Period 7A APUSH (1-26)

Economic Drivers of Imperialism

Overproduction at home created a need for foreign markets and raw materials, while expanding trade helped ease domestic labor unrest.

Humanitarian & Religious Impulses

Missionary work focused on spreading Christianity and Anglo-Saxon culture overseas.

Social Darwinism in Foreign Policy

The belief that stronger, technologically advanced nations were naturally destined to rule over weaker ones.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Naval officer whose book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History urged the U.S. to build a strong steel navy and secure overseas coaling stations.

European Imperial Competition

European nations were actively partitioning Africa and establishing spheres of influence in Asia, spurring U.S. fears of being left behind.

Purchase of Alaska (1867)

Bought from Russia to maintain friendly diplomatic ties (due to Russian support in the Civil War) and for its rich resources in fish, furs, and gold.

"Big Sister" Policy

James G. Blaine’s policy aimed at rallying Latin American nations under U.S. leadership and opening their markets to American traders (leading to the 1889 Pan-American Conference).

The Great Rapprochement

The era of diplomatic reconciliation and growing alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain at the end of the 19th century, sparked by the Venezuelan boundary dispute.

Arguments FOR Annexing Hawaii

American sugar planters wanted to bypass the McKinley Tariff, and naval strategists wanted Pearl Harbor as a coaling station.

Arguments AGAINST Annexing Hawaii

Anti-imperialists and President Cleveland argued annexation was unjust because native Hawaiians opposed it and Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown unlawfully.

Foraker Act (1900)

Granted Puerto Ricans a limited degree of popular civil government (followed by full U.S. citizenship in 1917).

Insular Cases

Supreme Court rulings establishing that the U.S. Constitution does not automatically apply to newly acquired territories ("the Constitution does not follow the flag").

Causes of Spanish-American War

Public outrage over Spanish atrocities in Cuba, Yellow Journalism, the leaked Dupuy de Lôme letter, and the explosion of the USS Maine.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized and exaggerated news reporting (led by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer) that fueled American war fever against Spain.

Dupuy de Lôme Letter

A leaked private letter from the Spanish minister that insulted President McKinley, infuriating the American public.

Teller Amendment

A congressional declaration stating that once the U.S. defeated Spain, it would grant Cuba independence and leave control to its people.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

Ended the Spanish-American War: Cuba gained independence, the U.S. acquired Guam and Puerto Rico, and purchased the Philippines for $20 million.

Platt Amendment

A restriction forced into Cuba’s constitution that limited its treaty-making ability, permitted U.S. military intervention, and required leasing naval bases (Guantanamo) to the U.S.

Arguments FOR Acquiring Spain's Empire

Opened new trade access (e.g., Manila as a gateway to Asian markets), fulfilled a desire to "civilize" native populations, and boosted national prestige.

Arguments AGAINST Acquiring Spain's Empire

Violated the core democratic principle of "consent of the governed," created costly overseas military entanglements, and went against anti-imperialist values.

Necessity of the Panama Canal

To rapidly move naval warships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans (demonstrated by the USS Oregon) and to accelerate commercial shipping.

Legal/Political Canal Obstacles

Britain held prior treaty rights (resolved by the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty), and Colombia refused to sell land (overcome by supporting Panama’s revolution).

Health & Engineering Canal Obstacles

Yellow fever and malaria were controlled by Dr. William Gorgas; complex engineering and heavy excavation were directed by Colonel George Washington Goethals.

Roosevelt Corollary

An addition to the Monroe Doctrine asserting that the U.S. would act as an "international police power" in Latin America to settle debts and prevent European intervention.

Dollar Diplomacy

President Taft’s foreign policy of using Wall Street financial investments in strategic foreign areas to expand U.S. influence instead of direct military force.

Missionary (Moral) Diplomacy

President Wilson’s policy of withholding recognition from non-democratic, oppressive, or illegal regimes to encourage democracy across the Americas.

Latin American View of U.S. Interventions

Interventions created deep suspicion, resentment, and hostility toward the U.S., which was viewed as a bullying "Colossus of the North."

Open Door Notes

John Hay's diplomatic effort to prevent European powers from closing Chinese markets to U.S. trade by asking nations to preserve commercial equality and Chinese sovereignty.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

An uprising in China aimed at expelling or killing foreign invaders, traders, and Christian missionaries ("Foreign Devils") to remove foreign rule.

Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize (1906)

Awarded to Teddy Roosevelt for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War (Portsmouth Conference) and helping resolve disputes in North Africa (Algeciras Conference).

Gentlemen’s Agreement

Japan agreed to restrict laborers from emigrating to the U.S., while San Francisco agreed to desegregate its public schools for Asian students.

Great White Fleet (1907)

A fleet of 16 U.S. battleships sent on a world tour to display American naval dominance, leading directly to the Root-Takahira Agreement with Japan.

Jones Act of 1916

Granted official territorial status to the Philippines and promised full independence as soon as a stable government was established.

U.S. Action Against Victoriano Huerta

President Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s oppressive government on moral grounds and provided support to his political rivals to promote democracy.

Hunt for Francisco "Pancho" Villa

General John J. Pershing was ordered into Mexico to capture Villa after his forces executed Americans and raided Columbus, New Mexico, to provoke a war.