Overseas Expansion Vocabulary
Canal Zone
A 10 mile wide 60 mile long strip of land across Panama through which runs the Panama Canal and in which the U.S. use to control.
Panama Canal
A canal built in Panama by the U.S., with initial support from President Theodore Roosevelt, that shortened the Atlantic-to-Pacific voyage. It took 10 years to build and was opened in 1914. Control of the Canal was returned to Panama in 1999.
Dollar Diplomacy
A foreign policy implemented by President William Taft of providing funding for Latin American countries to build port facilities, railroads, and other infrastructure projects to better trade. Often, resulted in US money being misappropriated for personal use.
Isolationism
A foreign policy of avoiding involvement with other countries. George Washington was an advocate of this policy for America.
Boxer Rebellion
A group of Chinese martial artists that were angered by foreign involvement in China, and in 1900 attempted to evict foreigners by taking many hostage and murdering them. Their revolt ended in failure.
Isthmus
A narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas such as Panama connects North and South America.
Yellow Journalism
A newspaper reporting technique that exaggerates and sensationalizes news stories for the purpose of selling more papers.
Teller Amendment
A pre-war resolution stating that the United States had no interest in taking control of or annexing Cuba once Spain left Cuba.
Protectorate
A stronger country's protection of a weaker country or land area.
Platt Amendment
Amendment to CUBA's new constitution after Spanish-American War limiting Cuba's rights by 1) requiring all of Cuba's foreign treaties to be approved by U.S, 2) giving U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs when necessary and 3) giving U.S. exclusive possession of Guantanamo Naval Base.
Anti-Imperialist League
An organization of Americans that accused the United States of building a colonial empire.
sphere of influence
Area in which an outside power claims exclusive business privileges such as European countries had with China in the early 1900's.
Spheres of Influence
Areas in China where foreign nations controlled all trade and natural resources.
"Speak softly and Carry a Big Stick"
Famous proverb often quoted by President Theodore Roosevelt when referring to the use of military force in dealing with Latin America.
Manila Bay
First major battle of the Spanish American War in which the U.S. Navy defeated the Spanish Pacific Armada in the Philippines.
Liliuokalani
Hawaiian queen who proposed a new constitution that gave power back to Hawaiians in 1893. She was the last Hawaiian monarch who was removed from power in a revolt by U.S. sugar growers.
San Juan Hill
Largest and most famous land battle of the Spanish-American War won by the heroics of Col. T. Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.
Rough Riders
Nickname given to Colonel Teddy Roosevelt's 1st Calvary Unit during the Spanish-American War.
Open Door Policy
Policy proposed by SecState John Hay in 1899 stating that all nations should have equal access to trade in China. Hay wanted China to remain an independent country while allowing the U.S. access to trade.
Roosevelt Corollary
President Theodore Roosevelt's addition to the Monroe Doctrine warning that nations in the Western Hemisphere should pay their debts or else the U.S. will intervene. Its purpose was to keep Europe from returning to Latin America. This document also gave the US police powers in our hemisphere.
Dollar Diplomacy
President William Howard Taft's foreign policy of influencing governments through economic assistance.
Francisco "Pancho" Villa
Rebel leader during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) who wanted to be the leader of Mexico, but was not supported by the U.S and so invaded Columbus, NM killing 17 Americans.
William H. Seward
Secretary of State for Presidents Lincoln and Johnson and who envisioned a U.S. empire in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. He arranged for the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.
Treaty of Kanagawa
The 1854 Treaty between the U.S. and Japan arranged by Commodore Matthew Perry that allowed U.S. access to one Japanese port for trade.
Moral Diplomacy
The U.S. foreign policy preferred by President Woodrow Wilson that called for only dealing with responsible, trustworthy foreign leaders.
Big Stick (Gunboat) diplomacy
The U.S. foreign policy used often by President Teddy Roosevelt that relied upon the threat of military force to get things done.
Foreign Policy
The different ways that countries conduct relations with each other.
Emilio Aguinaldo
The leader of Filipino rebels against Spain, and then against the U.S. once the U.S. defeated Spain and removed them from the Philippine Islands.
Imperialism
The practice of building an empire by acquiring colonies or conquering other nations.
Annexation
The taking control of property or a weaker country by a stronger country such as the U.S. did to Hawaii.
John J. Pershing
U.S. Army general, nicknamed Black Jack, who pursued rebel Pancho Villa through Mexico but never caught him. Pershing would become a U.S. hero in WWI.
Admiral George Dewey
U.S. Hero of the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 in which the USN defeated the Spanish Navy and took control of the Philippine Islands.
Guantanamo Bay
U.S. controlled small naval base and prison on Cuban soil.
Matthew Perry
U.S. naval officer who was sent on a mission to Japan in 1853 by President Filmore to open trade.
"Remember the Maine ..."
War cry in America calling for revenge against Spain for the purported sinking of our ship.
