America as a World Power

1. What role did President Roosevelt play in ending the Russo-Japanese War?
Roosevelt mediated a settlement between the Russians and Japanese after the Japanese came to him asking for help. The Japanese needed help because they were running out of money and men and did not want Russia knowing so they went to Roosevelt asked him to mediate peace negotiations.


2. What events led to the building of the Panama Canal? What happened regarding Columbia? (Be specific)
Many Americans including President Roosevelt felt that the U.S. needed a canal going through Central America. With a canal, the travel time for commercial and military ships would be greatly reduced and it would provide a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901, Britain gave the U.S. exclusive rights to build and control the canal even though earlier the to countries had agreed to share the rights to the canal. Engineers proposed two different routes that were both possible. One was through Nicaragua and the other through Panama. Even though the path through Nicaragua was easier the government chose the one through Panama because an agent of the French company, who previously tried to build a canal in the area, went to Waashington and convinced the U.S. to buy it's claim. before work could begin the U.S. had to gain permission from Columbia to make the canal. When the U.S. was rejected, Philippe Banau-Varilla, the agent who was sent to by the French company to convince the U.S. to buy the Panama route, began a Panamanian rebellion against Columbia. nearly a dozen U.S. warships were present on November 3,1903 when Panama declared its independence. Soon after Panama and the United States signed a treaty in which the U.S. agreed to pay $10 million plus $250,000 in annual rent for an area of land to Panama.


3. What did the Roosevelt Corollary state?
It stated that the United States will use force to protect its economic interests in Latin America.


4. How did Taft use Dollar Diplomacy to enforce the Roosevelt Colollary on Nicaragua? (Be specific)
The Dollar Diplomacy was the policy of using the U.S. government to guarantee loans made to foreign countries by American businesspeople which inevitably kept European powers out of the Caribbean.

5. Why did Woodrow Wilson invade Mexico?
Woodrow Wilson invaded Mexico because according to his "missionary diploma" the U.S. had moral and responsibility to deny the recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests; he disliked general Huerta, who took over after Madero overthrew Diaz, and the opportunity came to enforce the missionary diploma when one of Huerta's officers arrested a small group of American sailors in Tampico. They were immediately released and an apology was sent to the U.S. but Wilson used the event as an excuse to intervene in Mexico.


6. What were three major foreign policy goals achieved by the United States in the early 20th century. Be sure to provide an example or two of each.

1. It expanded its access to foreign markets in order to ensure the continued growth of the domestic economy. ex) the building of the Panama canal
2. The U.S. built a modern navy to protect its interests abroad. ex)the presence of warships when Panama declared independence
3. The U.S. exercised its international police power to ensure dominance in Latin America. ex) 1911 rebellion in Nicaragua that almost left the country bankrupt and the U.S. arranged for American bankers to loan the country enough money to pay off its debts
   

Imperialism's Bitter Fruit

1. a. After the Spanish were forced out of the Philippines, why did fighting break out between American and Filipino forces?
The U.S. troops had been ordered to to establish control over the islands, when the Filipinos assumed that they would be granted independence after the Spanish left. Within two hours of the shooting incident, the fighting had begun. The Filipinos believed they were fighting for their independence.

b. How was this a different kind of warfare for American forces?
U.S. soldiers faced a quick- striking guerilla attack instead of confrontation by an organized army. War rules used by Western nations were ignored and both sides tortured and executed prisoners and commited other atrocities. The Filipino insurgents also blended very well into the civilian population. U.S. commanders routinely punished random civilians in reponse to attacks by Filipino guerillas.

2. Why were many African-Americans strong critics of the war against Filipino nationalists?

The military had racist views of the Filipinos. They were refered to as the n word by all white men even of different ranks. Black soldiers faced the same discrimination in the Phillipines as they did back home. Filipinos used this to their advantage by addressing the discrimination. This led to a high number of desertion by African Americans in the Phillipines.

3. Explain two reasons why the United States lost some of its enthusiasm for imperialism in the early 1900s.
a.The American public became increasingly apathetic about the issue and even Teddy Roosevelt stated that the country was not prepared to take on the burden of an empire. This could have been due to the continuous fighting.

b.American scholars warned imperialism increases war and conflict around the world. Artists like Mark Twain used their irony to to ridicule the imperialistic ideas.


4. What were the positive effects of American occupation in Puerto Rico and Cuba?

American technology and administrative expertise contibuted to rapid development on the islands. Roads and telegraph lines were built, finances reorganized, schools opened, sanitation improved, and yellow fever stamped out.

5. After the Spanish-American War, the United States insisted that Cuba only receive independence after agreeing to several limitations set forth in the Platt Amendment. Four restrictions on Cuban independence set forth in the Platt Amendment were:
a. gave the United Sates a right to oversee the Cuban economy

b. exercise veto power over Cuban foreign policy

c. intervene whenever necessary for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty

d. to build a naval base on the southeastern tip of the island at Guantanamo Bay

Was the United States justified in making these demands? Explain your reasoning.

No because they say this was the price the Cubans had to pay for ending U.S. military occupation on their islands but after the Spanish left the United States shouldn't have tried to control the island like they promised they wouldn't do and instead give them their freedom.

6. Do you believe the United States was imperialist? Why or why not?

Yes because even though some people were against it, most American citizens sought to increase their power and economic might by acquiring possessions overseas. The acquisition of Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines proved that U.S. leaders had been looking for oppurtunities to increase America's power. They claimed to be bringin freedom and civilization to the people but rarely were their needs every taken under consideration.

Spanish-American War

1. What connections did the U.S. have to Cuba in the late 1800s? List at least two.

1. During the Cuban revolt, the United States had great interest in acquiring Cuba. Leading rebels of the country wanted to eventually join the United States. Ulysses Grant, the president at the time, was open to the idea but his secretary of state persuaded him to keep the country out of conflict.



2. After the Cuban revolt was over the U.S. invested million into the island's sugar industry. The U.S. was the largest consumer of Cuban sugar ans in 1890 removed tariffs on the product making it cheaper to buy in the country. Cuban-American trade quickly reached $100 million annually. Although the depression of 1893 greatly hurt both their economies. The U.S. was pressured to cut back on imports and protect sugar producers within the country. In 1894 the country imposed a 40% tariff on sugar imports from Cuba. The Cuban economy began into a downward spiral.

2. What were the Spanish “reconcentration camps”?





Spanish reconcentration camps were towns filled with thousands of Cuban peasants. They were used by the Spanish to prevent non-rebels from helping the nationalist forces. These "camps" lacked food, housing, and sanitation. This caused a widespread of disease and starvation killing thousands.





3. List three reasons why the United States went to war with Spain in Cuba.





a. Publishers found out that stories on the Cuban revolt sold newspapers, whether they were real or fake. Owners of the two largest newspaper chains sent reporters to cover the revolt and generate support for U.S. intervention. Also religious magazine, mostly Protestant ones, supported intervention for humanitarian reasons. Others argued that American property was being destroyed because of the fighting. People of the business community wanted peace restored so their investments would no longer be threatened. Some merchants wanted intervention because the rebellion was causing their trade to dry up.





b. The de Lome Letter was a letter written by the Spanish minister, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, to the United States. Previously William McKinley had just taken office in 1897 and wanted to avoid war even though there was a rise in American intervention in Cuba. His efforts seemed successful when Spain recalled General Weyler, modified the policy regarding concentration camps, and even offered Cuba a limited self-government. Although the letter was not very supportive and criticized the President calling him "weak" and "a bidder for the administration of the crowd". To make matters worse the letter was first heard about when it was stolen from a Havana post office by a Cuban rebel and leaked to the New York Journal in February 1898. Although the Spanish government apologized and the minister resigned, American people were still angry over their president being insulted.





c. U.S.S. Maine was sent to Cuba by President McKinley to bring Americans citizens, who were in danger from the fighting, home and protect American property. On February 15, 1898 the ship blew up while in the harbor; more than 260 were killed. Nobody knew who was behind the attack but newspapers blamed the Spanish causing outrage amongst Americans.








4. Which do you believe was the most important reason? Why?





I believe intervention was due to people believing the stories published in the newspapers. They went not for a specific reason but because they believed all the exaggerated news. Without the newspaper many of the stories which made major headlines, such as the de Lome letter and the U.S.S. Maine, would be minor events that wouldn't cause much concern. Also some of the events wouldn't have even happened if it wasn't for reporters writing about the events happening in Cuba.





5. What did the Teller Amendment say?





The Teller Amendment said that the United States had no interest in asserting "sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control" over Cuba and promised to "leave the government and control of the island to its people" once peace was restored.





6. Why was a portion of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?





A portion of the Spanish-American War was fought in the Philippines because the Spanish had a fleet based there.





7. Dewey’s victory in the _____________Phillipines_______________ sparked an outpouring of ________pride_________ in the United States.











8. Why did Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders want to fight in Cuba?





They wanted to fight for pride in their country.





9. a. Why were many African-Americans eager to serve in the Spanish-American War?


They were eager to serve in the war because they saw the war as an opportunity to elevate the status of blacks in the U.S. They hoped that their participation would wint the African- American community new respect and chip away at the wall of discrimination. Military service had been one of the few avenues for advancement open to African Americans.





b. What forms of discrimination and prejudice did they encounter?



Even though African Americans had a lower rate of desertion and discipline problems than their white counterparts, they were denied promotion into the officer corps. They were among the first units to be mobilized. They were assumed to be better suited to the tropical climate of Cuba and more likely to withstand tropical disease. The black volunteers were never given the chance to fight in Cuba. Also their uniforms seldom shielded them from discrimination.

10. How did racism influence American perceptions of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines? Give two examples of events where racism affected U.S. policy after the war.


a.American bsinesses took over Cuban land and railroads; thus dominating the economy. This was only done because the administration and Congress felt that the rebels needed guidance in managing all their affairs.

b. Because of racial sterotypes American leaders had little hope in the African Americans and Asians who lived in Cuba , Puerto Rico, the Phillipines, and Guam. Few thought of the inhabitants of being able to form a stable democracy on their own.

Imperialism: The Origins of a Global Power

1. Why did American plantation owners and U.S. Marines topple Hawaii’s queen in 1893? Why was Hawaii considered to be a valuable prize? What was President Grover Cleveland’s reaction? Do you agree or disagree with his quote on page 1?

The American plantation owners and U.S. Marines had toppled Hawaii's queen in 1893 because the island was a very important stopping point for U.S. ships heading to East Asia. It was also because Hawaii had rich soil that was excellent for growing tropical plants. This all together persuaded the U.S. that it would be a great idea to acquire the islands before another country. Although President Cleveland didn't approve of this and when the new American government in Hawaii tried to take over the islands, Cleveland withdrew the treaty that permitted them to do so. I agree with his quote on page one because the U.S. did not have the right to forcefully take their land. Also I think it is ironic that a nation that claims to give its citizen's freedom is stealing this very right from the Hawaiian people.

2. Identify five important changes that transformed American in the nineteenth century. How did these five changes affect Americans?


The Industrial Revolution
1)gave Americans new technology to complete everyday tasks with greater ease, mass immigration
2)created greater diversity within the U.S. and expanded the American culture, end to slavery
3)enabled African Americans to be free and allowed them to be true citizens of the U.S., food and drug laws
4)gave people a greater sense of security when purchasing meat products and drugs in stores, urban growth
5)caused an influx of people in U.S. cities where the most jobs were located.

3. How did the economic depression that began in 1893 deepen the divisions in American society? Which groups suffered the most during the depression?


The economic depression that began in 1893 deepened the divisions in American society by causing more labor strikes because the workers realized their vulnerability in an economy based on industry and manufacturing. This caused people to worry about the nation's future and caused plant owners to worry about profits as well. This resulted in laborers suffering a lot due to constant strikes and labor unions. Farmers also suffered greatly because the depression only hurt there low income.

4. What were the values many Americans attached to the frontier? Why did many Americans fear that the closing of the frontier would harm America’s national character?


Americans attached values to the frontier such as bravery, individualism, ingenuity, and patriotism. Americans feared that the closing of the frontier would harm the nation's character because they felt that once the frontier was done expandingand there would no longer be anything to work for resulting in no new opportunity to be found.

5. Why did some Americans suggest greater involvement overseas?


Some Americans suggested greater involvement over seas because this could be America's new frontier and there could be new land to claim and settle. This would allow the American frontier to continuously expand.




6. What policy did expansionists say would ensure the economic success of the United States? What did imperialists say?

Imperialism. They said the control over foreign territories and nations would give the United States control to secure export markets, raw materials, and cheap labor.

7. How did the theories of social Darwinism and scientific racism lend support to the cause of American imperialism? How were these pseudo-scientific theories used to justify racist policies and imperialism? Are they still used today?

Social Darwinism basically was survival of the fittest. According to Darwinists this could be done by the U.S. if other races or cultures were influenced by the country. Scientific racism assigned differences among people according to racial and ethnic groups. These scientists used mental abilities and personality traits as racial characteristics. Whites were obviously considered to be the most superior while blacks were at the bottom. The two confirmed the view that the United States and a handful of European nations were destined by nature to dominate the world; by doing so these countries would become more civilized. I believe these theories are not used today.


8. What did many Protestant churches say was America’s role in the world?
They said America's role was to "lift up" the "downtrodden" of other nations. This being they sent missionaries overseas to do this work. The leaders of this church believed the God had specially blessed Americans that their duty was to civilize the world.

9. Why did the United States become involved in several Latin American nations in the nineteenth century? Summarize why the United States became involved in Samoa, Hawaii, and other Latin American nations.

They only became involved because imperialist-minded leaders convinced others that the United States needed to stabilize any "quarrelsome" nations so that American commerce and influence could travel safely across the seas. The U.S. became involved in Samoa because they made a treaty in 1878 that promised American assistance in case of foreign interference and in return gave America free access to Samoa's harbor. Not too long after Germany and Britain tried to take over parts of Samoa. This led to an 8 year conflict. The United States became involved in Hawaii because they feared that one day the Japanese, who made up one quarter of Hawaii's population, would gain power on the islands and begin to demand rights. This could lead them to preventing the U.S. from accessing its naval base at Pearl Harbor. The United States became involved in the Latin American nations because they were intervening during a revolution.

10. Why was the United States concerned about British involvement in Venezuela? What concept did U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney invoke in response?

The United States were concerned about British involvement in Venezuela because Venezuela shared a border with Guiana, which held large deposits of gold. Olney didn't want any European countries to think they could carve up Latin America for colonies as they did in Africa. Richard Olney invoked the Monroe Doctrine in response.

Spanish-American War (1898)

Causes: How did each of the following help to cause the outbreak of the Spanish-American War?



1. American business owners
Even though the Spanish owned Cuba and rejected America's offer to buy it from them, the American capitalists began investing millions of dollars into the island for its large sugar can plantations. (Later on they were destroyed by Martí's revolution causing American owners to become furious and want support for Spain in order to protect their investments.)


2. José Martí
He was a Cuban poet and journalist who launched a Cuban revolution against Spain in 1895. The revolution sought resistance against Spain and consisted of guerrilla campaign and purposely destroying property. Property that was destroyed consisted of American-owned sugar mills and plantations which made the American owners angry.


3. Valeriano Weyler
He was a Spanish general sent to Cuba in 1896 to restore order. He tried to do this by setting up barbed-wire concentration camps into which he herded the entire rural population of central and western Cuba. This made it so that the rebels could not receive help from the people inevitably crushing the rebellion. There were 300,000 people in these camps; thousands ended up dying from disease and starvation.


4. Yellow journalism It is a style of writing in which news is exaggerated to lure and enrage readers. Two newspaper tycoons, William Randolph Hearst of the New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World, used this technique. Then people read about exaggerated Spanish brutality, which led to deepening American sympathy for the rebels.

5. De Lôme letter
It was a letter written by the Spanish minister, Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, to the United States. Previously William McKinley had just taken office in 1897 and wanted to avoid war even though there was a rise in American intervention in Cuba. His efforts seemed successful when Spain recalled General Weyler, modified the policy regarding concentration camps, and even offered Cuba a limited self-government. Although the letter was not very supportive and criticized the President calling him "weak" and "a bidder for the administration of the crowd". To make matters worse the letter was first heard about when it was stolen from a Havana post office by a Cuban rebel and leaked to the New York Journal in February 1898. Although the Spanish government apologized and the minister resigned, American people were still angry over their president being insulted.


6. U.S.S. Maine
It was sent to Cuba by President McKinley to bring Americans citizens, who were in danger from the fighting, home and protect American property. On February 15, 1898 the ship blew up while in the harbor; more than 260 were killed. Nobody knew who was behind the attack but newspapers blamed the Spanish causing outrage amongst Americans.

Effects: What happened to each of the following territories as a result of the Spanish-American War?



7. Cuba
It was freed from Spanish rule.


8. Puerto Rico
It was invaded by American troops on July 25 and later turned over to the United States at Spanish and American peace talks.


9. Guam
It was turned over to America on December 10,1898 at the peace talk in Paris to agree on a treaty.


10. Philippine Islands
Filipinos, like the Cubans, were displeased by Spanish rule and wanted freedom. After Dewey's victory at sea, 11,000 Filipino rebels joined him by the next two months. Soon after the Spanish troops surrendered. On February 6, 1899 the islands became a part of America's rule along with Guam and Puerto Rico.

U.S. Imperialism Begins

1. Name at least five factors that fueled American Imperialism.
A) To continue manifest destiny
B) Desire for military strength
C) Thirst for new markets
D) Belief in cultural superiority
E) Serve as a solution to American overproduction and related problems of unemployment and economic depression

2. Choose two of the above five factors and describe them in your own words.
A) Thirst for new markets- Thanks to many advancements in technology there was more production than consumption of American products. This meant the country needed a place to supply them with raw materials and a market to sell their extra goods in. With new markets there would be new jobs to help fix the economic depression and decrease the number of unemployed.
B)Desire for military strength- Military presence around the world was growing pressuring Americans to build their own strength which led them to compete for a high naval power. This resulted in America having nine steel-hulled cruisers and being the world's third largest naval power.

3. What was known as “Seward’s Folly” and why?
Alaska was known as Seward's Folly because at the time it was acquired many doubted this decision as being useful but as time passed it became a state that was rich in wood, minerals, and oil.

4. What plantation-based product accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii’s wealth in the mid-19th century and who controlled this product?
Sugar plantations accounted for three-quarters of Hawaii's wealth in the mid-19th century. the Americans controlled this product.

6. Using as much detail as possible, outline the sequence of events that led to America gaining possession of Hawaii? In other words, why was the United States interested in these Pacific islands?

1. King Kalakaua was forced to amend Hawaii's constitution and give voting rights to only the wealthy landowners.
2. Kalakaua dies in 1891 but his sister Queen Liliuokalani takes power.
3. She wants to remove the qualifications for voting.
4. John L. Stevens disagrees with the idea and sets up a revolution against the queen putting Sanford B. Dole in power.
5. President Cleveland demanded that the queen be put back into power but Dole refused to give up his thrown.
6. Cleveland then recognized the country as the Republic of Hawaii but if a majority of Hawaiians favored annexation he would consider it.
7. In 1897 William McKinley took over the Presidential office. He favored annexation.
8. On August 12,1898 Hawaii was proclaimed as an American territory by Congress but Hawaiians weren't given the chance to vote.
9. Hawaii becomes the 50th state in the U.S. in 1959.

Progressive Era Presidents Taft and Wilson

1. How did William Howard Taft get selected to run for president?
William Howard Taft was handpicked by Teddy Roosevelt to run for presidency.

2. How did Teddy Roosevelt come to oppose Taft for the presidency in 1912?
Unlike Roosevelt, Taft believed in progressivism and took action cautiously. First Taft did not expand on Roosevelt's reforms but intstead consolidated them. Second progressives believed Taft went against them when he signed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff which only moderated the high rates in the Aldrich Bill. They instead wanted him to sign the Payne Bill, which lowered rates on imported manufactured goods. Later the public became furious when this resulted in a higher cost of living. Then Taft angered conservatives by appointing Ballinger, who was against coservative control of western lands, as his secretary. They were further enraged when he fired Pinchot for voicing against Ballinger when he fired an official for going against him. Finally this resulted in controversies within the Republican Party.

3. What events helped Woodrow Wilson win the election in 1912?
First there was a split in the Republican Party. Second Wilson supported the New Freedom. He also supported small businesses and free-market competition; thus being he opposed business monopolies and categorized them as evil.

4. What legislation did Wilson use to attack trusts and monopolies?
The two key antitrust measures that were taking was the Clayton Antitrust Act and Federal Trade Commission Act. The Clayton Antitrust Act tried to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act by prohibiting corporations from aquiring the stock of another doing so would create a monopoly. The Federal Trade Commission had the power to investigate possible violations of regulatory statutes, to require periodic reports from corporations, and to put an end to unfair business practices.

5. What was the Nineteenth Amendment?
The Nineteenth Amendment was an amendment that allowed women to vote.

6. How did America's entry into World War I affect the reform movement?
When America entered World War I progress of reform had come to a standstill. This lasted throughout Wilson's second term causing an end to the Progressive Era.