Spanish-American War: The conflict between the U.S. and Spain which helped Cuba gain its
independence from in 1898.
U.S.S. Maine: An American warship which exploded in Cuba’s Havana Harbor and became a catalyst to
declaring war on Spain.
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.
Yellow Journalism: Sensationalized, biased, and often false reporting which became a major cause of
the Spanish-American War.
Territory: Land that is controlled and governed by a foreign country.
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.
Big Stick Diplomacy: Philosophic belief that the U.S. should respond to a foreign crisis not with threats,
but with military action.
Panama Canal: A canal built by the U.S. through the isthmus of Panama linking the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.(Opened Aug. 15, 1914).
Foreign Policy: Policies decided on by a nation in how it will deal with other countries, in order to
achieve national goals.
Roosevelt Corollary: The U.S. claimed the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin America whenever
those nations were threatened or seemed unstable.
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.”
Monroe Doctrine: The 1823 U.S. doctrine which stated that European countries should not consider
North and South America as future areas for colonization.
Latin America: The portion of the western hemisphere that includes South America, Central America,
Mexico, and certain islands in the Caribbean.
Assert: To strongly state or assure with confidence one’s opinion as correct.
Advocate: To be in favor, support of, to urge, or recommend publicly an opinion.