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U.S. History

Key Terms

U.S. HistoryKey Terms

Key Terms

Anti-Imperialist League
a group of diverse and prominent Americans who banded together in 1898 to protest the idea of American empire building
dollar diplomacy
Taft’s foreign policy, which involved using American economic power to push for favorable foreign policies
Frontier Thesis
an idea proposed by Fredrick Jackson Turner, which stated that the encounter of European traditions and a native wilderness was integral to the development of American democracy, individualism, and innovative character
Open Door notes
the circular notes sent by Secretary of State Hay claiming that there should be “open doors” in China, allowing all countries equal and total access to all markets, ports, and railroads without any special considerations from the Chinese authorities; while ostensibly leveling the playing field, this strategy greatly benefited the United States
Roosevelt Corollary
a statement by Theodore Roosevelt that the United States would use military force to act as an international police power and correct any chronic wrongdoing by any Latin American nation threatening the stability of the region
Rough Riders
Theodore Roosevelt’s cavalry unit, which fought in Cuba during the Spanish-American War
Seward’s Folly
the pejorative name given by the press to Secretary of State Seward’s acquisition of Alaska in 1867
sphere of influence
the goal of foreign countries such as Japan, Russia, France, and Germany to carve out an area of the Chinese market that they could exploit through tariff and transportation agreements
yellow journalism
sensationalist newspapers who sought to manufacture news stories in order to sell more papers
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