American History - Chapter 5

Yellow Journalism / Press

Publications made that heightened the public dislike of the Spanish government featuring a popular comic-strip character called the Yellow Kid.

Emilio Aginaldo

Leader of the Filipino nationalist who helped defeat the Spanish army to fight for the Philippines’ freedom from Spain.

Rough Riders

Future president Theodore Roosevelt’s team of rugged westerner and upper-class easterners who relished the “strenuous life” and fought in the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Treaty of Paris

The treaty signed between the US and Spain that officially ended the war, where Spain gave up control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and also sold the Philippines for $20 million

1. Practical: the frontier was closed

2. Economic: global competitions for markets

3. National prestige

4. Military: expanded navy

5. Cultural: belief in superiority (social Darwinism)

What are five reasons for the US to become an imperial nation?

Imperialism

A policy in which stronger nations, primarily for their own benefit, extent their economic, political, and/or military influence over weaker territories

Fredrick Jackson Turner

Believed in the frontier thesis; that the US no loner had any frontier, so overseas expansion became needed.

Alfred T. Mahan

Wrote a book to urge the US to build a modern navy and get naval parts around the world to supply the ships.

Social Darwinism

The idea that the strong (imperial) survive and the weak (the colonies) are conquered, and thus is the natural way of life.

Franz Ferdinand and the assassination / catalyst for WWI

heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, who got shot by young Bostonians who thought he was a tyrant, and Bostonia belonged to Serbia.

u-boat

Submarines used by Germany to attack enemy ships and cut off supplies going to Britain

Lusitania

A British passenger liner ship that got sunk by a German U-boat without any form of defense. 1200 people died, and it led to Americans taking the allies side.

Zimmerman telegram

A note sent by the German foreign minister to Mexico that proposed an alliance with Mexico, stating that if the US declared war on Germany, Mexico should declare war on the US in exchange for old territory

1. Militarism

2. Alliances

3. Nationalism

4. Imperialism

5. Assassination

What are the five major reasons that the world fell into World War I?

Fourteen points

US president Woodrow Wilson’s plan for “just peace” ending secret alliances, ending imperialism, and reducing ‘bad’ nationalism through the creation of the league of nations. The treaty was not ratified by the US Senate.

League of Nations

Wilson’s solution for resolving international disputes to prevent future wars, enforce countries working with and respecting other countries, and ultimately promoting world peace.

Selective service act

A law that required all men between 21 and 30 to register for the military

Annexation of Hawaii (Queen Lil)

The incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands into the United States after Queen Lil got overthrown by the U.S.

Big-stick diplomacy

“Speak softly and carry a big stick” in other words, use peaceful negotiations whenever the U.S. could, but be willing to use military power when needed.

USS Maine

a second-class battleship that sank in Havana Harbor in 1898 due to an explosion, which ignited the Spanish-American War

Allies, central powers, and neutral counties (not fighting)

What are the sides fighting in WWI?

Unrestricted submarine warfare

When German u-boats gave no warning to any ship, could target any ship, and has no need to allow passengers to get off the ship safely

Woodrow Wilson

President of the U.S. during WWI who is most famous for his idealistic beliefs and the attempt to create the League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles

A treaty that ended WWI that essentially punished and restricted Germany from all types of warfare, marking their defeat.

1. They were already economically helping allies

2. Zimmerman telegram / unrestricted warfare

3. Idealistic approach: making the world better / ending conflict

3 Reasons for the U.S. to enter WWI