Untitled Flashcards Set

Alaska/Seward’s Folly

The U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, initially criticized but later valued for its resources.

Hawaii/Queen Liliuokalani

The last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown in 1893 by American businessmen, leading to Hawaii’s annexation in 1898.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Alfred T. Mahan/Influence of Sea Power Upon History

A book that emphasized the importance of naval power for national strength.

Spanish-American War (1898)

A war between the U.S. and Spain, sparked by the explosion of the USS Maine and U.S. support for Cuban independence.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized and exaggerated news reporting designed to provoke emotions and sway public opinion.

De Lôme Letter

A letter from a Spanish diplomat that insulted President McKinley, contributing to anti-Spanish sentiment in the U.S.

USS Maine

A U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, leading to U.S. intervention in the Spanish-American War.

Teller Amendment (1898)

Stated that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War.

Commodore George Dewey

Led the U.S. fleet in a decisive victory over Spain at the Battle of Manila Bay.

Theodore Roosevelt/Rough Riders

A volunteer cavalry unit led by Roosevelt that gained fame in the Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.

Annexation of the Philippines

The U.S. acquisition of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, leading to resistance from Filipino nationalists.

Anti-Imperialist League

A group that opposed U.S. expansion, particularly the annexation of the Philippines.

Insular Cases

A series of Supreme Court cases that ruled the Constitution did not automatically apply to U.S. territories.

Platt Amendment (1901)

Gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuba and maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Spheres of Influence

Areas in which foreign powers had economic and political control, particularly in China.

Open Door Policy (1899)

A U.S. proposal advocating equal trade opportunities in China.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

A Chinese uprising against foreign influence, suppressed by an international military coalition.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy emphasizing military strength to achieve diplomatic goals.

Panama Canal

A canal built by the U.S. to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, greatly enhancing trade and military mobility.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904)

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine stating the U.S. could intervene in Latin America to prevent European involvement.

Gentlemen’s Agreement (1907)

A U.S.-Japan agreement where Japan limited emigration to the U.S. in exchange for better treatment of Japanese-Americans.

Great White Fleet

A U.S. naval fleet sent on a world tour to demonstrate American power.

Dollar Diplomacy

President Taft’s policy of promoting U.S. financial investment in Latin America and East Asia instead of military intervention.

Moral Diplomacy

President Wilson’s foreign policy that emphasized supporting democratic governments and human rights abroad.

Pancho Villa and U.S. Expeditionary Force

A U.S. military expedition led by General Pershing to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa after his raids into the U.S.

Progressivism

A reform movement aiming to address social, economic, and political problems caused by industrialization.

Muckrakers

Investigative journalists who exposed corruption and social injustices.

Jacob Riis/How the Other Half Lives

A photojournalist who documented poor living conditions in urban tenements.

Upton Sinclair/The Jungle

A novel exposing unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety regulations.

Ida Tarbell/The History of Standard Oil

A journalist who exposed the monopolistic practices of Standard Oil.

17th Amendment

Allowed for the direct election of U.S. Senators.

Initiative, Referendum, Recall

Progressive reforms that gave citizens more control over government by allowing them to propose, approve, or remove laws.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic policy focused on consumer protection, corporate regulation, and conservation.

Trust-Busting

Government actions to break up monopolies and restore competition.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

A law requiring accurate labeling of food and medicine and banning harmful substances.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Established sanitary standards for meat processing and required federal inspections.

Conservation Movement

A movement led by Roosevelt to protect natural resources and create national parks.

Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Created the Federal Reserve System to regulate banking and money supply.

Clayton Antitrust Act (1914)

Strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions from being prosecuted as monopolies.

19th Amendment (1920)

Granted women the right to vote.

World War I (1914-1918)

A global conflict in which the U.S. joined the Allies in 1917.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret German message urging Mexico to attack the U.S., contributing to U.S. entry into WWI.

Selective Service Act (1917)

Established a military draft during WWI.

War Industries Board (WIB)

Coordinated industrial production during WWI.

Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917-1918)

Laws that suppressed dissent and criticism of the U.S. government during WWI.

Fourteen Points

President Wilson’s plan for postwar peace, including the League of Nations.

League of Nations

An international organization aimed at preventing future wars, which the U.S. did not join.

Red Scare (1919-1920)

A period of intense fear of communism and radical leftist movements in the U.S.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement in the 1920s celebrating African American literature, music, and art.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban North for better economic opportunities.

Prohibition (18th Amendment)

Banned the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

Scopes Trial (1925)

A trial debating the teaching of evolution in schools.

Stock Market Crash (1929)

A collapse of the stock market that triggered the Great Depression.

New Deal (1933-1939)

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s programs to provide economic relief, recovery, and reform.

Social Security Act (1935)

Established a system of pensions for retirees and unemployment insurance.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Allowed the U.S. to supply weapons to Allied nations during WWII.

Pearl Harbor (1941)

A Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base, leading to U.S. entry into WWII.

Manhattan Project

A secret project that developed the atomic bomb.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945)

Japanese cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs, leading to Japan’s surrender.

United Nations (1945)

An international organization formed to promote peace and cooperation after WWII.