US History Theme 5: American Expansionism Vocab

Oregon Trail

A route used during the U.S westward migrations, especially in the period from 1840 to 1860, starting in Missouri and ending Oregon about 2000 MYA

Gadsden Purchase

A tract of 45,535 square miles not contained in New Mexico and Arizona, purchased for $10,000,000 from Mexico in 1853, the treaty being negotiated by James Gadsden

reservation system

A tract of public land set apart for a special purpose, as for the use of an Indian tribe

genocide

The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of an entire national, racial, religious, or ethnic group

annexation

To incorporate (territory) into an existing political unit such as a country, state, county, or city

Sand Creek Massacre

133 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, 105 of which were women and children were slaughtered in 1864 by the Colorado Militia

Dawes Act

1887 law that divided the reservation system into individual plots of land. Native Americans were forced to give up their tribal traditions and assimilate into white agrarian society.

Wounded Knee

1890 massacre that left over 300 Sioux dead. It effectively ended the Ghost Dance movement and all remaining organized Native American resistance

Jones Act (1917)

1917 Law that granted Puerto Ricans U.S citizenship

Panama Canal

A canal in Panama that connects the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean

Spanish American War

A conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States that resulted in the American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence

gold rush

A large-scale movement of people to California starting in 1849

Platt Amendment

Affected Cuba's rights to negotiate treaties and permitted the U.s to maintain its naval base at Guantanamo Bay and to intervene in Cuban affairs "for the preservation of Cuban independence" until 1934

"Custer's Last Stand"

Also referred to as the Battle of Little Big Horn. The Lakota and Cheyenne tribes led by Sitting Bull inflicted an embarrassing defeat on the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry in the Montana Territory in 1876

Indian Removal Act

It gave President Jackson the power to negotiate removal treaties. Under these treaties, the Indians were to give up their lands east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands to the west.

yellow journalism

Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers.

Plains Indians

Native Americans who lived on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains in North America

indigenous

Native, original inhabitant

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Outlined the process for admitting a new state to the union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states.

Treaty of Guadalup Hidlago

Peace Treaty that ended the Mexican American War. Mexico lost its claims to California and much of what currently comprises the SW U.S

Monroe Doctrine

Policy, as stated by President Monroe in 1823, that the U.S. opposed further European colonization of and interference with independent nations in the western hemisphere

Roosevelt Corollary

Presidential policy that amended the Monroe Doctrine to include the use of military force to restore internal stability to nation in the Western Hemisphere

sovereignty

The ability of an independent state/nation to control its own affairs

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition by the United States of America of 828,800 square miles of French territory in 1803. The U.S paid of 15 million dollars. the purchase encompassed all or part of 14 current U.S states

manifest destiny

The belief or doctrine, held chiefly in the middle and latter part of the 19th century, that it was the destiny of the U.S to expand its territory over the whole of North America and to extend and enhance its political, social, and economic influences

racial supremacy

The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others

imperialism

The policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies

expansionism

The policy of territorial or economic expansion

isolationism

The policy or doctrine of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc., seeking, to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its own advancement and remain at peace by avoiding foreign entanglements and responsibilities

"Sewards Folly"

The purchase of Alaska by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867

"Trail of Tears"

The relocation of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Choctaw nations beginning in 1831. Most infamously associated with the death of 4,000 Cherokees between 1838 & 1839

territory

an area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state

continental

forming or belonging to a continent