Imperialism and US Expansion (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering imperialism, national identity, frontier, genocide, the Monroe Doctrine, spheres of influence, economic motives, resources, labor, assimilation, and overseas market expansion as discussed in the video notes.

Imperialism

A policy or practice of extending a nation’s power by acquiring territories, resources, labor, and markets abroad, often involving coercive cultural influence.

National identity (in imperial context)

The sense of a nation’s character that is reinforced or imposed during expansion, sometimes through force or coercion.

Frontier

The unsettled or wild edge of a country’s territory beyond which expansion proceeds; used to justify expansion and resource use.

Genocide

The systematic removal or destruction of indigenous peoples; described today as part of some imperial expansions.

Monroe Doctrine

U.S. policy (announced in the early 1820s) that the Western Hemisphere is off-limits to European colonization and that the U.S. will police the Americas.

Spheres of influence

Regions where a country claims exclusive rights to trade, investment, or political influence, often recognized during the era of imperialism.

Economic motive

The drive to expand a nation’s power by gaining natural resources, cheap labor, and new markets for goods.

Natural resources

Raw materials such as minerals, timber, and energy sources extracted from colonized lands for use at home.

Labor exploitation

Using indigenous or imported workers to extract resources or produce goods, sometimes under coercive or oppressive conditions.

Assimilation

Imposing the colonizer’s language, religion, culture, or economic system (e.g., capitalism) on subject peoples.

Market expansion (overseas markets)

Efforts to develop and access new international markets for selling goods and expanding business operations.