MODULE 4: AGE OF EMPIRE Flashcards
What was the role of American missionaries in the expanding American empire at the end of the 19th century?
Missionaries spread American values, culture, and democratic structure as well as the gospel.
Americans saw it as a moral responsibility to spread their values and version of democracy throughout the world.
The works and ideas of both Frederick J. Turner and Alfred T. Mahan significantly influenced the ambitions and policy of America in the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Which best describes the impact of their ideas?
They laid the intellectual groundwork and practical roadmap for the creation of an American empire.
What did Frederick J. Turner do that was significant towards the ambitions and policy of America in the late 19th century and beginning of 20th century?
Turner laid the intellectual groundwork for an American empire by popularizing the idea that the frontier defined and created American identity and values, and that we needed to expand into new frontiers.
What did Alfred t. Mahan do that was significant towards the ambitions and policy of America in the late 19th century and beginning of 20th century?
Mahan proposed the creation of a modern navy as a way to practically build this empire.
America was not the only nation with interests in the Pacific. Other nations saw the strategic importance and fought for control of territory in the Pacific islands. What statement best describes the outcome of the Tripartite Convention following the Somoan Crisis?
Samoa was partitioned into American Samoa and German Samoa.
Germany, America, and Great Britain all had interests in Samoa. Great Britain relinquished rights to Samoa in exchange for German-controlled territory on other islands. Germany and America then partitioned Samoa into two sides. Today America still controls one side - American Samoa - as an unincorporated territory. The German side was granted independence in 1962 and is now known simply as Samoa.
Frederick Jackson Turner’s frontier theory influenced American ideas and politics for nearly a century. The main idea of the theory is that ________
American democracy was formed by the frontier, and America needed continual expansion
Alfred Thayer Mahan provided a practical guide for the creation of an American empire. What did he propose that America should focus on?
The creation of a naval fleet and the acquisition of naval bases
How did economic pressure influence the United States’ foreign involvement in the late 19th century?
The United States needed to tap foreign markets in order to continue to grow economically.
What reason did President Grover Cleveland give for opposing the annexation of Hawaii?
The provisional government had never existed with the consent of the people.
What approach did William Seward take to American foreign policy during his tenure as Secretary of State between 1861 and 1869?
He sought to extend American influence in both Asia and Latin America.
Seward wanted to see America “control the world” and he focused specifically on treaties with Nicaragua that would pave the way for a canal across central America, and securing Asian trade routes.
Many prominent Americans opposed the creation of an American empire and formed the Anti-Imperialist League. The reasons Americans opposed imperialism were varied. Which of the following was one reason for opposing expanded American imperialism?
Imperialism violated the democratic principle that just government must derive from “consent of the governed.”
This was the stated view of the Anti-Imperialist League. Many Americans felt that the idea of annexing colonies was in direct opposition to the American ideals of self-governance.
Many Americans saw the war against Spain in Cuba as a fight for human rights and for the liberation of an oppressed people. Why, then, did the U.S. Navy attack Spanish colonies in Asia?
The United States wanted to expand its markets and its empire.
The United States had larger aspirations than simply liberating Cuba. America wanted to extend its empire, and seizing Spanish assets in the South Pacific would further Mahan’s vision of a network of Naval bases in the South Pacific, as well as expanding the U.S. markets for resources and trade.
As a part of the Spanish-American War, the United States took control of the island nation of Guam. What is the relationship between Guam and the United States today?
Guam is a territory of the United States with their own elected governor and legislature, but no voting power in the House of Representatives.
Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States. It has limited self-governance - natives of Guam elect their own governor, legislature, and have an independent court system. The island of Guam sends one representative to congress, but that representative does not have a vote outside of committee. People born on Guam have American citizenship, but they cannot vote in the U.S. presidential election.
When the United States replaced Spain as an occupying force in the Philippines, the Filipino people fought back again, this time waging guerilla-style warfare against the American military. What was the outcome of the Philippine-American War?
Filipino forces were under equipped and rebels lost influence with the American implementation of reforms; fighting eventually stopped in 1901.
Even though they were outgunned, brutal fighting continued for four years. Eventually, rebels lost influence when the Taft Commission implemented infrastructure improvements and civic reform. Aguinaldo was captured in 1901, and pockets of resistance dwindled.
What was the strategy of the Taft Commission in regards to the Philippines?
To win over the Filipino people by implementing civic reform and improved infrastructure.
How did the Taft Commission win over the Filipino people?
William Howard Taft was appointed civil governor in the Philippines. The Taft Commission implemented reforms meant to modernize and improve life in the Philippines. Americans built new roads, schools, and hospitals. They offered government appointments to resistance leaders to win their support. The strategy worked, and Philippine rebels lost influence.
Despite Cuba’s independence, it was still an important part of the growing American empire. How did the Platt Amendment define America’s relationship with Cuba?
The Platt Amendment limited the authority of the Cuban government and gave the U.S. legal authority to intervene.
Following America’s seizure of the Philippines from Spain, the Filipino people wondered if America would support their efforts for independence or would replace Spain as a colonial occupying force. What was the opinion of American leadership regarding America’s relationship with the Philippines?
The Philippines were strategically useful to the U.S., and the Filipino people were incapable of governing themselves.
How did the United States expand their empire to include the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines?
Spain ceded those territories to the United States following the Spanish-American War.
When the United States came to the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, the Filipino people were already fighting for independence against the Spanish. Under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, Filipino fighters helped the United States defeat Spain. Which best describes what followed this victory?
The United States replaced Spain as an occupying force in the Philippines.
Which of the following increased the public support for war against Spain in Cuba?
The explosion of the USS Maine