Imperialism & WWI Vocab (No images)

Foreign Policy

A nation's strategy and goals for their interactions and relationships with other countries

Diplomacy

Negotiation between nations (making treaties, etc.)

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power, territory, and influence through military force, colonization, economic pressure, or diplomacy.

Westward Expansion

A process undertaken in the 1800s in which settlers began moving westward beyond the Appalachian Mountains into Native territory & the land controlled by the U.S. increased dramatically.

*President James Monroe (1817-1825)*

The 5th President of the United States (1817-1825). Under his presidency, Florida was gained by the U.S. from Spain (1819), and he also outlined the Monroe Doctrine (1823), declaring U.S. opposition to European interference in the Americas.

*Monroe Doctrine (1823) *

5th President James Monroe explained this foreign policy in 1823 to European powers, stating that they should not further colonize or interfere with Latin American countries, as they were in the U.S,'s "sphere of interest."

Manifest Destiny

The widespread belief in the 1800s that it was "meant to be" (God's plan) for white Americans to expand the United States territory westward to spread their culture and get more land.

*President James K. Polk (1845-1849)*

11th president of the US who believed strongly in "Manifest Destiny." Focused on expansion in the west through treaties & war with Mexico.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

President James K. Polk provoked this war by ordering U.S. troops into disputed territory between Texas and Mexico. The U.S. won the war and vastly increased its territory in the west, adding 6 states.

Native Boarding Schools

These were institutions found in both the United States & Canada. Students were native children who had been taken from their families and were forced to assimilate or change to fit into white American culture.

*Seward's Folly (1867)*

Secretary of State William Seward arranged to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million

- many Americans thought it was a waste of money

- after gold was discovered there in the 1890s, people started realize how many resources were available

Spanish-American War (1898)

Conflict between the U.S. and Spain that began the rise of the U.S. as a world power. The U.S. gained possession of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as a result.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of avoiding involvement or interference with the internal affairs & interests of other countries.

Interventionism

A foreign policy characterized by a nation's willingness to intervene in international situations and foreign’ countries internal affairs in order to influence outcomes.

Annexation

The adding of a region to the territory of an existing political unit. For example, Hawaii was "annexed" by the U.S. in 1898.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country combined with a distinct feeling of a national identity, a desire for independence, and a goal to get more power for your nation.

Queen Liliuokalani (LILY-OOH-OH-KUH-LAWNY)

The Hawaiian queen who was illegally overthrown by American business leaders in 1893.

reservation

land set aside by the United States government for Native Americans after they were kicked off their territory

economic

factors relating to trade, industry, jobs, resources, and money

Capitalism

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners to make money, rather than run by the government

*President Grover Cleveland*

22nd & 24th president of the U.S. Cleveland was mostly against the annexation of Hawaii and intervention in Cuba.

*President William McKinley (1897-1901)*

25th president of the United States. Was in power during: Spanish-American War (1898), and annexation of Hawaii (1898)

*President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)*

26th president of the U.S. -protected national parks

-advocated for U.S. intervention and involvement in other countries in the Western Hemisphere

Platt Amendment (1901)

After invading Cuba, the U.S. successfully pressured the Cuban government to write this rule into their constitution, limiting its treaty-making abilities, controlling its debt, and claiming that the U.S. could intervene militarily to restore order when it saw fit.

*Roosevelt Corollary*

Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force when necessary.

oppression

prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control

industry

economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.

*President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)*

The 28th President of the United States. He was the first President to earn a PhD, was dyslexic, and was a scholar of history & government. He believed deeply in the power of diplomacy to avoid conflict, but eventually led the country during World War I.

World War I

(1914 - 1918) European war in which an alliance including Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States defeated the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria.

COUP D'DETAT (pronounced "COO day-TAH")

When the leaders of a government are forcefully overthrown and replaced by people from within their country (often military) or by international forces.

Territories

An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state. It must follow the laws of the "mother" country, and residents may have partial political rights.

Protectorate

Country with its own government but under the control & military protection of an outside power

sovereign

Ability of a nation to govern its territory free from the control or influence of other countries.

casualties

People who are killed, wounded, captured, or missing in a war

Lusitania

The name of a British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, resulting in the deaths of over 1,100 people, including 128 Americans. This event was one element that added to the United States' decision to enter World War I later, as it shifted public opinion against Germany.

Militarism

The belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. One of the “M.A.I.N.” causes of WWI.

Alliances

Agreements between nations to support & defend each other in times of conflict, which contributed to the escalation of WWI (one of the M.A.I.N. causes)

neutrality

The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or war. 

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret message that was intercepted and exposed to the U.S. in 1917. The telegram message was sent by the German government to Mexico in an attempt to get Mexico to draw the U.S. into conflict over territory & keep them from entering WWI.  

Domestic

Existing or occurring INSIDE a particular country -- not foreign or international. (For example, before the U.S. joined WWI, many Americans were opposed to joining the wa because they were more concerned with ______ issues at home in the U.S., such as the economy, race relations, social changes, etc.)

Allied Powers

An international military alliance of countries that fought in WWI, led by France, the United Kingdom, Russia, & eventually the United States, Italy, and Japan

Central Powers

An international military alliance of countries that fought in WWI,  made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to persuade audiences & promote a political cause or point of view. This is often used by governments to convince the public to support their policies or wartime efforts. 

M.A.I.N.

An acronym in which each letter stands for one of the primary causes of World War I, standing for Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

Munitions

Military weapons, ammunition, or other war-related supplies.

Espionage Act

A law passed in 1917 that imposed severe penalties for spying, interference with military operations, or aiding the enemy during World War I.

Sedition Act

A law enacted in 1918 that made it a crime to speak against the government or promote disloyalty to the U.S. during World War I.