Benchmark Practice

What motivated President Theodore Roosevelt to support building the Panama Canal?

• the signing of the Interstate Commerce Act and the increasing volumes of trade

• the signing of the Homestead Act and the need to improve travel to the West

• the naval strategies of World War I and the tactical leadership of Chester Nimitz

• the naval battles of the Spanish-American War and the theories of Alfred Mahan

How did President William McKinley expand America's role in the world?

• by forming permanent military alliances with European nations

• by spreading democracy to Latin America

• by creating an international organization to maintain peace

• by creating an international organization to maintain peace

How did supporters of US imperialism justify the nation's actions in the South Pacific during the the twentieth century?

• They argued that it was the United States' responsibility to provide international security in the Eastern Hemisphere.

• They argued that it was the United States' duty to spread its political and cultural beliefs and institutions to other nations

• They argued that the United States must compete with European nations for resources in order to protect its economic interests.

• They argued that containing the spread of communist ideology outweighed the costs of US military intervention in the region.

What was a common goal of President Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick diplomacy initiative and President William Howard Taft's Dollar Diplomacy policy toward Latin America?

• to form military alliances with nations in the Western Hemisphere

• to encourage foreign nations to establish colonies

• to protect American economic and political interests

• to raise the standard of living throughout Latin America

Why did the United States believe constructing the Panama Canal was important?

• It wanted to improve trade between its east and west coasts.

• It wanted to help spread democracy throughout the Americas.

• It wanted to protect itself from attack by South American countries.

• It wanted to allow people in South America to immigrate to its territory.

President Theodore Roosevelt's goal of building the Panama Canal led him to

• invade an independent nation.

• support a revolution for independence.

• sell large amounts of federally owned territory.

• form an alliance with Central American countries.

What was the main reason that the United States sought to build a canal in Central America in the early twentieth century?

• to improve diplomatic relations with Colombia by helping the country improve its infrastructure

• to allow goods to be shipped more efficiently between the East and West Coasts of the United States

• to create jobs for unemployed US citizens still struggling to recover from a severe economic depression

• to prevent Spain from using its powerful navy to control trade in Central America and the Caribbean

The passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was largely a reaction by the federal government to

• dissatisfaction over the process for electing US senators.

• efforts to deny suffrage to Black Americans.

• people too young to vote being drafted into military service.

• low rates of turnout among female voters.

Why did civil rights activists participate in sit-ins such as the one pictured?

• to challenge the segregation of public facilities through violent protest

• to improve working conditions for Black Americans through violent protest

• to improve working conditions for Black Americans through civil disobedience

• to challenge the segregation of public facilities through civil disobedience

How did the ratification of the 24th amendment affect politics in the United States?

• It removed an economic barrier to voting and reduced the influence of special interest groups.

• It created an economic barrier to voting and led to the passage of federal Jim Crow laws.

• It created an economic barrier to voting and caused a significant decline in civic participation.

• It removed an economic barrier to voting and made the government better reflect the population.