Chapter 8 Vocabulary

foreign policy: A policy that involves choice taking, like domestic policy, but
additionally involves choices about relations with the rest of the world. The
president is the chief initiator of foreign policy in the United States.

Spanish-American War: (1898) A war between the United States and Spain over the control
of Cuba. The United States won this war and gained independence for Cuba, and control of the
Philippines; began after the sinking of the battleship USS Maine; the United States won the war
in four months, gaining control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Joseph Pulitzer: His New York World newspaper was the first newspaper to
exceed a million in circulation. Filled newspaper with stories of crimes and
disasters and feature stories about political and economic corruption; creator of
the "New York World;" cut the prices so people could afford it; featured color
comics and yellow journalism.

William Randolph Hearst: A highly successful publisher of several papers who

used yellow journalism to boost success, the most famous of which was the New
York Morning Journal. Served in the House of Representatives, and owned 28
newspapers, 18 magazines, and several other news sources and radio stations by
1935.

yellow journalism: One of the causes of the Spanish-American War (1898) - this
was when newspaper publishers like Hearst and Pulitzer sensationalized news
events (like the sinking of the Maine) to anger American public towards Spain.

De Lôme letter: Spanish Ambassador's letter that was illegally removed from the
U.S. Mail and published by American newspapers. It criticized President McKinley
in insulting terms. Used by war hawks as a pretext for war in 1898.
U.S.S. Maine: U.S. Battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898; Evidence
suggests an internal explosion, however Spanish military was framed by Yellow
Journalism; The incident was a catalyst for the Spanish American War.

Theodore Roosevelt: 1858-1919; 26th President; Increased size of Navy, "Great

White Fleet"; added Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine; "Big Stick" policy;
received Nobel Peace Prize for mediation of end of Russo-Japanese War later
arbitrated split of Morocco between Germany and France.

Imperialism: A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries

politically, socially, and economically.

Alfred Thayer Mahan: American Naval officer and historian. He is most famous for
his book "The Influence of Sea Power on History" which defined Naval strategy.
His philosophies had a major influence on the Navies of many nations resulting in
a igniting of naval races between countries.

Platt Amendment: A rider to the Army Appropriations Bill of 1901, it specified the
conditions under which the U.S. could intervene in Cuba's internal affairs, and
provided that Cuba could not make a treaty with another nation that might impair
its independence. Its provisions were later incorporated into the Cuban
Constitution.

Queen Liliuokalani: A queen of Hawaii and the successor to King Kalakaua (who
gave most control to the businessmen in Hawaii through a new constitution) that
highly opposed control of Hawaii by the U.S. and wanted to keep the islands
mainly native, reducing the power of merchants from foreign nations; forced out
of power by a revolution started by American business interests.
Sanford B. Dole: A famous lawyer and farmer who headed the effort to remove
Queen Liliuokalani from power with the U.S. Marines, declaring a Hawaiian
Republic and requesting U.S. annexation.

John Hay: Was the Secretary of State in 1899; dispatched the Open Door Notes to
keep the countries that had spheres of influence in China from taking over China
and closing the doors on trade between China and the U.S.

Open Door Policy: A policy of the United States that stated China should be open
to all nations that which to trade with them. This policy did not include the
consent of the Chinese and was another form of imperialism.

Boxer Rebellion: 1899 rebellion in Beijing, China started by a secret society of

Chinese who opposed the "foreign devils". The rebellion was ended by British
troops.

Panama Canal: A canal that crosses the isthmus of Panama connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Built by the United States between 1904 and 1914.

Big Stick Policy: Theodore Roosevelt's method for achieving American goals in the
Caribbean; it featured the threat and use of military force to promote America's
commercial supremacy, to limit European intervention in the region, and to
protect the Panama Canal.

dollar diplomacy: Foreign policy created under President Taft that had the U.S.
exchanging financial support ($) for the right to "help" countries make decisions
about trade and other commercial ventures; it was essentially exchanging money
for political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"watchful waiting": Wilson's policy towards Mexico; Mexico was going through
turbulent times and Wilson wanted to step back and see what happens rather than fix
the problems in Mexico, not get involved yet.

Pancho Villa: A popular leader during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. An outlaw in his youth,
when the revolution started, he formed a cavalry army in the north of Mexico and fought for
the rights of the landless in collaboration with Emiliano Zapata.