KEY PEOPLE
• Alfred Mahan – Admiral of the U.S. Navy and
President of the Naval War College. He was an
advocate for American imperialism and wrote
The Influence of Sea Power upon History in
1890. He argued that to achieve world power,
the U.S. needed a strong navy. Wanted to gain
territory and build a canal to connect the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
• Theodore Roosevelt – President of the United
States and former Rough Rider during the
Spanish-American War. Issued the Roosevelt
Corollary or “Big Stick” policy declaring the U.S.
the “policeman” of the Western Hemisphere.
• Sanford Dole – Plantation owner in Hawaii who
helped lead the overthrow of Queen
Liliuokalani, led the provisional government
and became the first governor of Hawaii when
it was annexed by the U.S.
• Woodrow Wilson – President of the United
States during WWI. Proposed Fourteen Points
to end the war, reorganize Europe, and plan
for future peace. He also tried to end U.S.
interference in Latin America, but was unable
to accomplish that goal.
• Henry Cabot Lodge – (1850-1925) studied
history and political science at Harvard. Was a
friend of Theodore Roosevelt and strong
supporter of imperialism. He was a strong
opponent of the League of Nations and helped
lead the senate rejection of the Treaty of
Versailles.
• William Randolph Hearst – New York
journalist and owner of the New York Journal.
Participated in yellow journalism by
deliberately sensationalizing news stories.
• Joseph Pulitzer – A New York newspaperman
and owner of the New York World. Competed
with William Randolph Hearst using yellow
journalism to attract readers
• John Hay – U.S. Secretary of State. In 1899, he
announced the “Open Door” Policy giving
equal trading rights to all foreign nations in
China and sent notes to other countries
declaring the policy was in effect.
• General John J. Pershing – U. S. general
who led the American Expeditionary
Force (instrumental in the Battle of
Argonne Forest). Demanded that
American soldiers be well-trained before
being sent to Europe to fight in WWI.
• Alvin York – An underprivileged and
undereducated soldier from Tennessee.
Was drafted into the army at age 29. He
won the medal of honor for bravery and
his capturing of many German troops.
Armed with only a rifle and pistol, he
reportedly killed 25 German soldiers and
captured 132 prisoners
KEY EVENTS
• The Selective Service Act – issued by Congress in 1917, it registered
American men for the draft.
• Schenck v U.S.- a court case involving Charles Schenck, a Socialist
Party member who was convicted of trying to get men to resist the
draft. The Supreme court ruled that there were some limits to free
speech in cases involving
clear and present danger. The case was used as a measure for
limiting fee speech.
• Battle of Argonne Forest – One of the greatest American battles of
WWI, it occurred in 1918 in Northeastern France near the Belgian
border. The offensive lasted 6 weeks and was the final and most
important battle for the AEF.
• Treaty of Versailles – The treaty with Germany at the end of WWI.
It provided harsh terms for Germany and made them angry.
Germany had to give up land, pay for war damages, limit its military
and sign the War Guilt Clause taking blame for the war.
• DeLome Letter – A letter from the Spanish ambassador that was
published in U.S. newspapers early in 1898. It called President
McKinley weak, angering many Americans.
• Platt Agreement (also known as the Platt Amendment) – following
the Spanish-American War, it gave the U.S. the right to intervene in
Cuban affairs at any time. It was repealed in the 1930s.
• Boxer Rebellion – A rebellion in China in 1900 in which a group of
Chinese, known as Boxers, threatened the lives of foreigners
because they opposed Western influence. The U.S. was part of a
multi-national peace force that put down the rebellion.
• Zimmerman Telegram – a secret note sent to Mexico by the
German foreign minister promising U.S. land in exchange for
Mexico’s helping Germany. When it was discovered and published
in newspapers, Americans were outraged.
• Use of the American Expeditionary Force – force led by General
Pershing that was instrumental in turning the tide of the war in the
Allies favor. Fought in the Battle of Argonne forest which was the
final and decisive offensive by the Allies.
• Sinking of the Lusitania – A luxury passenger liner was sunk off the
coast of Ireland by a German submarine in 1915. More than 1000
passengers were killed, including 128 Americans. It enraged
Americans and eventually helped lead to an American declaration
of war against Germany.
• Fourteen Points – Woodrow Wilsons plan for ending the war and
“making the world safe for democracy”. The speech containing the
Fourteen Points was delivered to Congress in a special joint session
in January of 1918
• League of Nations – An organization of nations pledged to defend
each other against aggression. It was weakened when the U.S. and
Russia refused to join, even though it was one of Wilson’s Fourteen
Points.