America's Imperial Expansion: 1890-1909

Josiah Strong's Our Country

Josiah Strong's Our Country

Advocated Anglo-Saxon superiority and spreading American values.

Big Sister Policy

James G. Blaine's strategy to lead Latin American nations.

Monroe Doctrine

U.S. control in the Western Hemisphere.

Alfred T. Mahan

Author of The Influence of Sea Power upon History.

Yellow Journalism

Sensational reporting to fuel public opinion.

McKinley Tariff

Raised duties on Hawaiian sugar, prompting annexation efforts.

Queen Lili'uokalani

Hawaiian queen who rejected annexation in 1891.

Sanford B. Dole

Leader of the Hawaiian provisional government.

Cuban Insurgents

Revolted against Spanish rule in Cuba.

Butcher Weyler

Spanish general known for harsh tactics in Cuba.

USS Maine

Battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor, sparking war.

Teller Amendment

Pledged Cuban independence after Spanish rule.

George Dewey

Led the U.S. victory at Manila Bay in the Philippines.

Emilio Aguinaldo

Filipino resistance leader in the Philippines.

Rough Riders

Volunteer regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt.

El Caney and Kettle Hill

Sites of Rough Riders' charge in Cuba.

Puerto Rico

Spanish territory easily taken by the U.S. during the war.

Great Rapprochement

Improved relations between the U.S. and Britain in the late 19th century.

American Samoa

Territory acquired by the U.S. after near-war clashes.

Venezuela Crisis

Conflict involving the Monroe Doctrine and U.S./British relations.

Hawaii Annexation

Resulted from strategic importance during the Spanish-American War.

Manilla Bay

Location of Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet in the Philippines.

Isthmian Canal

American-built canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Scramble for Territory

U.S. participation in acquiring land during the Age of Empire.

American Sugar Lords

Imported Asian laborers for Hawaiian sugar production.

New Markets

Sought for American goods to relieve population and wealth pressures.

American Values

Spread by missionaries and promoted in foreign territories.

Naval Race

Competition for sea dominance among major powers.