Spanish-American War and WWI Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, people, and events related to the Spanish-American War and World War I.

Spanish-American War

A short 1898 war between the U.S. and Spain resulting in U.S. control of former Spanish territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Imperialism

When a country gains power by controlling land and people outside its own borders.

Isolationism

The policy of staying out of other countries’ problems and avoiding alliances.

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy stating that all nations should have equal access to trade with China.

Yellow Journalism

A style of exaggerated or sensational news reporting that helped push the U.S. into the Spanish-American War.

Sinking of the Lusitania

In 1915, a German submarine sank the British ship Lusitania, killing over 100 Americans and turning public opinion against Germany.

M-A-N-I-A

An acronym for the causes of WWI: Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 peace treaty that officially ended WWI, punishing Germany and setting the stage for future conflict.

League of Nations

An international organization proposed by President Wilson to help countries solve problems peacefully, but the U.S. never joined.

Theodore Roosevelt

Led the U.S. to become a world power and believed in using military strength to protect American interests abroad.

William Randolph Hearst

A newspaper owner who used yellow journalism to influence public opinion and fuel support for the Spanish-American War.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary whose assassination in 1914 sparked World War I.

Woodrow Wilson

President during WWI who pushed for U.S. entry to “make the world safe for democracy” and proposed the League of Nations.

Militarism (Cause of WWI)

Building up armies and military strength.

Alliances (Cause of WWI)

treaties between nations.

Nationalism (Cause of WWI)

Pride in one’s country.

Imperialism (Cause of WWI)

Competition for colonies and territories.