American Imperialism and the Annexation of Hawaii Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key historical figures, events, policies, and concepts related to American imperialism, the annexation of Hawaii, the Spanish-American War, and the Panama Canal.

King David Kalakaua

Hawaiian monarch who granted the United States exclusive rights to use Pearl Harbor for a naval station.

Queen Liliuokalani

Queen of Hawaii whose major goal upon taking the throne was to create a new constitution that would strengthen the monarchy and restore power to Native Hawaiians.

Sanford Dole

Leader of the provisional government formed after Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown in 1893, who created the Republic of Hawaii which was annexed by the U.S. in 1898.

Grover Cleveland

U.S. President who was opposed to Sanford Dole and against the annexation of Hawaii.

William Seward

U.S. Secretary of State who convinced the president to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867.

George Dewey

American commander who steamed his squadron of vessels into Manila Bay.

William McKinley

U.S. President who approved the annexation of Hawaii, served during the Spanish-American War, and decided to keep the Philippines.

Captain Alfred Mahan

Naval captain who believed future prosperity depended on foreign trade and that the U.S. needed a large navy to protect trading vessels and acquire naval bases.

Joseph Pulitzer

Publisher who worked with William Randolph Hurst to use yellow journalism to sway American feeling and build support for the Spanish-American War.

William Randolph Hurst

Publisher who worked with Joseph Pulitzer on yellow journalism and influenced hatred toward the Spanish, saying, "You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war."

Jose Marti

Cuban patriot who launched a war for independence from Spain.

Valeriano Weyler

Spanish general operating in Cuba during the Cuban struggle for independence.

Yellow Journalism

A style of newspaper reporting relying on exaggerated claims and fake rumors rather than facts, which contributed to the Spanish-American War by overstating events in Cuba and stirring up demands for military intervention.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

Agreement that ended the Spanish-American War in 1898, through which the United States acquired overseas territories and shifted to an imperialist foreign policy.

Boxer Rebellion

An anti-foreign uprising in China.

Hawaiian Sugar Economy

Crucial aspect of trade in Hawaii where Americans owned almost all sugar plantations, the importance of which increased during the Civil War due to limited plantation accessibility.

U.S. Economic Alliance with Hawaii

Economic partnership formed by the U.S. with the Kingdom of Hawaii to secure sugar trade profits, stop European powers from taking over the Pacific, and gain a naval foothold.

Hawaiian Opposition to Annexation

Objections by Native Hawaiians fearing the loss of their land, government, culture, and independence, alongside concerns over tax increases, job loss, and being brought into wars.

Panama Canal Construction Difficulties

Challenges that made building the Panama Canal difficult, including deadly tropical diseases, mountainous terrain, and a bad engineering plan.

Panama Canal Completion Factors

Elements that enabled U.S. success in completing the canal, including controlling tropical diseases, switching to a good engineering design, and utilizing advanced, heavy machinery.