Deck 22: Creating an Empire 1865-1917

Question 1

Major outcomes of the Spanish-American War included all of the following EXCEPT:

A) the establishment of an extensive American empire.
B) the emergence of the nation's status as a world power.
C) the reluctance of the government to get involved in other foreign conflicts.
D) the beginning of a new period of opportunity and problems in foreign policy.

Answer 1

the reluctance of the government to get involved in other foreign conflicts.

Question 2

Rationales for imperialism in the era 1890-1910 included all of the following ideas EXCEPT:

A) American ideas and institutions were superior to those of inferior nations.
B) the United States needed a vast buffer zone to offset communist expansionism.
C) American prosperity now depended on larger access to foreign markets and resources.
D) the spread of Christianity would help lesser nations develop morally.

Answer 2

the United States needed a vast buffer zone to offset communist expansionism.

Question 3

Which statement would most likely have been said by a believer in Social Darwinism who was addressing the issue of imperialism?

A) "The very laws of nature reveal that national identity is not related to cultural worth."
B) "We must isolate ourselves from the uncivilized cultures of distant lands."
C) "American expansionism should most logically be restricted to North America."
D) "We must promote the superiority of our culture in an effort to ensure world stability."

Answer 3

"We must promote the superiority of our culture in an effort to ensure world stability."

Question 4

American imperialists often rationalized actions by:

A) pointing out that the United States had to overcome a heritage of a weak military.
B) expressing the opinion that people of Anglo-Saxon descent were from a superior culture.
C) claiming that western European nations were weak because they did not annex territory.
D) refusing to admit to the economic benefits that could be gained from imperial colonies.

Question 5

Which of the following presidents was elected on an imperialist platform?

A) Grover Cleveland
B) Benjamin Harrison
C) Rutherford B. Hayes
D) William McKinley

Question 6

Mahanism emphasized:

A) the importance of the navy in imperial expansion.
B) opposition to the new imperialism of the United States.
C) the spread of Christianity to remote nations.
D) the equality of people who lived in imperial territories.

Question 7

One reason for the widespread support for a larger navy was:

A) its role in providing jobs for the nation's unemployed men.
B) many people believed that the army was no longer a necessity.
C) the belief that the navy could effectively block further immigration.
D) its use to expand and protect America's international trade.

Question 8

The primary goal of the American government's imperialistic policies was:

A) religious conversion.
B) commercial expansion.
C) military attacks.
D) colonial conquest.

Question 9

Economic conditions that fueled support for foreign trade included:

A) a decrease in the number of wage earners.
B) the seemingly unlimited prosperity of the years from 1888-1895.
C) a huge increase in the amount of manufactured goods produced in America.
D) the nation's decision to use a silver-backed currency.

Question 10

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, the two main imperialist powers were:

A) Britain and the United States.
B) France and the United States.
C) Britain and France.
D) Britain and Germany.

Question 11

Britain was able to create its empire primarily through superior:

A) technology.
B) religious beliefs.
C) genes.
D) diplomacy.

Question 12

In foreign policy, U.S. officials showed little interest in:

A) Africa.
B) Asia.
C) Mexico.
D) South America.

Question 13

President _________ was not supportive of American control of Hawaii.

A) Harrison
B) Cleveland
C) McKinley
D) Theodore Roosevelt

Question 14

The American government used all of the following methods to take control of Hawaii EXCEPT:

A) using economic embargo by closing U.S. markets to sugar producers.
B) enlisting the help of Great Britain and France in establishing imperial control.
C) endorsing a Hawaiian constitution that gave power to wealthy white residents.
D) sending the Marines to support a move to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani.

Question 15

The effort to annex Hawaii in 1893 foreshadowed:

A) the differences between Republicans and Democrats regarding imperialism.
B) the aggressive imperialistic policies of Grover Cleveland.
C) a 20-year period of uninterrupted warfare between the U.S. and Hawaiians.
D) America's reliance on France to take the lead in determining foreign policy.

Question 16

One effect of the border dispute between Britain and Venezuela over British Guiana was:

A) America's decision to abandon the ideas of the Monroe Doctrine.
B) a brief straining of relations between the U.S. and Britain.
C) the emergence of consistent U.S. support for Britain in Latin America.
D) the onset of an economic depression in the Western Hemisphere.

Question 17

Which statement best describes the duality of causes for American intervention in Cuba?

A) The American government wanted to stop Cuban exports and revolutionary ideology.
B) Americans wished to stop British expansionism and secure markets in the Pacific.
C) Americans were motivated by both commercial concerns and their support for freedom.
D) Republicans wanted to defy President Cleveland and open new markets in the Caribbean.

Question 18

Before the Spanish-American War, the yellow press:

A) endorsed a policy of isolationism.
B) wrote editorials that criticized American imperialism.
C) refused to write about foreign affairs.
D) used sensationalism to stir up war fever.

Question 19

Populists supported intervention in Cuba because:

A) they sympathized with the Cubans' quest for freedom.
B) the Republican Party overwhelmingly opposed intervention.
C) they felt that taking this position would aid their presidential candidate.
D) the party's platform called for deregulation of trade with Cuba.

Question 20

Popular anger against Spain was ignited by:

A) their refusal to allow limited autonomy to Cuba.
B) the destruction of the U.S. ship, the Maine.
C) their insistence that deconcentration must continue indefinitely.
D) the rising of Spanish rebels in Venezuela.

Question 21

The Teller Amendment:

A) called for Cuban self-government.
B) called for the annexation of Cuba.
C) required Spain to give the United States Puerto Rico as a condition of peace.
D) was strongly supported by most imperialists.

Question 22

The crucial role in capturing San Juan Hill was played by:

A) the 10th Negro Cavalry.
B) Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
C) Commodore George Dewey.
D) the 19th Marine Unit.

Question 23

As a result of the Spanish-American War:

A) Theodore Roosevelt emerged as an anti-imperialist.
B) William McKinley expressed the desire to acquire the Philippines.
C) Congress voted to declare Philippine independence.
D) William McKinley was not reelected.

Question 24

Which of the following was NOT acquired by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War?

A) the Philippines
B) Guam
C) Puerto Rico
D) Midway Islands

Question 25

Who was NOT opposed to the Treaty of Paris?

A) William Jennings Bryan
B) Andrew Carnegie
C) Jane Addams
D) Theodore Roosevelt

Question 26

After Dewey's victory, Filipino leader Emilio Aguinaldo:

A) petitioned Congress for Filipino statehood.
B) wrote to President McKinley to plea for annexation.
C) declared the Philippines an independent country.
D) immediately attacked American forces.

Question 27

An appalling aspect of the Filipino War was:

A) America's use of Spanish troops to put down the nationalist rebellion.
B) the brutal suppression of the antiwar movement.
C) atrocities committed by the American army drew no attention from Americans.
D) the death of many Filipinos in concentration camps.

Question 28

The United States and European nations contested spheres of influence in:

A) the Philippines.
B) China.
C) Cuba.
D) India.

Question 29

The Open Door policy:

A) lasted only a few years.
B) allowed America to create an informal economic empire.
C) was applied as much to Japan as to China.
D) did not prevent the British takeover of China.

Question 30

The main Asian imperialist power around the turn of the twentieth century was:

A) Japan.
B) China.
C) Korea.
D) Thailand.

Question 31

America supported Japan in the Russo-Japanese War because:

A) the American military relied on Japanese technology.
B) Russia had approved of open door policies in China.
C) pro-Japanese sentiment was strong in California.
D) Russia had obstructed open trade in Manchuria.

Question 32

All of the following are true about America's presence in Puerto Rico EXCEPT:

A) the military invaded the island during the Spanish-American War.
B) the Supreme Court ruled that Puerto Rico deserved the right to statehood.
C) the islanders became disappointed with the economic dominance of American capital.
D) negotiators made the territory a vital aspect of the Treaty of Paris.

Question 33

The overall effect of the Platt Amendment was to:

A) restrict further policies of imperialism.
B) restrict Cuba's autonomy at home and abroad.
C) curtail American involvement in Latin America.
D) show support for Filipino independence.

Question 34

Theodore Roosevelt's strategy in acquiring the Panama Canal revealed:

A) the inherent flaws of the Platt Amendment.
B) the growth of good relations with Great Britain.
C) that American naval strength was weakening.
D) the closeness of ties between the United States and Colombia.

Question 35

The main alternative to Panama for an ocean-linking passage was:

A) the Northwest Passage.
B) Honduras.
C) Nicaragua.
D) Costa Rica.

Question 36

The Roosevelt Corollary was seen by Theodore Roosevelt as:

A) a reasonable compromise with anti-imperialists.
B) an important move toward isolationism.
C) the only defense against communist expansionism.
D) a logical extension of the Monroe Doctrine.

Question 37

American investment, through dollar diplomacy, increased dramatically:

A) as a direct result of the Supreme Court's Insular Cases.
B) during the presidency of William Howard Taft.
C) during the period right after the Civil War.
D) due to the isolationist policies of Woodrow Wilson.

Question 38

When William Jennings Bryan was appointed secretary of state:

A) relations with Colombia worsened.
B) Russia refused, for the first time, to follow the Open Door policy in China.
C) it appeared to usher in a new period in which interventionism would not be emphasized.
D) Democrats in Congress vowed to block his appointment.

Question 39

Which statement about Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy is true?

A) Wilson's opposition to intervention changed the direction of American foreign policy.
B) Wilson rejected Roosevelt's use of military power.
C) Despite campaign claims, Wilson ended up being very interventionist.
D) Fellow Democrats accused Wilson of neglecting economic aspects of foreign policy.

Question 40

Which statement about the American presence in Haiti is NOT true?

A) The Haitian constitution was altered to increase U.S. property rights.
B) Forced-labor policies were used to construct public works.
C) Haiti's schools and sanitation improved under American rule.
D) The American government did not use the military to control Haiti.

Question 41

Woodrow Wilson ordered the marines into the Dominican Republic:

A) to show that he was not weak in foreign affairs.
B) to appease the Republican Party.
C) when the Dominicans refused to allow their finances to be controlled by U.S. bankers.
D) after the Dominican people attacked the U.S. embassy.

Question 42

Woodrow Wilson took all of the following actions in Mexico EXCEPT:

A) discouraging foreign support for Victoriana Huerta.
B) signing an agreement of friendship with Porfirio Diaz.
C) authorizing arms sales to the forces of Venustiano Carranza.
D) ordering the marines to attack Vera Cruz.

Question 43

Which statement about Pancho Villa is NOT true?

A) He had little impact on U.S. foreign policy in Mexico.
B) He was opposed to the Carranza government.
C) He originally had the support of Woodrow Wilson.
D) He raided the United States in hopes of provoking intervention against the Carranza government.

Question 44

Which event happened first?

A) Sino-Japanese War
B) United States gets naval rights to Pearl Harbor
C) publication of The Influence of Sea Power upon History
D) Great Britain-Venezuelan boundary dispute

Question 45

Which event happened last?

A) end of the Filipino-American War
B) annexation of Hawaii
C) Spanish-American War
D) formation of Anti-Imperialist League

Question 46

Describe the connection between spheres of influence, the Open Door policy, and dollar diplomacy.

Question 47

What were the important consequences of the American victory in the Spanish-American War?

Question 48

What factors contributed to making the Filipino-American War a controversial, bitter, and hard-fought conflict?

Question 49

Describe the ideas expressed by those who dissented against the interventionist policies of the American government.

Question 50

What example, to you, represented America's most aggressive use of interventionist policy in the period from 1890-1917?

Question 51

How effective were U.S. interventions in Latin America? What were the objectives and consequences? Do you tend to agree or disagree with these interventions?

Question 52

Compare and contrast the foreign policies of two of the following four presidents: William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.

Question 53

In what ways was Woodrow Wilson among the most interventionist presidents in U.S. history?

Question 54

What combination of causes led to American involvement in the Spanish-American War? What were the key factors in producing a quick American victory?

Question 55

How did American foreign policy combine economic, military, and political strategies? In what ways did American intervention differ from traditional European imperialism?