American Imperialism

Question 1

1. The intent of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was
   A. to prevent European powers from becoming directly involved in affairs of the Western Hemisphere
   B. to allow the United States to intervene in Latin American countries causing “trouble” for the United States
   C. to allow the United States to “assist” countries in the area that demonstrated economic or political instability
   D. to allow the United States to remove “unfriendly governments” in the Western Hemisphere
   E. All of the above

Answer 1

(Correct Answer: E. The Roosevelt Corollary allowed the United States to intervene in affairs of Latin American coun­tries under several circumstances, but was also intended to keep the European powers out of Latin America.)

Question 2

2. Many humanitarians in the United States initially supported the Spanish-American War because
   A. they were appalled at the Spanish policy of re-concentration in Cuba
   B. they were able to ignore editorial comments found in most American newspapers
   C. they were following the lead of the Anti-Imperialist League
   D. they desired to assist the Filipino natives
   E. of American economic interests in Cuba

Answer 2

(Correct Answer: A. The Spanish policy of placing civilians in camps horrified many Americans. Most American newspapers initially supported the war as well. Concern for the Filipinos only became an issue during the debate over whether or not the United States should annex the Philippines. )

Question 3

3. The major criticism that some Americans had concerning the construction of the Panama Canal was that
   A. the canal would force America to have a navy in both the Pacific and the Atlantic
   B. the canal would be outlandishly expensive to build
   C. the tactics that the Americans used to get the rights to build the canal were unsavory at best
   D. a French construction team had agreed to build the canal first
   E. American forces would have to be stationed indefinitely in Panama to guard the canal

Answer 3

(Correct Answer: C. The United States acquired the rights to territory to build the canal through the encouragement of a “revolt” by Panamanians against Colombia. The American navy wanted the canal. The French construction team had already been bankrupted by the excessive construction costs of the canal project.)

Question 4

4. The United States was able to annex Hawaii because
   A. Queen Liliuokalani desired increased American investment in Hawaii
   B. pro-American planters engineered a revolt in Hawaii
   C. American marines had forcibly removed the queen from power
   D. public opinion in Hawaii strongly favored annexation
   E. Hawaii felt threatened by other Pacific powers

Answer 4

(Correct Answer: B. Queen Liliuokalani desired decreased American involvement in Hawaii. American marines were involved in the removal of the queen from power, but only in a supporting role. Public opinion in Hawaii supported the queen.)

Question 5

5. American missionary leaders supported imperialism in this era because
   A. they thought their involvement would temper the excess zeal of other imperialists
   B. they admired the “pureness of spirit” found in the Filipinos and other native groups
   C. religious leaders in Europe favored imperialism
   D. they saw imperialism as an opportu­nity to convert the “heathen” of newly acquired territories
   E. American presidents, especially Theodore Roosevelt, strongly pressured them to take that stance

Answer 5

(Correct Answer: D. Missionary leaders worked in conjunction with other imperial­ists in this era. Little admiration of the natives was demonstrated by missionary leaders; the possibilities of conversions was the major reason for religious support for imperialism. )