APUSH Imperialism

Imperialism

Use of naval power to conquer and colonize islands and spread America's sphere of influence

Roosevelt Corollary

Roosevelt's addition to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the U.S. would intervene militarily in Latin America in order to prevent European intervention

Alfred T. Mahan

naval captain who wrote "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" arguing for a strong navy
Inspired many politicians, including TR, to promote imperialism

Darwinism

The scientific notion of "survival of the fittest," which was used to justify white American superiority and imperialism

Hawaiian Imperialism

US settlers had been building plantations and businesses on Hawaii, and they wanted to build Pearl Harbor as a naval base
Eventually, in 1893, American settlers overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. Cleveland refused to annex Hawaii, but McKinley did after the Spanish-American War in order to have a stopping point on the way to the Philippines.

Queen Liliuokalani

The Hawaiian queen who was usurped by American settlers in 1893

Stanford B. Dole

Hawaiian businessman who led the revolution against Queen Liliuokalani

Pearl Harbor

A port in Oahu where the US wanted to build a naval base. They were able to do so after the annexation of Hawaii.

General Valeriano Weyler

Spanish general who suppressed the Cuban revolutionaries. He used tactics like concentration camps, leading to American frustration and desire to get involved in the conflict.

Jose Marti

Cuban nationalist and poet who was killed in the fight for Cuban independence. He was viewed as a martyr for Cubans.

James Blaine

Republican Senator and Secretary of State under Benjamin Harrison
He advocated for "Big Sister Policy" and aided in the formation of the Pan-American Conference

Kaiser Wilhelm

Militarist emperor of Germany who played a key role in WWI

Great White Fleet

America's powerful navy that was built up under President Roosevelt.
The modern steel gunships went on a voyage around the world to show off America's new military might

McKinley Tariff and Hawaii

The McKinley Tariff made imports less profitable in order to protect American manufacturing.
In particular, Hawaiian sugar plantations were having trouble selling to the US. This is why they attempted to have Hawaii annexed so their sugar could be sold without the import tax.

USS Maine

A US ship that exploded off the coast of Havana due to a mechanical failure. The newspapers lied that Spain had attacked the ship, leading to cries for war.

De Lome Letter

A Spanish minister wrote a letter in which he called President McKinley "spineless" and "weak"
The US yellow press blew this out of proportion and claimed that the entire Spanish government disrespected the US

George Dewey

Led the US victory in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War

Rough Riders

A group of volunteer soldiers who claimed a crucial victory at San Juan Hill in Puerto Rico
While they were led by Leonard Wood, the newspapers pushed that Theodore Roosevelt was responsible for the victory

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino revolutionary who fought alongside the US to force out the Spanish
When the US in turn conquered the Philippines, Aguinaldo led an independence struggle against the US that failed

Puerto Rico

One of the Spanish possessions acquired by the US.
Puerto Ricans were granted limited rights to self-government and eventual citizenship.

Philippines

Pacific islands that the US took over after forcing the Spanish out

Guam

Pacific island acquired by the US in the war

Cuba

The Spanish-American war centered around Cuban independence
After the war, Cuba remained independent but was bullied into unfair trade deals by the US

Platt Amendment

An Amendment to the Cuban constitution that granted the US authority over their economic matters, allowing Cuba to be under unofficial US control

Foraker Act

Established limited civilian government on the newly acquired island of Puerto Rico

Open Door Policy

Secretary of State John Hay's wish for eliminating spheres of influence in China and letting nations conduct trade in China

Boxer Rebellion

a Chinese uprising that several nations, including the US, worked together to squash. Due to the US's involvement, Europeans agreed to their request for Open Door Policy

"Big Stick" Policy

Theodore Roosevelt sought to "speak softly and carry a big stick."
Using military might to get involved in foreign disputes and mediate

Panama Canal

The US orchestrated the Panamanian revolution from Colombia to then buy a large stretch of land in Panama.
They built the canal here because they needed a way to bring their fleet between the two oceans without making the precarious journey below South America

Yellow Peril

a movement of anti-Asian xenophobia in the US
There was pushback against Japanese immigration in particular during this era

Teller Amendment

An addition to the declaration of war against Spain claiming that the US did not intend to imperialize Cuba

Big Sister Policy

James Blaine's philosophy of America uniting the powers of the Americas for collective diplomacy in which the US could exert influence over Latin America

Great Rapprochement

After the Venezuela Boundary Dispute in which the US mediated a dispute involving Britain, Britain and the US agreed to a long-lasting alliance that was critical in the 20th century and continues to this day

Insular Cases

Supreme Court cases that argued "the Constitution does not follow the flag"
Full rights of US citizens did not extend to the peoples of conquered islands

Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

The US guaranteed independence for Panama in exchange for control of the large Panama Canal Zone, where they would build the canal

Gentleman's Agreement

An informal agreement between Theodore Roosevelt and the Japanese government
Roosevelt agreed to stop anti-Japanese segregation in California if Japan limited emigration to the US to only educated people

TR and the Russo-Japanese War

A war broke out because of an imperialist rivalry between Japan and Russia in East Asia. Theodore Roosevelt quickly interjected and was a mediator for the end of the war. He won the Nobel Peace Prize and solidified America's reputation as a global police force.