Imperialism Identification

Jeremy Keeshin Chapter 21- Imperialism- Identifications James G Blaine was a member of the House of Representatives and later a senator for Maine, and influential Secretary of State. He supported Tariff Reciprocity, which would change the trade from the Latin American countries with Europe to the United States. This was significant because it helped bolster foreign relations and exports. William Seward was an ambitious imperialistic Secretary of State who was responsible for the purchase of Alaska in what was known as “Seward’s Folly.” He was significant because his aggressive tactics ushered in an age of American imperialism. The Hawaii Annexation was made official when President McKinley signed it on July 7, 1898 making the former protectorate and republic an American colony. The reason it was significant was because the annexation of Hawaii had long been a goal as it was a good intermediary in Pacific trade. Alfred Thayer Mahan was a persuasive American naval officer and strategist who authored the books The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783 and The Interest of America in Sea Power. He was significant because his ideas helped build naval strength before World War I. Yellow Journalism was sensationalist and exaggerated writing to increase sales. It was significant because it stirred up ideas right before the Spanish American War. Remington contributed many illustrations to Hearst and the yellow press. The de Lôme letter was an intercepted letter published by the yellow press that criticized McKinley. It was significant because it got raised sentiment for the Cubans and against the Spanish leading to the war. The USS Maine was a ship that exploded and sank in the Cuban harbor of Havana and killed 266. It was significant because many people thought it was Spain (although it most likely wasn’t) and helped as a catalyst to the war. The Teller Amendment said after that the United States would give Cuba independence and did not intend to annex the island. It was significant because it caused Spain to cease relations and led to the war. George Dewey was a naval officer who won a major victory at Manila Bay in the Philippines against the Spanish. He was significant because he was the first prominent war hero of the war.

Jeremy Keeshin William Jennings Bryan headed up a regiment in the Spanish American War but later resigned after Wilson entered the war and was imperialistic. He was significant because he was continuously pressing his point about imperialism but was unable to in the 1900 election. The Anti-Imperialistic League was a group founded to oppose the annexation of the Philippines and other territories. They were significant because while backing Bryan in the 1900 election, they revealed the feeling of much of the country about the war, and later opposed the Treaty of Paris. Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of a Filipino revolt against Spanish and American rule. He was significant because he was a major leader in the Philippine-American War. The Platt Amendment was a replacement to the Teller Amendment and a change to the Cuban Constitution that said it would not make treaties with other nations or get a debt. It was significant because it set out future Cuban diplomacy. Secretary of State John Hay under McKinley asked major countries at the time to join the Open Door Policy, which dealt with equality under spheres of influence. It was significant because it was initially rejected but accepted after the Boxer Rebellion and helped relations in China.