U.S. Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

What distinguished the "New Imperialism" of the late 19th and early 20th centuries from earlier forms of colonization?

• It primarily involved European powers settling new territories and displacing native populations.

• It focused on establishing direct rule over territories without significant settlement by the colonizing power.

• It was exclusively driven by the desire to spread democratic ideals globally.

• It involved the acquisition of territory solely within continental boundaries.

Which of the following was a primary economic motivation for the United States to pursue imperialism in the late 19th century?

• To secure new sources of raw materials for domestic industries.

• To find new markets for American-made products.

• To establish a global gold standard for international trade.

• To reduce the national debt through territorial acquisitions.

What was Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's central argument regarding a nation's path to becoming a great power?

• Dominating global trade through a powerful navy.

• Expanding agricultural production to feed a growing population.

• Establishing strong diplomatic alliances with European nations.

• Investing heavily in domestic infrastructure and industrialization.

Why were colonies considered essential for maintaining a powerful navy during the era of steamships?

• They provided a large pool of recruits for naval service.

• They offered strategic locations for coaling depots to refuel ships.

• They served as training grounds for naval exercises.

• They supplied exotic goods to fund naval expansion.

What was the primary reason for the outbreak of the Spanish-American War?

• Spain's refusal to sell Cuba to the United States.

• Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence from Spain.

• The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor.

• American desire to annex the Philippines.

What were the primary reasons President McKinley cited for the United States entering the war?

• To gain new territories and expand the American empire.

• To protect American peace of mind and end economic uncertainty.

• To spread democracy and freedom to oppressed nations.

• To retaliate for the sinking of the USS Maine.

What was the main purpose of the Teller Amendment, passed by Congress in 1898?

• To declare war on Spain.

• To annex Cuba as a U.S. territory.

• To prevent the United States from annexing Cuba.

• To establish a naval base in Cuba.

What do most historians now believe was the cause of the USS Maine's sinking?

• A Spanish torpedo attack.

• An internal explosion on the ship.

• A Cuban rebel sabotage.

• An accidental collision with another vessel.

Which of the following territories did the United States acquire as a direct result of the Spanish-American War?

• Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

• The Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

• Cuba, Panama, and the Virgin Islands.

• Mexico, California, and Texas.

Which of the following was a common argument made by anti-imperialists against American expansion?

• Imperialism would lead to increased trade deficits.

• It was incompatible with democratic principles and diverted attention from domestic problems.

• The newly acquired territories were too far away to govern effectively.

• It would lead to a decline in military spending.