Unit 1: US on the Home Front

Big Stick Policy

Talk little and carry big power; threaten others if they act unfavorably; military might used to enforce influence in the Western Hemisphere

Roosevelt Corollary

The belief that the United States can interfere in Latin America to prevent European interference

Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy

The policy where the US provides loans and investments to ensure military bases, fostering stability and protecting American interests

Monroe Doctrine

The principle that the U.S. will not tolerate any European colonization in the Americas

china’s open door policy

Policy ensuring that China would remain open to trade with all countries; US sought control and influence in China

Cuba/spanish- american war

Conflict driven by the need for natural resources and to assert dominance, marked by the explosion of the USS Maine.

Panama Canal

A crucial trade route that facilitated faster maritime travel and promised support to Mexico

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret communication proposing a military alliance between Germany and Mexico against the U.S

Lusitania

A British ship whose sinking by Germany served as a catalyst for US entry into WW l

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, indicating both sides would refrain from further attacks

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended WWI; it punished Germany and established the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts

Ratification Debate: Treaty of Versailles

The Senate’s reluctance to approve the Treaty due to fears of entanglement in international conflicts

Economic Development

Refers to the need for raw materials, markets, and tariffs to facilitate trade and growth

Raw Materials

Essential resources like sugar required for

economic production

Markets

Increasing need for markets due to growth in industrial and agricultural output

Tariffs

Taxes imposed on exports and imports, affecting trade relations with countries like Mexico,Canada, and Cuba.

Muckrakers

Progressive journalists in the early 1900s who exposed corruption and societal issues.

Yellow Journalism

A type of journalism that romanticizes war and promotes war.

Role of women

Increased visibility of women’s contributions during and after wartime; related to the 19th amendment

Social Darwinism

A sociological theory using “survival of the fittest” to justify social hierarchies and inequalities

Military segregation

The enforced separation of Black individuals within the military.

isolationism

The U.S. policy post-WWI of avoiding international involvement in European and Asian politics.

Nationalism

Pride in one’s nation that can lead to military enlistment and a strong patriotic sentiment.

war propaganda

Use of imagery and messaging to promote war efforts, typically invoking patriotic appeals.

Expansion of Government Power in Wartime

Increase in government authority during war, exemplified by the Sedition Act

Selective Service

The requirement for men aged 21-45 to register for the military draft

Rationing

The practice of limiting the amount of food persons can consume to help support wartime efforts