Review Questions

1. Why did the United States express limited interest in overseas expansion in the 1860s and 1870s?
fear of attacks on their borders
post–Civil War reconstruction
the Anti-Imperialist League
Manifest Destiny

2. Which of the following did Mahan not believe was needed to build an American empire?
a navy
military bases around the world
the reopening of the American frontier
a canal through Central America

3. Why were the Midway Islands important to American expansion?

4. Which is not one of the reasons the Anti-Imperial League gave for opposing the creation of an American empire?
fear of competition from foreign workers
fear that the United States would suffer a foreign invasion
concerns about the integration of other races
concerns that empire building ran counter to American democratic principles

5. What was the role of the Taft Commission?

6. What challenges did the U.S. military have to overcome in the Spanish-American War? What accounted for the nation’s eventual victory?

7. How did Hay’s suggestion of an open door policy in China benefit the United States over other nations?
The United States produced goods of better quality and lower cost than other countries.
The United States enjoyed a historically stronger relationship with the Chinese government.
The United States was the only nation granted permission to collect taxes on the goods it traded within China’s borders.
The United States controlled more foreign ports than other countries.

8. How did the Boxer Rebellion strengthen American ties with China?
The United States supported the rebels and gained their support.
The United States provided troops to fight the rebels.
The United States sent arms and financial support to the Chinese government.
The United States thwarted attempts by Great Britain and Germany to fortify the rebels.

9. How does the “Open Door notes” episode represent a new, nonmilitary tactic in the expansion of the American empire?

10. How did Colombia react to the United States’ proposal to construct a canal through Central America?
They preferred to build such a canal themselves.
They preferred that no canal be built at all.
They agreed to sell land to the United States to build the canal, but in a less advantageous location than the Panamanians.
They felt that Roosevelt’s deal offered too little money.

11. With the Roosevelt Corollary, Roosevelt sought to establish ________.
the consequences for any European nation that involved itself in Latin American affairs
the right of the United States to involve itself in Latin American affairs whenever necessary
the idea that Latin America was free and independent from foreign intervention
the need for further colonization efforts in the Western Hemisphere

12. Compare Roosevelt’s foreign policy in Latin America and Asia. Why did he employ these different methods?

13. Why did some Central American nations object to Taft’s paying off their debt to Europe with U.S. dollars?
because American currency wasn’t worth as much as local currencies
because they felt it gave the United States too much leverage
because they were forced to give land grants to the United States in return
because they wanted Asian countries to pay off their debts instead

14. What two countries were engaged in a negotiation that the Lodge Corollary disallowed?
Mexico and Japan
Nicaragua and France
Colombia and Japan
Mexico and Spain

15. What problems did Taft’s foreign policy create for the United States?