Imperialism and Key Figures in History

Imperialism

• Policy of expanding a country's power, often through diplomacy or military force, dominating other nations
• Significant global phenomenon in late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Major powers aimed to expand territories and influence

Alfred T. Mahan

• Naval historian, argued sea power was crucial for a strong foreign policy
• Influenced American military planning, spurred a worldwide naval race
• "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" had significant impact on global politics and naval strategies

William Seward

• American politician, Secretary of State in the 1860s
• Strong advocate for American expansion
• Negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 (initially called "Seward's Folly")
• Alaska later proven to be a valuable acquisition

Queen Liliuokalani

• Last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii
• Overthrown in 1893 by American businessmen and plantation owners, with support from U.S. military
• Her overthrow was a significant step towards U.S. annexation of Hawaii

Sanford Dole

• American lawyer and jurist
• Became the first president of the Republic of Hawaii after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
• Served as first territorial governor of Hawaii after annexation by the U.S.

Pearl Harbor

• Naval base in Hawaii
• Became a key strategic location for the U.S. in the Pacific after U.S. annexation of Hawaii
• Famous for Japanese attack in 1941

Jose Marti

• Cuban nationalist leader and writer
• Played key role in Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain
• His ideas and writing inspired the Cuban revolutionary movement in the late 19th century

Valeriano Weyler

• Spanish general
• Known for brutal tactics in Cuba during Cuban War of Independence
• Harsh policies, including concentration camps, fueled anti-Spanish sentiment in the U.S.
• Contributed to American intervention

Yellow Journalism

• Sensationalist and exaggerated reporting style
• Prevalent in American newspapers during the 1890s
• Played a significant role in drumming up public support for the Spanish-American War

USS Maine

• American naval ship that exploded in Havana harbor in 1898
• Blamed on Spain, without clear evidence, served as a catalyst for the Spanish-American War

George Dewey

• American naval commander
• Led the U.S. Asiatic Squadron to victory over the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay
• Crucial in establishing American control over the Philippines

Rough Riders

• Volunteer cavalry regiment
• Led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War
• Famous charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba became a symbol of American heroism and imperialism

San Juan Hill

• Site of a significant battle during the Spanish-American War
• American forces, including the Rough Riders, defeated Spanish troops
• Helped secure American control over Cuba

Treaty of Paris

• 1898 agreement that ended the Spanish-American War
• Spain ceded control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S.
• Marked the emergence of the U.S. as a colonial power

Foraker Act

• 1900 law establishing a civilian government in Puerto Rico under U.S. control
• Key step in defining Puerto Rico's status as an unincorporated territory of the U.S.

Platt Amendment

• Set of provisions added to the Cuban constitution in 1901
• Gave the U.S. right to intervene in Cuban affairs and established a naval base at Guantanamo Bay
• Effectively made Cuba a U.S. protectorate

Protectorate

• Relationship between two countries where a stronger power offers protection to a weaker state
• Often involves significant control over the weaker state's foreign policy and economy

Emilio Aguinaldo

• Filipino revolutionary leader
• Fought against Spanish rule, later led the Filipino resistance against American occupation
• His capture in 1901 marked a turning point in the Philippine-American War

John Hay

• U.S. Secretary of State
• Author of the Open Door notes
• Played a significant role in shaping American foreign policy during the Age of Imperialism

Open Door notes

• Statements issued by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 and 1900
• Called for equal opportunity for international trade in China
• Important aspect of U.S. economic imperialism in Asia

Boxer Rebellion

• Anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China
• Between 1899 and 1901
• Suppressed by an international coalition that included the U.S.
• Further solidified Western influence in China

Panama Canal

• Strategic waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
• Completed in 1914
• Major feat of American engineering and imperialism
• Involved U.S.-backed separation of Panama from Colombia

Roosevelt Corollary

• Addition to the Monroe Doctrine announced by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904
• Asserted the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and protect American interests

Dollar Diplomacy

• Foreign policy initiative under President William Howard Taft
• Sought to use American economic power to further U.S. interests abroad, particularly in Latin America and East Asia

Francisco "Pancho" Villa

• Mexican revolutionary general
• Led raids into the United States, prompting a U.S. military expedition into Mexico in 1916
• Highlighted the complexities of U.S. involvement in Latin America

John J. Pershing

• American general
• Led the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa
• Later commanded American forces in Europe during World War I
• Career exemplifies the transition of the U.S. from a regional to a global power