by 1900

Anti-Imperialists

Definition: Opposed imperialism and the growing European colonial empires, also US control of the Philippines Impact: Fought against imperialism

Isolationism

Definition: Policy by which nations remain apart from the affairs of other nations Impact: US began to abandon isolationism and move towards imperialism

Imperialism

Definition: Policy by which strong nations extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker territories Impact: US began to consider benefits of extending our territory farther

Expansionism

Definition: Policy by which there is territorial or economic expansion Impact: US expanded its territory and it's influence over world affairs

Wilson's "Moral Diplomacy"

Definition: Woodrow Wilson's statement that the US would not use force to assert influence in the world, but would instead work to promote human rights Impact: Despite this, Wilson still used military on a number of occasions

Yellow Journalism

Definition: Wrote comic strips with character called The Yellow Kid Impact: Heightened the public's dislike of the Spanish government

Boxer Rebellion

Definition: violence started by members of a secret society in China Impact: Prompted governments of Europe and America to send troops to squash the rebellion