U.S. Imperialism and World War I Review

A comprehensive vocabulary review of key terms, events, acts, figures, and concepts relating to U.S. Expansionism, Imperialism, and World War I.

1898

Spanish American War

Spanish-American War

started when the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor and the yellow journalism that followed; the U.S. came out as a world power and acquired the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

U.S. Expansionism/Imperialism

motivated by a desire to control international trade, expand the navy, spread American culture, obtain raw materials, and find new markets

Panama Canal

built for faster travel/trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; many workers died from mudslides, malaria, and yellow fever

Annexation of Hawaii

led by Sanford B. Dole; forced annexation – the natives of Hawaii did not want to become part of the United States

Monroe Doctrine

foreign policy stating that the United States would not interfere in European affairs and that the Western Hemisphere was closed to colonization/interference by European nations

Big Stick Policy/Roosevelt Corollary

increased U.S. involvement in Latin America; allowed for the U.S. to use force if necessary to create stability

Dollar Diplomacy

promote stability in Latin America to open new markets and protect American political and economic interests in the area

Open Door Policy

policy to open China to equal trade from all countries

Henry Cabot Lodge

U.S. Senator who supported American expansion as a way to increase national pride, spread civilizations, and thereby gain world power

Alfred Thayer Mahan

admiral and navy historian whose theories on the relationship of sea power and world commerce influenced the build-up of the navy

Theodore Roosevelt

gained national attention as the leader of the “Rough Riders” during the Spanish American War; President who created the National Parks System, and supported the passage of Pure Food and Drug Act and several anti-trust acts

Sandford B. Dole

played a significant role in the annexation of Hawaii, served as the first Governor of Hawaii

Missionaries

helped to increase American Expansionism by spreading American culture to the countries they visited and encouraging further expansion

1914-1918

the years of World War I, which was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended with the Treaty of Versailles

Airplanes, tanks, poison gas

helped to break the stalemate by increasing ability to travel across No Man’s Land

M.A.N.I.A. causes of World War I

Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Assassination

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

after years of neutrality during World War I, the U.S. entered the war because of Germany’s attempt to try to dominate sea power in the Atlantic

Zimmerman Telegram

Germany offered Mexico territory in the United States if they invade the U.S.; one of the events which led to U.S. involvement in World War I

Fourteen Points

Woodrow Wilson’s plan to reduce the risk of war through open covenants of peace, absolute freedom of navigation, removal of economic barriers to trade, and well as other political and economic points

League of Nations

international organization created after World War I; U.S. refused to join because of isolationist feelings among Americans after the war

Sinking of the Lusitania

resulted from German unrestricted submarine warfare; one of the events which led to U.S. involvement in World War I

Battle of Argonne Forest

final battle of World War I; American Expeditionary Forces helped lead an Allied victory and the end of the war

Selective Service Act

created the draft of men for military service

Espionage Act and Sedition Act

allowed the government to limit your First Amendment (freedom of speech)

Treaty of Versailles

written by Allied Leaders that ended World War I and created the League of Nations; charged Germany with the responsibility for the war and ordered reparations to be paid to Allied Nations

Franz Ferdinand

assassination led to the start of World War I

Allied Powers

Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, United States

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungry Empire, Ottoman Empire

Trenches and machine guns

created No Man’s Land/stalemate during World War I

John J. Pershing

World War I veteran, who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces

Woodrow Wilson

President of the United States during World War I, who created the Fourteen Points and supported the creation of the League of Nations

American Expeditionary Forces

American forces in World War I, who helped to increase Allied morale and led to their victory at the Battle of Argonne Forest

Schenck v. United States

court case, in which the Supreme Court created the “clear and present danger” clause which allowed the government to regulate your 1st Amendment rights in order to protect Americans