Imperialism History Notes

Dispossession

The act of taking land away from its original inhabitants, resulting in a systemic loss of rights, culture, and identity for Native American peoples.

Settlers

People who colonize land seized from its original inhabitants, often leading to the disruption of Indigenous cultures and societies.

Ideology

A deeply ingrained set of beliefs, values, and assumptions that govern the actions and policies of individuals and nations, often used to justify injustices.

Frontier

The extreme edge of governed territory, representing prime lands previously inhabited by Indigenous communities that were coveted for expansion.

Treaty

Official legal agreements between nations or peoples, often disregarded or violated by colonial powers.

Elites

Wealthy and powerful members of society who often influenced governmental decisions and policies, prioritizing their interests over those of Indigenous populations.

Sovereignty

The right and authority of a nation to govern itself without interference from external forces, a fundamental concept in international law and relations.

Revolutionaries

Individuals who participate in revolutionary activities with the aim of achieving independence from an oppressive regime or colonial power.

Diplomacy

The art and practice of managing international relations and conducting negotiations between nation-states.

Military Occupation

A situation where foreign military forces occupy a territory to control its affairs, often established after an armed conflict.

Manifest Destiny

A widely held belief that Americans were ordained by God to expand across the continent, asserting that this expansion was a moral duty.

White Supremacy

Racial ideologies that promoted the idea of white superiority over Native Americans, framing colonization as a benevolent act.

Indian Removal

An official policy during the early nineteenth century involving the forced relocation of Native American nations from their ancestral lands.

Homestead Act

Legislation that promoted land distribution to white settlers in the West, facilitating colonial economic establishment.

Philippine-American War

A conflict following the War of 1898 where Filipino fighters resisted U.S. colonial rule, resulting in significant violence and civilian casualties.

Treaty of Paris

The 1898 agreement that ended the Spanish-American War, resulting in Spanish cessions of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalist media practices that exaggerated stories to influence public opinion and mobilize support for war.

Reconcentrado Policy

A brutal Spanish tactic during the Cuban War that relocated rural Cubans into concentration camps to weaken revolutionary support.

Frontier Thesis

Frederick Jackson Turner's argument that westward expansion shaped American identity and democratic values.

Settler Colonialism

A form of imperialism aimed at replacing Indigenous populations with settler communities, fundamentally altering demographics and cultures.

Military Governance

The administration of occupied territories by military authorities, often established after conflicts.

Economic Opportunity

The motivations behind European colonization that included acquiring resources for agricultural development and economic gain.