1. Spanish-American War

The conflict between the U.S. and Spain which helped Cuba gain its

independence from Spain in 1898.

2. U.S.S. Maine

An American warship which exploded in Cuba’s Havana

Harbor and became a catalyst to declaring war on Spain.

3. “World Power”

A nation that holds several territories, has a large and

powerful military, has a wealthy economy, and comes to the

defense/aid of weaker nations.

4. “Yellow Journalism”

Sensationalized, biased, and often false reporting which became a

major cause of the Spanish-American War.

5. Territory

Land that is controlled and governed by a

foreign country.

6. Theodore Roosevelt The 26th president

of the U.S. –he was known as a progressive, an imperialist, a trust-buster,

naturalist, and is responsible for the

building of the Panama Canal.

7. “Big Stick” Diplomacy

Philosophic belief that the

U.S. should respond to a

foreign crisis not with threats, but

with military action.

8. Panama Canal A canal built by the U.S. through the isthmus of Panama

linking the Atlantic and

Pacific Oceans.(Opened Aug. 15,

1914).

9. “Foreign Policy”

Policies decided on by a nation in how it will deal with other countries, in order to achieve

national goals.

10. Roosevelt Corollary The U.S. claimed

the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin

America whenever those

nations were threatened or

seemed unstable.

11. “Police Power”

The power of a nation to regulate the conduct of its citizens and the citizens of

other nations in the interest of the “common good.”

12. Monroe Doctrine

The 1823 U.S. doctrine which

stated that European

countries should not consider North

and South America as future

areas for colonization.

13. Latin America

The portion of the western

hemisphere that includes South

America, Central America,

Mexico, and certain islands in the Caribbean.

14. Assert

To strongly state or assure with

confidence one’s opinion as correct.

15. Advocate

To be in favor, support of, to urge, or

recommend publicly an opinion.