Imperialism

William H. Seward

William H. Seward

was the U.S. Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He is best known for his role in negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, which became known as "Seward's Folly."

Josiah Strong

was a 19th-century American clergyman and author who advocated for American expansionism and the spread of Christianity. He wrote "Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis," which influenced the idea of American exceptionalism

Alfred T. Mahan

was a U.S. naval officer and historian. He is famous for his book "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History," which argued that a strong navy was crucial for a nation's global influence and that naval power was essential for achieving national greatness

William Randolph Hearst

was a prominent American newspaper publisher. He is known for employing sensational and exaggerated journalism techniques in his newspapers, contributing to the rise of "yellow journalism" during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Queen Liliuokalani

was the last monarch and the only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Her reign came to an end when she was overthrown in a coup led by American business interests in 1893

Grover Cleveland

was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, serving non-consecutive terms. He was a Democrat known for his commitment to civil service reform and his opposition to protective tariffs

Opposed to annexation

William McKinley

was the 25th President of the United States. He was known for his pro-business and pro-tariff policies, and he was in office during the Spanish-American War, which led to the acquisition of several territories by the United States

Valeriano Weyler

a Spanish general, played a controversial role in the Cuban War of Independence. He implemented harsh tactics, including the use of concentration camps, to suppress the Cuban rebellion, leading to international criticism

William H. Taft

served as the 27th President of the United States and later as the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was known for his policy of "dollar diplomacy" in Latin America, which aimed to promote U.S. economic influence

The foreign policy elite

refers to a group of individuals, often experts and policymakers, who have significant influence on a nation's foreign policy decisions due to their expertise, experience, and access to key decision-makers

John Hay

was an American statesman who served as Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. He played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Open Door Policy and the Treaty of Paris 1898

Emilio Aguinaldo

was a Filipino revolutionary leader who played a central role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule and later the Philippine-American War. He became the first President of the Philippines

Jose Marti & Maximo Gomez

José Martí was a Cuban poet and independence leader who advocated for Cuban independence from Spanish rule. Máximo Gómez was a Dominican military leader who fought alongside Martí and played a significant role in the Cuban War of Independence

Theodore Roosevelt

was the 26th President of the United States. He was a proponent of progressive policies, including trust-busting, environmental conservation, and the idea of "speak softly and carry a big stick" in foreign affairs

The Samoa partition

refers to the division of the Samoan Islands in the late 19th century among Germany, the United States, and Great Britain, each controlling a portion of the archipelago

The Rock Spring massacre

a violent incident in 1885 in Wyoming, USA, where white miners attacked and killed Chinese immigrant workers, reflecting racial tensions during the late 19th century

Anglo-American rapprochement

signifies the improved diplomatic relations and reconciliation between the United Kingdom and the United States, particularly in the late 19th century and early 20th century

The USS Maine disaster

refers to the explosion of the USS Maine, a U.S. Navy battleship, in Havana Harbor in 1898. The incident played a role in the outbreak of the Spanish-American War

The DeLome letter

a private correspondence written by Spanish diplomat Enrique Dupuy de Lôme criticizing U.S. President William McKinley. Its publication in the press contributed to anti-Spanish sentiment during the lead-up to the Spanish-American War

The Teller Amendment

a U.S. congressional resolution in 1898 that declared the United States had no intention of annexing Cuba after the Spanish-American War and sought to reassure Cubans of their future sovereignty.

Treaty of Paris 1898

ended the Spanish-American War and led to Spain ceding several territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, to the United States

McKinley Tariff

officially known as the Dingley Act, was a U.S. tariff law passed in 1890 under President William McKinley. It raised tariffs on imported goods and was associated with protectionism

Hawaii annexation

refers to the process through which the United States annexed the Hawaiian Islands in 1898, making Hawaii a U.S. territory

Open Door Policy

a U.S. foreign policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aimed to ensure access to trade in China by preventing exclusive spheres of influence by foreign powers

The Platt Amendment

an amendment to the Cuban constitution, which gave the United States significant control over Cuba's affairs in the early 20th century, including the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.

Boxer Rebellion

a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising in China from 1899 to 1901, led by a group known as the Boxers. It was suppressed by a coalition of foreign powers

Balangiga Massacre

an incident during the Philippine-American War in 1901 when Filipino guerrillas attacked and killed U.S. soldiers in the town of Balangiga, leading to a violent American retaliation

Phillippines “pacification”

refers to the U.S. military and colonial efforts to suppress Filipino resistance and establish control during the Philippine-American War in the early 20th century

United Fruit Company

an American corporation that played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of several Central American and Caribbean countries, often referred to as a "banana republic."

The Treaty of Portsmouth

signed in 1905, ended the Russo-Japanese War and was negotiated by President Theodore Roosevelt, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize

The Hay-Paunceforte Treaty

an agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom that allowed the U.S. to build and control a canal in Central America, later leading to the construction of the Panama Canal.

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

an extension of the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the right of the United States to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to maintain stability and protect U.S. interests

The Root-Takahira Agreement

a 1908 agreement between the United States and Japan, which aimed to improve relations and reduce tensions between the two nations in the Pacific

The Great White Fleet

a U.S. Navy fleet of white-painted battleships that sailed around the world from 1907 to 1909 as a demonstration of U.S. naval power and diplomacy

Historical disincentives to imperialism

factors that may discourage a nation from pursuing imperialistic policies, including economic costs, domestic opposition, and global diplomatic consequences

The “white man’s burden”

a phrase used to justify European and American imperialist expansion, suggesting that it was the duty of white colonizers to civilize and uplift non-European societies

Scientific racism

the misuse of scientific ideas and methods to support racist beliefs, often involving the classification of races based on purported biological differences

The Turner Thesis

proposed by historian Frederick Jackson Turner, argued that the American frontier played a vital role in shaping the American character and democratic institutions

Paternalism

a form of governance or policy where those in authority make decisions for the well-being of others, often with the assumption that they are acting in the best interests of those they govern

The “male ethos”

refers to cultural and societal norms that emphasize traditional masculine values, such as strength, courage, and assertiveness, which have often played a role in shaping foreign policy decisions.

Christian supremacy

refers to the belief in the superiority of Christianity over other religions and the potential influence of this belief on foreign policy decisions

Navalism

a policy or ideology that prioritizes the development and use of naval power as a means to achieve national objectives, often associated with strong navies

The “promotional state”

a concept that describes a government actively supporting and promoting the interests of its corporations and industries in foreign markets

Yellow journalism

a style of reporting that features sensationalized stories, exaggerated headlines, and an emphasis on emotional content. It played a role in shaping public opinion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

“Big stick” diplomacy

a term associated with Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy, reflecting the idea of negotiating peacefully while maintaining the implied threat of military force

TR’s worldview

refers to the foreign policy beliefs and principles of President Theodore Roosevelt, which included a proactive and assertive role for the United States on the world stage

Banana republics

politically unstable countries often characterized by a reliance on a single export product, such as bananas, and often subject to foreign influence or exploitation

Spheres of influence / hegemoney

refers to a region or area where one nation exercises significant control or influence, often in political, economic, or military matters