Deck 20: Becoming a World Power

Question 1

Which of the following is one of the arguments of the "glut thesis"?

A)The financial panics of the 1870s and the 1890s were the result of the overproduction of goods.
B)Americans might require a new frontier in order to ensure the survival of the nation's democracy.
C)Blacks are to be separated from whites in public transport.
D)The presence of the western frontier had impeded the development of democracy and capitalism.
E)White Christian Americans stood at the top of civilization.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following was one of the justifications given by William Seward for the purchase of Alaska?

A)The United States needed the land to conduct nuclear operations.
B)The fertile soil of Alaska would prove beneficial for America's agricultural industry.
C)The United States needed more land for expansion.
D)The long coastline of Alaska would improve trade relations with neighboring countries.
E)The United States needed a sea-link to Russia.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Yellow journalism shows little dependence on facts or research.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following arguments was made by Reverend Josiah Strong in his book Our Country ?

A)White Christian Americans had a moral duty to bring less privileged peoples the benefits of progress and the fruit of the Christian Gospel.
B)The financial panics of the 1870s and the 1890s were the result of the overproduction of goods, as the industrialized economy endured painful fits and starts.
C)The segregation of African Americans from white Americans was a sin against mankind.
D)The presence of the western frontier had impeded the development of democracy and capitalism.
E)The degradation of religion in the late nineteenth century was a result of the influence of immigrants.

Question 5

In 1844, the Treaty of Wanghia opened several Chinese ports to American trade.

Question 6

Katie, a historian, is conducting research on the character of the present American government. During a lecture, she presents her view, which is in accordance with the Turner Thesis. Which of the following is Katie's lecture most likely to indicate?

A)The present American democracy was shaped by the American frontier experience.
B)The rise of capitalism in the United States was restricted by imperialism.
C)The political fiascos of the 1870s were the result of the underproduction of goods.
D)The United States lost access to geopolitical power by abstaining from invasions.
E)The purchase of Alaska was a decisive factor in modeling the present U.S. government.

Question 7

In the Zimmermann Note, the Germans pledged to help America conquer New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

Question 8

Which of the following did the Turner Thesis assert?

A)The presence of the western frontier had created obstacles to the development of democracy and capitalism.
B)White Christian Americans stood at the top of civilization.
C)The financial panics of the 1870s and the 1890s were the result of the underproduction of goods.
D)Americans might require a new frontier in order to ensure the survival of the nation's democracy.
E)Blacks needed to be separated from whites in public transport.

Question 9

The Boxer Rebellion was a guerilla war between China and Japan.

Question 10

Idealists believed that the United States could enter international politics as a competitor.

Question 11

How did the United States intervene in the Venezuela Crisis of 1895?

A)It convinced Venezuela and Britain to sign the Treaty of Wanghia, which helped them settle the boundary issue.
B)It annexed Venezuela by defeating Britain.
C)It waged a war against Britain and was defeated, thus forcing the Venezuelan government to surrender its claims.
D)It declared that the situation was under the domain of the Monroe Doctrine and then helped settle the issue peaceably.
E)It consulted the Venezuelan government and negotiated with Britain to surrender its claims.

Question 12

Which of the following agreements between China and the United States opened several Chinese ports to American trade in 1844?

A)The Treaty of Bucharest
B)The Treaty of Akhal
C)The Treaty of Gandamak
D)The Treaty of Wuchale
E)The Treaty of Wanghia

Question 13

In 1872, _____ granted the United States a naval base at Pago Pago.

A)Mexico
B)Alaska
C)Samoa
D)Hawai'i
E)China

Question 14

The "glut thesis" argued that the financial panics of the 1870s and the 1890s were the result of the underproduction of goods.

Question 15

The United States was a participant in the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 16

As part of the Espionage Act of 1917, U.S. Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson was authorized to seize and destroy any publication he deemed treasonous.

Question 17

Which of the following decisions taken by William Seward was known as "Seward's Folly"?

A)His agreement with Latin America to help build a road to Colombia
B)His purchase of Alaska from Russia
C)His sale of Victoria Island to the British
D)His authorization of a trade agreement with Hawai'i
E)His treaty with the Russians over fishing rights in the Bering Sea

Question 18

In which of the following ways did Hawai'i facilitate American expansion?

A)It allowed its annexation to the United States to enable exemption of its products from U.S. tariffs.
B)It allowed Americans from the mainland to occupy vacant regions of the island.
C)It allowed the United States a protectorate over the island.
D)It opened up its ports to permit American trade.
E)It granted the United States the right to construct a naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Question 19

Isolationists believed that alliances improved security.

Question 20

The "water cure" was one of the atrocities committed by American soldiers in the Philippines.

Question 21

Which of the following terms refers to journalism that shows little dependence on facts or research and instead uses sensationalized headlines and storylines to sell newspapers or magazines?

A)Yellow journalism
B)Analytic journalism
C)Enterprise journalism
D)Gonzo journalism
E)Comedic journalism

Question 22

After the Spanish-American War ended and the peace treaty was signed, the United States passed the Platt Amendment, which:

A)granted independence to the Filipinos.
B)proposed an alliance between the U.S. government and the Cuban government to fight the Axis powers during the Second World War.
C)granted the United States the right to militarily intervene on the island of Cuba whenever revolution threatened.
D)provided for humanitarian aid to the Cubans for as long as necessary.
E)stated America's intention to annex Cuba in order to expand its land.

Question 23

Which of the following justifications did William McKinley and other political leaders provide while pushing for the annexation of the Philippines in the late 1800s?

A)The long coastline of the Philippines would improve trade relations with neighboring countries.
B)The fertile soil of the Philippines would prove beneficial for America's agricultural industry.
C)The strategic location of the Philippines in the map would help improve the outcome of the Spanish-American War.
D)The Filipinos were too weak to govern themselves.
E)The Philippine government comprised a lot of corrupt officials.

Question 24

Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that in order to achieve national greatness, America should:

A)sustain a modern standing army.
B)create its own nuclear weapons.
C)compete on an equal basis with other empires.
D)uphold its position in the world as a republic that refused to colonize others.
E)keep warships and maintain overseas colonies for naval supply bases.

Question 25

Which of the following epidemics initially obstructed Ferdinand de Lesseps's attempt to build a canal in Panama?

A)Typhoid
B)Chicken pox
C)Malaria
D)Yellow fever
E)Tuberculosis

Question 26

Why did Theodore Roosevelt encourage an independence movement among the Panamanian people?

A)To help eradicate the prevalent yellow journalism practices in Panama
B)To establish U.S. administration in Panama
C)To eliminate the rampant corruption in the Panamanian government
D)To prevent the rise of illegal Panamanian immigrants in the United States
E)To grant the United States unobstructed access to build its canal in Panama

Question 27

Which of the following was a consequence of the Boxer Rebellion?

A)It strengthened the foothold of the United States in the Far East.
B)It eliminated yellow journalism from the United States.
C)It enabled the growth of Communism in most parts of China.
D)It helped the United States to annex new regions in China.
E)It facilitated the establishment of a new government in the Philippines.

Question 28

Rodrick was a senator in the United States in the 1900s. He believed that any involvement in international alliances would be a disadvantage rather than a benefit, and hence the nation should refrain from entering into any sort of agreements or pacts with other countries. In this scenario, Rodrick conformed to the ideas of _____.

A)isolationists
B)realists
C)idealists
D)abolitionists
E)feudalists

Question 29

Which of the following was one of the major goals pursued by the United States after gaining power as a result of its heightened imperialistic activities in the 1900s?

A)Building the Panama Canal
B)Seizing Pearl Harbor
C)Closing its trade with China
D)Annexing the Philippines
E)Eliminating yellow journalism

Question 30

What was the aim of the "Open Door" policy of 1899?

A)To allow all nations to trade with China on equal terms
B)To enable foreign powers to partition China as they had Africa
C)To grant the United States an exemption from trade tariffs
D)To give independence to the Philippines
E)To help yellow journalism to thrive in China

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true of the Teller Amendment?

A)It barred the United States from annexing Cuba.
B)It granted the United States the right to construct a naval base at Pearl Harbor.
C)It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.
D)It prohibited employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race.
E)It declared that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are American citizens.

Question 32

Which of the following was a belief of the isolationists?

A)All nations pursued only their own self-interests.
B)Moral reformation should be the primary goal of a nation.
C)Alliances improved security.
D)Alliances resulted in costly wars.
E)Power is the only meaningful factor in international affairs.

Question 33

What was the goal of the Boxer Rebellion of 1900?

A)To reclaim regions of China annexed by the United States
B)To establish an "Open Door" policy with China
C)To challenge the Platt Amendment of 1901
D)To drive foreigners out of China
E)To restrict the growth of Communism in China

Question 34

After 1900, the United States:

A)violated the Platt Amendment.
B)exited the Commonwealth.
C)placed an embargo on trade with China.
D)entered a period of heightened imperialistic activity.
E)eliminated yellow journalism.

Question 35

Which of the following was a consequence of the Teller Amendment?

A)The United States was granted a protectorate over the eastern islands.
B)The United States was forced to leave Cuba independent once the Spanish-American War was over.
C)The United States helped in resolving the boundary issue between Venezuela and Britain.
D)The United States purchased the huge territory of Alaska from Russia.
E)The United States annexed Hawai'i and granted its products exemption from U.S. tariffs.

Question 36

Sam was an American political advisor in the early 1900s. He believed that becoming a world power should be the primary focus of the United States. Hence, he urged the government to lay more emphasis on strengthening its military. From the given information, it can be concluded that Sam was a(n)_____.

A)abolitionist
B)feudalist
C)isolationist
D)realist
E)idealist

Question 37

The "Roosevelt Corollary" was Theodore Roosevelt's amendment to the _____.

A)Monroe Doctrine
B)Drago Doctrine
C)Betancourt Doctrine
D)Giedroyc Doctrine
E)Truman Doctrine

Question 38

Who led the American contingent named the Rough Riders in 1898?

A)Leonard Wood
B)Henry Cabot Lodge
C)Theodore Roosevelt
D)William Randolph Hearst
E)William McKinley

Question 39

Which of the following was one of the camps that Americans fell into when viewing America as a world power?

A)Feudalists
B)Isolationists
C)Communists
D)Abolitionists
E)Coalitionists

Question 40

During an interview with a newspaper reporter, Peter, a cabinet member, subtly indicates his disagreement with the recent rulings by the president. The newspaper sensationalizes this statement by printing the headline, "Cabinet Minister Calls the President a Traitor!" This scenario best illustrates _____.

A)enterprise journalism
B)gonzo journalism
C)comedic journalism
D)yellow journalism
E)analytic journalism

Question 41

Summarize the rise of anti-Americanism in the Philippines.

Question 42

Which of the following was a provision of the Treaty of Versailles?

A)Self-determination for nationalities
B)Prolongation of the Open Door policy in China
C)Limitations on self-government for Germany
D)Restoration of self-government in Versailles
E)Reparations that would force France to accept full responsibility for the war

Question 43

Travis was an American political advisor in the early 1900s. When two of the United States' allies went to war with each other, the president sought help from his advisors. If Travis were an idealist, which of the following would he have advised the president to do?

A)The United States should sever all ties with both the countries, as alliances can only result in the United States being dragged into foreign conflicts.
B)The United States should support the nation with the stronger military and use that country to pursue imperialist goals.
C)The United States should use its influence to try to alleviate the conflict between the two nations.
D)The United States should act as a reformer and help both sides resolve their differences peacefully.
E)The United States should attack and take over both countries once their militaries become weakened from fighting their war.

Question 44

In 1872, island chieftains in Samoa granted the United States a naval base at _________.
a. Pago Pago
B. Apolima
C. Nu-utele
D. Salelologa

Question 45

Summarize the religious and moral reasons for America's push for an overseas empire during the half-century following the Civil War.

Question 46

Which of the following was a primitive but effective submarine invented by the Germans and used extensively in the First World War?

A)The Acheron
B)The U-boat
C)The Grayback
D)The R-21
E)The Mackerel

Question 47

Which of the following was a belief of the realists?

A)Alliances resulted in needless conflicts.
B)Moral reformation should be the primary goal of a nation.
C)Mitigating conflicts should be the primary goal of a nation.
D)Alliances improved security.
E)All nations pursued only their own self-interests.

Question 48

The _________ barred the United States from annexing Cuba.
a. Corwin Amendment
B. Roosevelt Amendment
C. Teller Amendment
D. Platt Amendment

Question 49

Which of the following statements is true of the Espionage Act passed by Congress in 1917?

A)It imprisoned and penalized people convicted of felonies.
B)It meted out large fines and twenty-year jail terms to anyone who said anything that might impede the war effort.
C)It enhanced the defense structure of the United States by streamlining the military chain of command.
D)It allowed African Americans to participate as war laborers and soldiers.
E)It sanctioned trials by military commission for violations of any of the military laws.

Question 50

According to _________, power and military strength were the only meaningful factors in international affairs.
a. realists
B. feudalists
C. idealists
D. isolationists

Question 51

Explain the two events in February 1898 that pushed the United States to get involved in the war between Spain and Cuba.

Question 52

Which of the following American presidents was the most prominent proponent of the idealist viewpoint?

A)Woodrow Wilson
B)William McKinley
C)Howard Taft
D)Harry S. Truman
E)Franklin D. Roosevelt

Question 53

Scarlett, an activist, was arrested for delivering an antiwar speech against the United States in 1918. The authorities informed her that her arrest was in accordance with the Espionage Act of 1917. After her conviction, which of the following punishments was most likely meted out to Scarlett?

A)A large fine and a jail term of twenty years
B)A large fine and capital punishment
C)House arrest for five years
D)Intensive supervised probation for two years
E)Exile from the country of residence

Question 54

What were the major causes of the Spanish-American War?

Question 55

Explain the role of Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in shattering the Spanish army in Cuba in the 1890s.

Question 56

Which of the following statements best defines war bonds?

A)They are securities bought by ordinary people to fund and support the war effort.
B)They are alliances between two or more former foes after a war.
C)They are authorization forms required to militarily intervene in an allied nation.
D)They are compensatory benefits given to the victims of war.
E)They are funds donated by the allied countries to strengthen a country's military.

Question 57

_________ believed the United States could treat the Spanish-American War and its corollaries as an aberration and return to its policy of noninterference in the matter of other countries.
a. Realists
B. Idealists
C. Isolationists
D. Feudalists

Question 58

The _________ aimed to prevent foreign powers from partitioning China as they had Africa.
a. Open Door policy
B. Gun Control policy
C. Nine-Power Treaty
D. Outer Space Treaty

Question 59

Which of the following was a declaration by President Wilson that outlined the principles he believed should shape the postwar peace settlement?

A)The Separate Peace
B)The Emancipation Proclamation
C)The Proclamation of Neutrality
D)The Ten Pins
E)The Fourteen Points

Question 60

Which of the following events ignited World War I?

A)The assassination of Austria's Archduke
B)The alliance of Germany with Hungary
C)The invasion of France by Germany
D)The attempt by Hungary to annex Serbia
E)The atrocities of American soldiers against the Filipinos

Question 61

Compare the three camps that Americans fell into when it came to viewing America as a world power.

Question 62

Discuss America's role during World War I. What prompted the United States' involvement in the war after it had initially declared neutrality?

Question 63

Explain the role of the Zimmermann Note in rallying American public support for a war against Germany.

Question 64

Discuss the Espionage Act passed by Congress in 1917.

Question 65

Describe the challenges faced by the American army in the First World War.

Question 66

Explain how the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 helped Hay's Open Door policy.

Question 67

Describe the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War.

Question 68

Explain how Roosevelt's amendment to the Monroe Doctrine facilitated American imperialism.

Question 69

Explain the Fourteen Points proclamation issued by Woodrow Wilson in 1918.

Question 70

Describe the role of the Panama Canal in exacerbating the tensions between Americans and Panamanians.