US History Test: Imperialism and WW1

Which of the following statements BEST explains the purpose of the Great White Fleet?

• To cut off supplies to the troops in Germany during WWI

• To bring an end to the Russo-Japanese War

• To demonstrate America’s increased military power to the world

• To combat Germany’s practice of unrestricted submarine warfare

The cartoon below was published in 1898. The text at the bottom of this cartoon reads: “Uncle Sam: Now, children, you’ve got to learn those lessons whether you want to or not! But just take a look at the class ahead of you, and remember that, in a little while, you will be glad to be here as they are!” Based on the cartoon, which statement would the artist most likely agree?

• Imperialists intended to rule over colonial people whether they consented or not.

• Imperialists generally planned to replace local peoples with American colonists.

• Imperialists refused to use local populations as an inexpensive labor force.

• Imperialists planned to spend more on development costs than they could ever recover in profits.

The timeline below shows events in U.S. history between 1898 and 1904. Based on the timeline, which conclusion can be made about American policy in these years?

• Americans took new steps because they feared attacks by foreign powers.

• Colonial peoples welcomed American leadership to develop their economies.

• Congressional leaders overcame the reluctance of U.S. Presidents to acquire overseas possessions.

• American imperialists triumphed over those opposing the annexation of overseas territories.

Complete the table: Reason — Economic: ?, Political: Americans wanted some colonies before European powers had them all, Humanitarian: Americans wanted to bring Christianity and modern ways of doing things to native peoples. Which sentence completes the table?

• Americans wanted overseas markets for their goods

• Americans supported free trade

• Americans wanted to manufacture goods in overseas factories

• Americans wanted to import colonial laborers to the United States

How did U.S. intervention in World War I represent a turning point in American foreign policy?

• Americans obtained their first colonies after the war

• Americans became deeply entangled in European affairs

• American scientists developed nuclear weapons

• Congress refused to declare war on Germany

In his book, Mahan urged Americans to build a large navy and acquire colonies as Britain had. What other strategy did Mahan advocate for the United States to succeed as a naval power?

• Building a canal through Central America

• Developing an air force

• Having a large standing army

• Placing military bases in Europe

How did the War Industries Board prepare Americans for war during World War I?

• by silencing criticism of U.S. policies

• by raising money to help pay for the war effort

• by conscripting young men into the armed forces

• by increasing wartime production

The diagram shows three elements of the war in Europe from 1914 to 1918—Machine guns, Poison gas, Trench warfare—all pointing to a single result. Which best completes the diagram?

• Deadlock between the Central and Allied Powers

• Superiority of British troops

• Rapid advance of German troops

• Unrestricted submarine warfare against neutral shipping

Why did the U.S. Senate fail to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1919?

• Many Senators opposed the severe sanctions that the treaty placed on Germany

• Many Senators felt the League of Nations would interfere with American plans in the Philippines

• Many Senators feared the League of Nations would involve the United States in foreign wars

• Many Senators predicted that membership in the new League of Nations would be too expensive

The following chart shows information about World War I: The Experiences of Americans Serving in Europe in 1917–1918. Women: many volunteer as nurses overseas. Conscientious objectors: serve in non-combatant roles, such as ambulance drivers or paramedics. African Americans: about 100,000 serve in France in segregated units; some serve directly under French command. Hispanic Americans: thousands serve in the armed forces. Asian Americans: serve in special non-white units. Based on the chart, what conclusion can be made about American service overseas during World War I?

• All major groups of American society participated in the war effort, but some faced special challenges because of contemporary prejudices.

• The American armed services treated all Americans who were willing to serve as equal in status.

• Women and conscientious objectors were treated similarly to African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.

• The American military failed to help the French because it refused to include members from all groups of American society.