Imperialism Vocab 1-26

  • Commodore George Dewey: A U.S. naval officer who is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Dewey's fleet destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet, which was a pivotal moment in the war, leading to the U.S. taking control of the Philippines.

  • Battle of Manila Bay: A naval battle on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Commodore George Dewey's U.S. Navy defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, Philippines. This victory marked the beginning of U.S. intervention in the Spanish colonies and resulted in the U.S. taking control of the Philippines.

  • Battle of San Juan Hill: A famous battle fought on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders, led by Theodore Roosevelt, and other U.S. forces captured the strategically important San Juan Hill in Cuba. This victory, combined with the capture of other key positions, was instrumental in defeating Spanish forces on the island.

  • Annexation of Hawaii: The process by which the United States formally acquired the Hawaiian Islands in 1898. After the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, the U.S. established a military presence in Hawaii. The annexation was justified by the U.S. as part of its imperialist ambitions in the Pacific, and Hawaii became a U.S. territory.

  • Treaty of Paris (1898): The treaty that officially ended the Spanish-American War, signed on December 10, 1898. Under the treaty, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. It also granted Cuba its independence, though the U.S. would later exert significant control over the island.

  • Platt Amendment: An amendment to the Cuban constitution, passed in 1901, that outlined the conditions for U.S. intervention in Cuba. It gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to preserve independence and maintain law and order. It also allowed for the establishment of a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, which remains in use today.

  • Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay: These were territories acquired by the United States as a result of the Treaty of Paris (1898), following the Spanish-American War.

    • Philippines: Acquired by the U.S. for $20 million, sparking a debate over imperialism. The Philippines would later fight for independence in the Philippine-American War (1899–1902).

    • Guam: A small island in the Pacific, ceded to the U.S. by Spain. It remains a U.S. territory.

    • Puerto Rico: An island in the Caribbean, also ceded to the U.S. by Spain, and it remains an unincorporated U.S. territory.

    • Guantanamo Bay: A naval base established in Cuba, which remains under U.S. control due to the Platt Amendment. It became infamous in the 21st century due to its use as a detention facility.

  • “The American Lake”: A term used to describe the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean as areas of U.S. dominance and influence. Following the Spanish-American War, the U.S. began to exert control over several territories in these regions, which were considered vital for U.S. military and economic interests.

  • Jingoism: A form of extreme nationalism and aggressive foreign policy, characterized by the belief that a nation should use force to promote its interests abroad. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, jingoism was common in the U.S. and was a driving force behind imperialist actions, including the Spanish-American War.

  • Alabama: Refers to the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship used during the Civil War. After the war, it became a key point in a dispute between the United States and Britain, known as the Alabama Claims, where the U.S. demanded compensation for damages caused by the ship, eventually leading to the Treaty of Washington (1871).

  • Secretaries of State: William H. Seward, Elihu Root, John Hay: These are U.S. government officials who played significant roles in foreign policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    • William H. Seward (Secretary of State 1861–1869) is famous for orchestrating the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, known as Seward's Folly.

    • Elihu Root (Secretary of War, 1899–1904; Secretary of State, 1905–1909) helped to shape U.S. foreign policy with a focus on diplomacy and military readiness.

    • John Hay (Secretary of State, 1898–1905) is known for his Open Door policy in China and his efforts to maintain peaceful relations with European powers.

  • Seward’s Folly: Refers to the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, which was initially criticized by many as a waste of money. However, it was later seen as a significant acquisition due to Alaska's natural resources.

  • Josiah Strong, Our Country: Josiah Strong was a Christian minister and writer who argued that the U.S. had a duty to spread American civilization and Christianity to "inferior" nations. His book Our Country (1885) was influential in promoting imperialist ideology, particularly the idea of the "Anglo-Saxon" mission.

  • Pan-Americanism and James G. Blaine: Pan-Americanism refers to the idea of cooperation among the nations of the Americas. James G. Blaine, U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents Garfield and Harrison, was a key advocate of Pan-Americanism. He sought to expand U.S. influence in Latin America through diplomacy and trade agreements, including the creation of the Pan-American Union.

  • Queen Liliuokalani: The last monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, ruled from 1891 until 1893, when she was overthrown in a coup backed by American business interests. Her overthrow paved the way for the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898.

  • Cleveland and Hawaii: President Grover Cleveland opposed the annexation of Hawaii after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, calling for the restoration of the queen to the throne. However, his efforts were unsuccessful, and Hawaii was annexed under President McKinley.

  • Alfred T. Mahan, The Influence of Seapower upon History (1890): Alfred Thayer Mahan was a U.S. naval officer whose book argued that national greatness was closely tied to the control of international trade routes and a powerful navy. His ideas significantly influenced U.S. imperialism and naval expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

  • Venezuela boundary dispute (1895): A territorial dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana (a British colony), which the U.S. became involved in. The U.S. supported Venezuela's claim and used the Monroe Doctrine to pressure Britain into resolving the conflict, ultimately leading to an arbitration agreement.

  • “White Man’s Burden”: A phrase coined by Rudyard Kipling in a poem, which suggested that it was the duty of white Europeans and Americans to "civilize" non-Western people through imperialism and colonization. It was used to justify colonialism and the oppression of indigenous populations.

  • Yellow journalism: A style of sensational, exaggerated, and often misleading news reporting, which was used to sway public opinion. It played a major role in generating support for the Spanish-American War, particularly through the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

  • William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer: Two influential newspaper publishers in the late 19th century who used yellow journalism to gain readers and influence public opinion. Hearst owned the New York Journal and Pulitzer owned the New York World. Their rivalry played a significant role in pushing the U.S. toward war with Spain.

  • Reconcentration policy: A Spanish policy during the Cuban War for Independence (1895–1898), implemented by General Valeriano Weyler. It involved forcibly relocating Cuban civilians into camps to prevent them from supporting insurgents. This policy was widely condemned and helped fuel anti-Spanish sentiment in the U.S.

  • Maine: The U.S. battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba, in 1898, leading to the deaths of 266 American sailors. The cause of the explosion was unclear, but yellow journalism blamed Spain, contributing to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

  • de Lome letter: A letter written by the Spanish ambassador to the U.S., Enrique Dupuy de Lome, which criticized President William McKinley, calling him weak. The letter was intercepted and published in the U.S. press, inflaming anti-Spanish sentiment and contributing to the start of the Spanish-American War.

  • Teller Amendment: An amendment to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain in 1898, stating that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the war but would instead support Cuban independence. This reassured those who feared U.S. imperialism in the Caribbean.

  • Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Riders: The Rough Riders were a volunteer cavalry regiment during the Spanish-American War, led by Theodore Roosevelt. The regiment played a key role in the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba, making Roosevelt a national hero and helping to propel him to the presidency.