An Emerging World
Power
Chapter 11
Vocabulary
1890-1917
Imperialism
•The economic and political domination of
a strong nation over other weaker nations.
•Part II and III on your own.
Alfred T. Mahan
• An officer in the US Navy who
taught at the Naval War college.
• Expressed the argument that in
order to compete internationally,
the US must build up its navy and
acquire overseas bases.
• The Influence of Sea Power Upon
History, 1660-1783.
Yellow Journalism
•Sensationalist reporting, in
which writers often exaggerated
or even made up stories to
attract readers.
•Part II and III on your own.
USS Maine
•US battleship sent to Havana
harbor in case Americans
needed to evacuate Cuba.
•The Maine exploded in the
Harbor, leading Americans to
believe Spain had sunk it.
•Creates pressure for McKinley
to go to war with Spain.
Spanish American War
•War fought between the United
States and Spain over the fate of
Cuba.
•When the US defeated Spain,
they acquired new overseas
territories, becoming an
imperial power.
Rough Riders/ Theodore
Roosevelt
• Volunteer Calvary unit that assisted in
the capture of San Juan Hill in the
Spanish American War.
• TR was second in command of these
troops…he had resigned his post as
assistant secretary of the navy to fight.
• Accompanying the Rough Riders in
their attack were the all-black 9th and
10th Cavalry Regiments.
Teller Amendment
•Passed by Congress as part of
the Spanish American war
declaration.
•Prevented the US from taking
possession of Cuba, but did not
apply to the Philippines.
Platt Amendment
•Amendment to the Cuban constitution
that essentially gave the U.S. power over
the government of Cuba.
•The Platt Amendment goverened
relations between the US and Cuba until
1934.
•In effect, it made Cuba an American
protectorate.
Protectorate
•A relationship of protection and
partial control (but not by
possession) of a weaker country
by a stronger country.
•Usually determined by treaty.
Open Door Policy
•Policy supported by President
McKinley and Secretary of
State John Hay.
•Stated that all countries should
be allowed to trade with China.
Boxer Rebellion
• A rebellion in 1900 in which members of a secret
Chinese society (the Boxers) rose up to wipe out the
“foreign devils” and their Christian converts, whom
they believed were corrupting Chinese society.
• During the rebellion, foreign embassies in Beijing
were attacked killing more than 200 foreigners and
taking more prisoner.
• Eventually, an international force that included US
Troops stepped in and quelled the rebellion.
Panama Canal
• Roosevelt and others viewed the
construction of a canal through Central
America as vital to American power in
the world.
• A canal would save both time and $$ for
commercial and military shipping.
• In 1903, after a US supported
Panamanian revolt, the US acquired the
Panama Canal Zone.
Roosevelt Corollary
to the Monroe Doctrine
• Roosevelt announced in 1904 that in
order to prevent European nations from
sending troops to the Caribbean or
Central America, the US would intervene
in Latin American affairs when necessary
to maintain stability in the Western
Hemisphere.
• Part II and III on your own
Big Stick Diplomacy/
Roosevelt
• Roosevelt’s foreign policy plans for Latin
America.
• Basically, TR believed that the US had the
right to use its military to become a
international police power over the
Western Hemisphere.
• Relied on a strong military.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick…”
Dollar Diplomacy/ Taft
• “substituting dollars for bullets.”
• Based on the idea that if American
business leaders supported Latin
American development, everyone would
benefit.
• American businesses would increase
profits, Latin America would rise out of
poverty and disorder and European
nations would have no reason to
intervene in the region.
Missionary/Moral Diplomacy
Wilson
• Wilson promised that the United
States would “never again seek one
additional foot of territory by
conquest” but would instead work to
promote “human rights, national
integrity, and opportunity.”
• Wanted to create “friendships” with
Latin American countries.
• Still used the military on a number of
occasions.