AP U.S. History: American Imperial Expansion (1898-1945)

What marks the beginning of the period covered in Unit 7 of the AP U.S. History curriculum?

• The Civil War

• World War II

• The purchase of Alaska

• The Spanish-American War

What is imperialism primarily described as?

• A cultural exchange

• A peace treaty

• Economic isolation

• Expansion of a nation's influence

Which territory's purchase is considered America's first step into imperialism?

• Hawaii

• Puerto Rico

• Alaska

• The Philippines

What sparked a debate about American expansion?

• The Louisiana Purchase

• The signing of the Treaty of Paris

• The invention of the steam engine

• Discovery of gold in Alaska

What was Seward's Folly?

• A failed military campaign

• The purchase of Alaska

• A controversial law

• A diplomatic incident with Britain

What was a key argument for American imperial expansion?

• To reduce military spending

• To encourage cultural exchanges

• To access new markets and raw materials

• To promote global peace

How did Social Darwinism influence American imperialism?

• By encouraging alliances

• By justifying expansion as natural selection

• By promoting non-intervention

• By discouraging military action

What did Alfred Thayer Mahan argue was crucial for a country's strength?

• Cultural influence

• A strong army

• A robust navy

• Economic isolation

Why did imperialists favor expansion?

• To reduce the population

• To find new cultural influences

• To spread democracy

• To access raw materials and markets

What was a racial motivation for imperialism according to the video?

• To bring Christianity to other lands

• To educate other races

• To promote racial equality

• To establish trade relations