APUSH - UNIT 3 Imperialism

Alaska Purchase / Seward's Folly (1867)

William Seward bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Mocked as useless, but its gold, oil, natural resources and strategic Pacific location made it valuable. An early example of American expansion.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Declared that European powers should not establish new colonies or interfere in the Americas. Later used to justify greater American influence in Latin America.

Venezuela Boundary Dispute (1895)

Britain and Venezuela disputed their border. The US intervened using the Monroe Doctrine, showing it was willing to challenge European powers in the Western Hemisphere.

Annexation of Hawaii (1898)

The US took control of Hawaii for its sugar interests, Pacific trade and naval position. Helped America expand into the Pacific.

Queen Liliuokalani

The last Hawaiian monarch, overthrown in 1893 by American-backed businessmen. Her overthrow paved the way for US annexation in 1898.

Josiah Strong

Protestant minister who argued Anglo-Saxon Americans had a religious duty to spread Christianity and civilization. Used religious and racial beliefs to justify imperialism.

Alfred T. Mahan

Naval strategist who argued powerful nations needed strong navies, overseas bases and international trade. Influenced US expansion and naval buildup.

Spanish-American War (1898)

War between Spain and the US, partly driven by Cuban independence, yellow journalism and the USS Maine explosion. US victory made America an overseas imperial power.

Jingoism

Aggressive nationalism and support for military action. Helped create public support for war against Spain.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalised and exaggerated newspaper reporting. Increased anti-Spanish feelings and encouraged Americans to support war.

De Lôme Letter (1898)

Spanish ambassador criticised President McKinley as weak. Publication angered Americans and increased tensions with Spain.

USS Maine (1898)

American battleship exploded in Havana Harbor, killing over 260 sailors. Spain was blamed without conclusive proof, increasing pressure for war.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

Ended the Spanish-American War. Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the US, while Cuba became independent under strong US influence.

Teller Amendment (1898)

Promised the US would not annex Cuba and would allow it to become independent after the war. Connected to American claims that it was fighting to liberate Cuba.

Platt Amendment (1901)

Allowed US intervention in Cuba and secured American influence, including the Guantanamo Bay naval base. Contradicted the idea of complete Cuban independence.

Philippines

Acquired from Spain in 1898 for $20 million. Became a US territory, giving America a strategic position in Asia, but led to Filipino resistance.

Puerto Rico

Acquired from Spain in 1898. Remained a US territory, demonstrating America's growing overseas empire.

Guam

Acquired from Spain in 1898. Important Pacific naval and military base between Hawaii and the Philippines, helping America project power across the Pacific.

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino independence leader who fought Spain and then the US when America refused to grant Philippine independence. Led resistance in the Philippine-American War.

Philippine-American War (1899–1902)

War between Filipino independence fighters and the US after America took control of the Philippines. Demonstrated the contradiction between American freedom ideals and imperialism.

Anti-Imperialist League

Group opposing American overseas expansion. Argued that ruling foreign populations without their consent contradicted American democratic principles.

Insular Cases (1901–1904)

Supreme Court decisions ruling that constitutional rights did not automatically apply in full to all US territories. Helped justify American control of overseas possessions.

Spheres of Influence

Areas of China where foreign powers had special economic and trading privileges. Threatened American access to Chinese markets.

John Hay

US Secretary of State who proposed the Open Door Policy to protect American trading opportunities in China.

Open Door Policy (1899–1900)

Proposed equal trading access to China for all nations. The US wanted access to Chinese markets without colonising China itself.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

Chinese uprising against foreign influence and Christianity. Foreign powers, including the US, sent troops to suppress it. Demonstrated resistance to imperialism.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Theodore Roosevelt's approach: negotiate peacefully but maintain strong military power to enforce American interests. Based on the idea of speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

Panama Canal (1904–1914)

Built with US support across Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Made trade and naval movement faster and strengthened US global power.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904)

Expanded the Monroe Doctrine by claiming the US could intervene in Latin America to prevent European intervention. Established America as a regional police power.

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

War between Russia and Japan over influence in East Asia. Roosevelt negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth, winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Gentlemen's Agreement (1907)

Informal agreement in which Japan restricted Japanese labor immigration to the US, while America addressed discrimination against Japanese children in San Francisco schools.

Dollar Diplomacy (Taft)

Used American loans, investments and businesses to increase US influence abroad. Economic power instead of relying primarily on military force.

Moral Diplomacy (Wilson)

Claimed the US should support democracy and moral governments abroad. However, Wilson still intervened militarily in several countries.

William Jennings Bryan

Anti-imperialist politician who opposed US control of the Philippines, arguing imperialism contradicted American democratic principles.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Republican senator and expansionist who supported American imperialism and a strong military. Later opposed the League of Nations treaty without reservations.

Jones Act (1916) – Philippines

Promised eventual Philippine independence and established a more representative government. Showed a shift toward eventual self-government.

Jones-Shafroth Act (1917) – Puerto Rico

Granted US citizenship to Puerto Ricans and established a more representative government. Puerto Rico remained a US territory.