Key Figures, Policies, and Events in U.S. Imperialism and Progressivism

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Argued that strong navies = strong nations; influenced U.S. imperialism

Theodore Roosevelt

President; supported imperialism, Big Stick Diplomacy, Panama Canal

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino leader who fought U.S. after Spanish-American War

William Howard Taft

President after Roosevelt; promoted Dollar Diplomacy

Jingoism

Extreme patriotism and support for war

Imperialism

Policy of extending power over other countries

Spheres of Influence

Areas where nations had economic control in China

Yellow Journalism

Sensational/exaggerated news to sell papers and influence opinion

U.S.S. Maine

Ship that exploded in Cuba (1898); pushed U.S. into war

Rough Riders

Volunteer cavalry led by Roosevelt in Spanish-American War

Anti-Imperialist League

Group opposed U.S. expansion overseas

Foraker Act

Set up government in Puerto Rico (1900)

Platt Amendment

Gave U.S. control over Cuba's foreign policy

Open Door Notes

Policy supporting equal trade in China

Boxer Rebellion

Chinese uprising against foreign influence (1900)

Big-Stick Diplomacy

"Speak softly and carry a big stick" → use military power

Panama Canal

Canal connecting Atlantic & Pacific; boosted U.S. trade/navy

Roosevelt Corollary

U.S. can intervene in Latin America

Russo-Japanese War

War mediated by Roosevelt; Japan became major power

Great White Fleet

U.S. navy ships sent worldwide to show power

Dollar Diplomacy

Using money/business to influence other countries

Progressivism

Movement to fix social, political, and economic problems

Jacob Riis

Photographer who exposed poor living conditions

Lincoln Steffens

Exposed political corruption

Ida Tarbell

Exposed Standard Oil monopoly

Florence Kelley

Fought for labor laws and child protection

Upton Sinclair

Wrote The Jungle about meatpacking conditions

Eugene V. Debs

Socialist leader; supported workers' rights

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed corruption and problems

Initiative

Citizens propose laws

Referendum

Citizens vote on laws

Recall

Voters remove officials

Conservation

Careful use of natural resources

Preservationism

Protect nature from use

Yosemite National Park

Example of land preservation

16th Amendment

Federal income tax

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition (ban on alcohol)

Muller v. Oregon

Upheld laws protecting women workers

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Factory fire that led to safety laws

The Jungle

Book that exposed food industry dangers

Pure Food and Drug Act

Regulated food and medicine

New Nationalism

Roosevelt's idea: strong federal government to regulate business