Imperialism
the policy of strong nations extending political, economic, and military control over weaker nations
Extractive Economies
imperial country removed resources and sent them home
Commodities
economic goods or products before they are processed and/or given a brand name, such as a product of agriculture
Alfred T Mahan
naval officer military historian, said US needed modern navy and bases to service it; wanted canal through Central America
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
Social Darwinism
belief that only fittest survive, used to justify imperialism
Frederick Jackson Turner
said the US needed colonies to replace the frontier as "safety valve" to prevent discontent; The Significance of the Frontier in American History
Commodore Matthew Perry
sailed US fleet 1853 into Tokyo Bay, opened trade with Japan, made Japan realize they had fallen behind in military technology
Seward's Folly
1867 Sect of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million; thought to be frozen wasteland, nearly doubled size of US, natural resources
Queen Liliuokalani
the Hawaiian queen who was forced out of power by a revolution started by American business interests