Study Guide—Ch. 7-8 Imperialism and WWI

  1. Social Darwinism: A theory that applies the concept of natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies, justifying imperialist expansion by asserting that stronger nations were destined to dominate weaker ones.

  2. Motivation for the U.S. to claim territories abroad: Economic interests, strategic military positioning, national prestige, and the belief in the cultural superiority of American ideals contributed to the U.S. motivation for territorial claims.

  3. Imperialism: The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

  4. Russo-Japanese War: A conflict between Russia and Japan (1904-1905) driven by imperial ambitions over Korea and Manchuria, marking Japan's rise as a global power.

  5. Open Door Policy: A U.S. diplomatic policy that aimed to ensure equal trading rights for all nations in China, promoting free trade and preventing colonies.

  6. Hawaii—What crop increased US interest in Hawaii?: Sugarcane was the crop that significantly increased U.S. interest in Hawaii.

  7. Liliuokalani: The last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, who opposed the annexation of Hawaii to the U.S. and was overthrown in 1893.

  8. Why did the U.S. want to acquire Hawaii?: Strategic military advantage, economic interests through sugar plantation, and a desire to expand American territory.

  9. American View of Cuban revolt: The U.S. largely sympathized with Cuban rebels fighting against Spanish rule, seeing it as a struggle for freedom and drawing public support for intervention.

  10. Roosevelt Corollary: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and protect American interests.

  11. Big Stick Policy: A diplomatic policy developed by Theodore Roosevelt that emphasized his slogan "speak softly and carry a big stick," meaning to negotiate peacefully while simultaneously threatening with military force.

  12. Protectorate/Cuba: Following the Spanish-American War, Cuba became a U.S. protectorate, meaning the U.S. would oversee its foreign affairs while allowing it local self-government.

  13. Boxer Rebellion: A nationalist uprising in China (1899-1901) against foreign influence and control, leading to an eight-nation alliance intervening to protect their interests.

  14. USS Maine: An American naval ship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, leading to public outrage and the call for U.S. intervention in Cuba.

  15. Rough Riders: A volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War, famous for their charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba.

  16. Platt Amendment: A 1901 amendment to the Cuban constitution that allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs and established a U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay.

  17. Dollar Diplomacy: A U.S. foreign policy that aimed to promote American financial interests in Latin America and Asia through economic means rather than military intervention.

  18. Moral Diplomacy: A foreign policy proposed by Woodrow Wilson that emphasized promoting democratic ideals and moral values over imperialism.

  19. Panama Canal: A significant engineering project completed in 1914 that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enabling faster maritime trade.

  20. Malaria: A tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which was a major health obstacle in the construction of the Panama Canal.

  21. How do alliances trigger a World War?: Alliances can lead to a world war by creating a situation where a conflict between two countries can draw in their allied nations, escalating the conflict into a larger, multi-national war.

  22. Allied Powers: The coalition during World War I that included countries like the U.S., France, Britain, Russia, and Italy, opposing the Central Powers.

  23. Schenck v. United States: A Supreme Court case (1919) that upheld the conviction of Charles Schenck for distributing leaflets opposing the draft during WWI, establishing the precedent that free speech is not absolute in wartime.

  24. Trench Warfare: A type of combat in which soldiers fought from deep ditches, characterized by stalemate and horrific living conditions during WWI.

  25. Neutrality and the U.S.: Initially, the U.S. maintained a neutral stance in WWI, focusing on isolationism until ultimately entering the war in 1917 due to unrestricted submarine warfare and other provocations.

  26. Lusitania: A British ocean liner sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915, killing many Americans and shifting public opinion towards intervention in WWI.

  27. Committee of Public Information: A U.S. government agency established during WWI to promote propaganda in support of the war effort and bolster public support.

  28. Liberty Bonds/War Bonds: Bonds sold to the public to finance the military operations during WWI, appealing to American patriotism for support.

  29. 14 Points: A framework outlined by President Wilson in 1918 for achieving lasting peace after WWI, emphasizing self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations.

  30. WWI Outcome/Colonialism: The war led to significant changes in colonial empires, with the collapse of empires and the redistribution of territories.

  31. Treaty of Versailles: The 1919 treaty that officially ended WWI, imposing harsh penalties and reparations on Germany.

  32. WWI Outcome/U.S.: The U.S. emerged as a global power post-WWI, with increased military and economic influence on the world stage.

  33. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The event in June 1914 that triggered the declaration of war in Europe, leading to the outbreak of WWI.

  34. Paris Peace Conference/President Wilson: The 1919 conference where the victorious Allied Powers negotiated peace terms, with Wilson advocating for his 14 Points.

  35. 1918 Sedition Act: U.S. legislation that made it a crime to speak against the government or promote disloyalty during WWI, limiting free expression.