American Foreign Policy and World War I Vocabulary

A set of 36 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical figures, legislation, and policies related to late 19th and early 20th century American Imperialism and World War I.

Imperialism

Political, military, and economic domination of strong nations over weaker territories.

Alfred Mahan

An American naval officer and historian who urged American leaders to build a stronger navy and to obtain naval bases in Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Mahan was also an early proponent of building a canal through Central America to allow U.S. naval vessels to move quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Queen Liluokalani

Succeeded her brother King Kalakaua in 1891 as the leader of the Hawaiian people. She was the first and only reigning Hawaiian queen and the last Hawaiian sovereign to govern the islands. Although Liluokalani tried to regain control of lands owned by white plantation owners, she was overthrown in 1893, and the U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898.

Sanford Dole

Played an important role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. After the overthrow, Dole was elected president of the Provisional Government. He petitioned the American government to annex the Hawaiian Islands. In 1898, Hawaii became a United States territory with Dole as its first governor.

Yellow Press

Newspapers that used sensational headlines and exaggerated stories in order to promote readership.

Jingoism

Aggressive nationalism; support for warlike foreign policy.

Emilio Aguinaldo

The leader of the Filipino forces that fought for independence against Spain in the 1890s. Disillusioned with the U.S. presence in the Philippines following the war, Aguinaldo helped organize an insurrection against U.S. rule. He was captured by U.S. forces in 1901, effectively ending the Filipino's fight for independence.

Treaty of Paris

An agreement signed by the United States and Spain in 1898, which officially ended the Spanish-American War.

Insurrection

Rebellion.

Guerrilla warfare

Nontraditional combat methods.

Spheres of influence

A region dominated and controlled by an outside power.

Gentlemen’s Agreement

Pact between the United States and Japan to end segregation of Asian children in San Francisco public schools; in return, Japan agreed to limit the emigration of its citizens to the United States.

Foraker Act

Law establishing a civil government in Puerto Rico.

Platt Amendment

Set of conditions under which Cuba was granted independence in 1902, including restrictions on rights of Cubans and granting the U.S. the "right to intervene" to preserve order in Cuba.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Theodore Roosevelt's policy of creating and using, when necessary, a strong military to achieve America's goals.

Panama Canal

Human-made waterway linking the Atlantic to the Pacific across the Isthmus of Panama.

Roosevelt Corollary

President Theodore Roosevelt's reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine to keep the Western Hemisphere free from intervention by European powers.

Dollar Diplomacy

President Taft's policy of expanding American investments abroad.

Moral Diplomacy

Woodrow Wilson's statement that the U.S. would not use force to assert influence in the world, but would instead work to promote human rights.

Francisco “Pancho” Villa

A Mexican revolutionary and guerrilla leader. In 1916 Villa's forces killed 18 Americans in New Mexico, which resulted in U.S. General John J. Pershing's unsuccessful expedition into Mexico with 10,000 troops to capture and punish Villa.

Western front

Battle front between the Allies and Central Powers in western Europe during World War I.

Contraband

Goods prohibited by law or treaty from being imported or exported.

Lusitania

British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat during World War I.

Zimmermann note

Telegram written by German Foreign Minister Zimmermann proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico against the United States during World War I.

Selective service act

Act passed by Congress in 1917 authorizing a draft of men for military service.

Committee on public information

Federal government agency created during World War I to encourage Americans to support the war.

Conscientious objectors

Person whose moral or religious beliefs forbid him or her to fight in wars.

Espionage act

Act passed by Congress in 1917 enacting severe penalties for anyone engaged in disloyal or treasonable activities.

Great migration

Movement of African Americans in the twentieth century from the South to the North.

John J. Pershing

Commanded the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Europe during World War I. Earlier, he had served in the Philippines and in Mexico. After World War I, he served as chief of staff of the U.S. Army.

American Expeditionary Force

American forces in Europe during World War I.

Fourteen Points

List of terms for resolving World War I and future wars outlined by American President Woodrow Wilson.

Self-Determination

The right of people to choose their own form of government.

League of Nations

World organization established after World War I to promote peaceful cooperation among countries.

Reparations

Payment for war damages.

Irreconcilables

Isolationist senators who oppose any treaty ending World War I that had a League of Nations folded into it.