Imperialism Vocab

imperialism

the policy by which strong nations extend their political, military, and economic control over weaker territories.

extractive economy

when an imperial country extracted, or removed raw materials from the colony and shipped them to the home country.

Social Darwinism

the belief that life consists of competitive struggles in which only the fittest survive.

Seward's Purchase

when Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars

Queen Liliuokalani

a determined Hawaiian nationalist who resented white planters who owned much of the Hawaiian land. She abolished the constitution that had given political power to the white minority. Shortly thereafter she was overthrown from power by the wealthy white planters with the help of the U.S. Marines.

Yellow Press

a term given to newspapers leading up to and during the Spanish American war who used sensational headlines and exaggerated stories in order to promote readership.

Rough Riders

a famous group consisting of rugged westerners and upper-class easterners who became famous for victories during the Spanish American war. Theodore Roosevelt is the most popular of these men.

Treaty of Paris

signed by Spain and the United States ending the Spanish American War in 1898. This agreement forced Spain to give up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Pacific island of Guam. It also sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.

sphere of influence

sphere of influence- a region, port or market that is dominated and controlled by an outside power.

Boxer Rebellion

a rebellion by Chinese nationalists against foreign imperialists that resulted in Europe and America sending in troops to squash the rebellion and forcing the Chinese to open their ports to trade.

Open Door Policy

a policy expressed by the United States to Europe which stated that the United States did not want colonies in China but it did want free trade there.

"Gentlemen's Agreement"

a settlement between Japan and the United States (Roosevelt) that San Francisco schools would stop segregating Asian students if Japan agreed to limit the emigration of its citizens to the United States.

Great White Fleet

a new force of navy ships that Roosevelt sent on a "good will cruise" around the world in order to demonstrate America's increased military power to the rest of the world.

Foraker Act

Foraker Act- a law establishing a civil government in Puerto Rico that allowed the President to appoint a governor and part of the Puerto Rican legislature. The rest of the legislature could be filled by Puerto Ricans in a general election.

Platt Amendment

an amendment that restricted the rights of newly independent Cubans and effectively brought the island within the U.S. sphere. The Amendment prevented Cuba from signing a treaty with another nation allowed the United States to intervene to preserve order in Cuba and required Cuba to lease naval stations to the United States.

Roosevelt Corollary

a new policy created by Teddy Roosevelt that updated the Monroe Doctrine and reasserted America's long standing policy of keeping the Western Hemisphere free from European Intervention. In turn this policy asserted the United States as the police power in Latin America and kept other nations from intervening.

Panama Canal

a man-made waterway built by the United States in Latin America that connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. When negotiations failed to buy the land from Columbia the United States sent their navy down to support a Panamanian rebellion against Columbia in order to gain control of the land.

Dollar Diplomacy

a policy created by President Taft that aimed to increase American investments in businesses and banks throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

Moral Diplomacy

a new foreign policy created by President Wilson that promised the U.S. would "never again seek one additional foot of territory by conquest" but would instead work to promote "human rights, national integrity, and opportunity." Although a noble goal Wilson still used the military to intervene when American investments were in danger in Latin America.

Big Stick Diplomacy

the foreign policy used by Teddy Roosevelt that relied on a strong military to extend American influence abroad.