Ch 21

Question 1

Explain why Americans became interested in an overseas empire in the late 19th century.

Answer 1

• Growing sense Internationalism b/c of telegraphs, telephones.
• End of frontier: worried not enough opportunities at home
• More goods manufactured than consumed (needed foreign markets)
• Power measured by colonies acquired, other nations already had colonies. US needed them.
• US needed to help civilize ‘barbaric’ countries

Question 2

Discuss the tenants of Social Darwinism espoused by Josiah Strong.

Answer 2

• Anglo-Saxon racial superiority (result of natural selection)
• Expand US trade (desire for material things mark of civilized people)
• Christianity mark of civilized
• America could civilize inferior races by exporting trade and religion
• God favored whites, destined to lead world.

Question 3

Describe the basic goals of 19th century American foreign policy.

Answer 3

- US Grant wanted to annex Santo Domingo 1869
EUROPE
-Promote trade
- Avoid diplomatic entanglements.
AMERICA:
- Monroe Doctrine (annex Canada or Mexico), 
- Trade
- Pan-American unity against old world.
PACIFIC:
- Wanted Hawaii

Question 4

List the foreign policy goals of William H. Seward.

Answer 4

• Increase territory
• Empire of Latin America, shores of Asia, Canada, Mexico.
• Caribbean island bases
• Hawaii stepping stone to Asia
• Treaty with Russia to purchase Alaska
• Mexico City would be empire’s capital.

Question 5

Explain U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America from 1869 to 1896.

Answer 5

• Reciprocity treaties
• Expand trade with Latin America
• Pan-Americanism (union)
• Tariff reciprocity (exchange with mutual benefit)
• Boundary dispute with Britain over Venezuela
• Independence of Cuba
• Peaceful arbitration of disputes

Question 6

Discuss the U.S. relationship with Hawaii in the 19th century.

Answer 6

Post Civil War:

• Sugar Treaty w/ Hawaii made it economically dependent on US > effectively a protectorate
• Treaty US rights to Pearl Harbor
• Sugar Treaty ended, Hawaii economy tanked
• King dies, Queen resentful > Revolt > Hawaii surrenders
• Annexation of Hawaii after Spanish-American War

Question 7

Explain why Americans favored annexation of Hawaii.

Answer 7

• Strategic location
• Japan or Britain might seize if US doesn’t
• American (felt) responsible to civilize & christianize Hawaii
• Hawaii commercially and militarily important

Question 8

Describe the countries involved in the take over of Pago Pago, Samoa in 1889.

Answer 8

1) United States
2) Britain
3) Germany

Question 9

Describe Alfred Thayer Mahan’s arguments for a new navy.

Answer 9

• Argued industrialism produced surplus of goods that needed markets.
• Markets involved distant ports > reaching them required merchant marine and powerful navy
• Navies needed coaling stations > coaling stations meant colonies > colonies became strategic bases > bases foundation to nation’s power
• Bases could also be a market/stepping stone to other nations (Latin America and Asia)
• Worldwide race for power US couldn’t lose
• US needed to expand
• Canal across Central America to link east coast with Pacific
• Hawaii as route to Asia

Question 10

List the causes of the Spanish-American War.

Answer 10

• Wilson-Gorman Tariff: raised duties on sugar in Cuba (caused Cuban depression)
• Rebellions in Cuba
• Cuba propaganda in US
• Disputes in policies between US/Spain
• McKinley asked Spain to treat Cuba humanely
• Spain grants autonomy to Cuba > sets of Spanish riots in Cuba
• Sinking of the Maine battleship (we blamed Spain)
• President asks for Cuban freedom, Spain refuses
• Spain recalls diplomats > seen as act of war
• Congress declares war

Question 11

Describe the types of U.S. troops used in the Spanish-American War.

Answer 11

• American volunteers: 1 million
• National Guard
• Units of hometowns
• 1/4 (25%) of force black
• Four black regiments (>10k black troops)

Question 12

List the major campaigns and ranking officers involved in the Spanish-American War.

Answer 12

MANILA BAY (Philippines)
-Dewey: Destroyed Spanish base in Philippines
-America gained Philippines
SANTIAGO DE CUBA
- Sampson: Defeated Cervera’s (Spain) fleet
GUANTANAMO BAY
- Seized by Marines
SAN JUAN HILL
- Rough riders, black troops.
KETTLE HILL
- Roosevelt: Rallied infantry and cavalry to capture hill.

Question 13

Describe the new American empire after the Spanish-American War.

Answer 13

• Puerto Rico
• Alaska
• Guam part of Samoa
• Philippines ($20 mil Treaty of Paris)

Question 14

Explain the reasons for opposition in the U.S. to overseas empire.

Answer 14

Protestors: Annexation violated principle of independence and self-determination

• Feared cheap labor from Pacific
• Groomers warned against “half broods and barbaric people”
• Against assimilation
• Don’t need to own a country to trade with it
• Tyranny abroad leads to tyranny at home
• Carnegie offered to buy Filipino freedom $20mil
• Opponents formed Anti-Imperialist League

Question 15

Discuss John Hay’s “Open Door” policy in China.

Answer 15

• Free trade U.S.— China
• Europe & Japan to recognize territorial integrity of China
  3 AGREEMENTS
  1) Nations respect rights of other nations
  2) Chinese collect tariffs
  3) No discriminating with port dues/railroad tariffs
• U.S. would keep commercial advantages it might lose if China was partitioned into spheres of influence (other nations plan to own parts of China trade)