Amsco AP US History Chapter 20

Key Figures in U.S. Expansion

• William Seward: Secretary of State who purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, enhancing U.S. territory.
• Napoleon III: French Emperor who withdrew troops from Mexico due to U.S. military threats.
• James G. Blaine: Advocated for U.S. leadership in Latin America and organized the Pan-American Conference.
• Richard Olney: As Secretary of State, he asserted the Monroe Doctrine in the Venezuela boundary dispute.
• Valeriano Weyler: Spanish General known for his brutal tactics in Cuba, earning the nickname "Butcher".

Key Events and Policies

• Alaska Purchase: Also known as "Seward's Folly", a strategic acquisition that expanded the U.S. West.
• Spanish-American War (1898): Conflict driven by U.S. support for Cuban independence and fueled by yellow journalism.
• De Lome Letter: A leaked Spanish ambassador's letter that criticized President McKinley and inflamed public sentiment for war.
• Maine Explosion: The sinking of a U.S. battleship in Havana Harbor that sparked calls for war against Spain.
• Teller Amendment: Legislation ensuring the U.S. would not annex Cuba post-war.

U.S. Imperialism and Foreign Relations

• New Imperialism: Describes the late 19th and early 20th-century wave of colonial expansion by Western powers, including the U.S.
• International Darwinism: The idea that nations must compete for resources and territories to demonstrate strength.
• Jingoism: An extreme nationalist sentiment pushing for aggressive military policies.
• Anti-Imperialist League: An organization opposing U.S. expansion and imperialism.

U.S. Policies and Agreements

• Open Door Policy: Promoted equitable trade in China, ensuring no single nation monopolized Chinese markets.
• Big Stick Policy: Roosevelt's diplomatic approach of negotiating peacefully while leveraging military power if necessary.
• Dollar Diplomacy: Taft's strategy of using economic power to influence foreign affairs, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Key Conflicts and Military Actions

• Boxer Rebellion: Anti-foreign uprising in China that the U.S. intervened in to protect its interests.
• Panama Canal: Constructed from 1904-1914 to facilitate maritime trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• Mexican Civil War: Wilson refused to support Huerta's dictatorship, resulting in increased tensions with Mexico, including the Tampico incident.
• Pancho Villa Expedition: U.S. military pursuit of the revolutionary leader Villa, highlighting tensions in U.S.-Mexico relations.

Legislative and Political Developments

• Platt Amendment: Restricted Cuban sovereignty and allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs.
• Jones Act: Established a path to independence for the Philippines once a stable government was achieved.
• Gentlemen's Agreement: An accord between the U.S. and Japan to limit Japanese immigration in exchange for the repeal of discriminatory laws.

Important Treaties and Conferences

• Treaty of Portsmouth: Ended the Russo-Japanese War; Roosevelt's mediation earned him a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Hay-Pauncefote Treaty: Granted the U.S. rights to construct and control a Central American canal without British involvement.
• Root-Takahira Agreement: Established mutual respect for territories in the Pacific and support for the Open Door policy.

Notable Policies and Their Impact

• Moral Diplomacy: Wilson's approach that emphasized human rights and democracy over military intervention.
• Lodge Corollary: Expanded the Monroe Doctrine to exclude non-European powers from the Western Hemisphere.