Unit 4 Vocabulary (Imperialism & US on the Global Stage/World War I)

1. Imperialism: The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

2. Colonialism: The control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.

3. Annexation: The action of annexing something, especially territory.

4. Sphere of Influence: A country or area in which another country has power to affect developments although it has no formal authority.

5. Protectorate: A state that is controlled and protected by another.

1. USS Maine: A United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor in 1898, an event that became a major catalyst for the Spanish-American War.

2. Rough Riders: A cavalry regiment in which Theodore Roosevelt served during the Spanish-American War.

3. Treaty of Paris (1898): The treaty that concluded the Spanish-American War, with Spain relinquishing its claim over Cuba and ceding sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States.

4. Guerrilla Warfare: A form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, and mobility to fight a larger, less-mobile traditional military.

1. Yellow Journalism: A style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts.

2. Muckraker: A journalist who uncovers abuses and corruption in a society.

3. Propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

4. Tabloid: A smaller, more sensational newspaper.

1. Big Stick Diplomacy: Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy: "speak softly, and carry a big stick."

2. Monroe Doctrine: A principle of US policy, originated by President James Monroe in 1823, that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US.

3. Roosevelt Corollary: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, asserting that the U.S. might intervene in the affairs of an American republic threatened with seizure or intervention by a European country.

1. Selective Service Act: A law passed in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for military service.

2. Conscientious Objector: An individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.

3. Draft: The system for selecting individuals for conscription, or compulsory military service.

4. Pacifism: The belief that any violence, including war, is unjustifiable under any circumstances, and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.