IB History

Manifest Destiny

A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined by god to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific.

Monroe Doctrine

1823 - Declared that Europe should not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere and that any attempt at interference by a European power would be seen as a threat to the U.S. It also declared that a New World colony which has gained independence may not be recolonized by Europe. (It was written at a time when many South American nations were gaining independence). Only England, in particular George Canning, supported the Monroe Doctrine. Mostly just a show of nationalism, the doctrine had no major impact until later in the 1800s.

Gilded Age

1870s - 1890s; time period looked good on the outside, despite the corrupt politics & growing gap between the rich & poor

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

Expansionism

the doctrine of expanding the territory or the economic influence of a country

Imperialism

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries poitically, socially, and economically.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country, or that ones land should become a independent country

World's Fairs

Took 2 years to set up, lasted for a few months, created to portray to people that America was a wonderful, modern, exciting and welcoming country, contradictory to it's reality of immigrants in tenements.

Turner Frontier Thesis

argued that the American character was shaped by the existance of the frontier and the way Americans interacted and developed the frontier, he felt that the frontier encouraged individualism and democracy (first debate)

White Man's Burden

'duty' of Europeans to spread Christanity and western civilization

Annexation

A method used by the government to acquire and establish sovereignty over new territory. Sometimes force is used in annexation, but other times it is done through a legal system, such as a purchase. The United States annexed Texas in 1845 after a consent from Mexico.

Spanish-American War

(1898) A war between the United States and Spain over the control of Cuba. The United States won this war and gained independence for Cuba, and control of the Philippines.

Philippine-American War

armed conflict between the Philippines and the United States from 1899-1902. It was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence. The Philippines declared war on the US and it became a savage conflict with guerilla warfare. Villages were destroyed, civilians were murdered, and prisoners were tortured. The war ended when Aguinaldo surrendered in 1902.

Hacienda

A large Spanish-owned estate in the Americas, often run as a farm or a cattle ranch

USS Maine

U.S. Battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898; Evidence suggests an internal explosion, however Spanish military was framed by Yellow Journalism; The incident was a catalyst for the Spanish American War

Rough Riders

The First United States Volunteer Calvary, a mixure of Ivy League athletes and western frontiermen, volunteered to fight in the Spanish-American War. Enlisted by Theodore Roosevelt, they won many battles in Florida and enlisted in the invasion army of Cuba.

Teller Amendment

Legislation that promised the US would not annex Cuba after winning the Spanish-American war

Platt Agreement

prevented newly independent Cuba from making treaties with other nations and gave the United States the Guatanamo Bay

Yellow Journalism

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

Jingoism

A feeling of strong national pride and a desire for an aggressive foreign policy

Olney Manifesto

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Big-Stick Diplomacy

Diplomatic policy developed by T.R where the "big stick" symbolizes his power and readiness to use military force if necessary. It is a way of intimidating countries without actually harming them and was the basis of U.S. imperialistic foreign policy.

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy created under President Taft that had the U.S. exchanging financial support ($) for the right to "help" countries make decisions about trade and other commercial ventures. Basically it was exchanging money for political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Moral Diplomacy

Policy adopted by President Woodrow Wilson that rejected the approach of "dollar diplomacy". Rather than focusing mainly on economic ties with other nations, Wilson's policy was designed to bring right principles to the world, preserve peace, and extend to other peoples the blessings of democracy.

Roosevelt Corollary

(TR) , Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force, first put into effect in Dominican Republic

Drago Doctrine

Argentine jurist, Luis Drago, proposed that European countries could not use force to collect debts owed by countries in the Americas. They could not blockade South American ports. Adopted as part of the Hague Convention in 1907.

Open Door Policy

A policy proposed by the US in 1899, under which ALL nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China.

United Fruit Co

Most important foreign economic concern in Guatemala during the 20th century; attempted land reform aimed at United Fruit caused U.S. intervention in Guatemalan politics leading to ouster of reform government in 1954

Panama Canal

(TR) , The United States built the Panama Canal to have a quicker passage to the Pacific from the Atlantic and vice versa. It cost $400,000,000 to build. Columbians would not let Americans build the canal, but then with the assistance of the United States a Panamanian Revolution occurred. The new ruling people allowed the United States to build the canal.

Howard Zinn

Excerpt from A peoples History of the United States

James Monroe

1816 and 1820; Democratic-Republican; his time in office is described as "The Era of Good Feelings," notable events include the Missouri Compromise, the establishment of the Monroe Doctrine, the acquisition of Florida from Spain, and several internal improvements such as The Cumberland Road

Grover Cleveland

22nd and 24th president, Democrat, Honest and hardworking, fought corruption, vetoed hundreds of wasteful bills, achieved the Interstate Commerce Commission and civil service reform, violent suppression of strikes

William McKinley

25th president responsible for Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and the Annexation of Hawaii, imperialism. Is assassinated by an anarchist

Theodore Roosevelt

1858-1919. 26th President. Leader of Rough Riders. Increased size of Navy, "Great White Fleet". Added Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine. "Big Stick" policy. Received Nobel Peace Prize for mediation of end of Russo-Japanese war. Later arbitrated split of Morocco between Germany and France.

Admiral Dewey

admiral who suprise attacked and took over Manila Bay in the first action of the Spanish American War.

Mark Twain

He was America's most popular author, but also renowned platform lecturer. He lived from 1835 to 1910. Used "romantic" type literature with comedy to entertain his audiences. In 1873 along with the help of Charles Dudley Warner he wrote The Gilded Age. This is why the time period is called the "Gilded Age". The greatest contribution he made to American literature was the way he captured the frontier realism and humor through the dialect his characters use.

Andrew Carnegie

A business man that increased his power through by gaining control of the many different businesses that make up all phases of steel production development.

William Jennings Bryan

United States lawyer and politician who advocated free silver and prosecuted John Scopes (1925) for teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school (1860-1925)

Lost presidency campaign three times.

Queen Liliukalani

A queen of Hawaii who was opposed to the continuing American attempts to seize control of Hawaii. She posed a problem to American settlers who desired to control the islands.

Emilio Aquinaldo

Filipino general that played an instrumental role in Philippine independence during Philippine revolution against Spain and the Philippine-American War.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Henry Cabot Lodge was a Republican who disagreed with the Versailles Treaty, and who was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He mostly disagreed with the section that called for the League to protect a member who was being threatened.

Samuel Gompers

He was the creator of the American Federation of Labor. He provided a stable and unified union for skilled workers.

William Taft

27th president of the U.S.; he angered progressives by moving cautiously toward reforms and by supporting the Payne-Aldrich Tariff; he lost Roosevelt's support and was defeated for a second term.

Woodrow Wilson

1912 and 1916; Democrat; secured passage of the Federal Reserve act, created the Federal Trade commission and signed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act into law, president during WWI (first had preposed peace/neutrality and used the slogan "He kept us out of the war" to be reelected, but he entered the US in the war because of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman note), his war aims were known as the Fourteen Points