empirialism

Question 1

Imperialism (Economic / Military / Political)

Answer 1

A policy where stronger nations extend control over weaker territories for economic, military, or political purposes. Example: The U.S. annexing Hawaii for its economic and military value.

Question 2

Coup D’etat

Answer 2

A sudden, often violent overthrow of a government by a small group. Example: The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani during the Hawaiian annexation.

Question 3

Yellow Journalism

Answer 3

Sensationalized news intended to provoke public emotion and sway opinion. Example: Newspapers exaggerating Spanish cruelty to spark support for the Spanish-American War.

Question 4

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Answer 4

Naval strategist (late 19th century) advocating sea power as the key to national strength. His ideas influenced the U.S. expansion of its navy and imperial ambitions.

Question 5

Sec. of State William H. Seward

Answer 5

Oversaw the 1867 Alaska Purchase, securing vast resources and strategic advantages for the U.S., which critics initially mocked as “Seward’s Folly.”

Question 6

Queen Liliuokalani

Answer 6

Hawaiian monarch overthrown in 1893 by U.S.-backed planters. Her removal paved the way for Hawaii’s annexation.

Question 7

Pres. Grover Cleveland

Answer 7

Opposed U.S. involvement in the Hawaiian coup and delayed annexation, supporting native sovereignty during his presidency.

Question 8

Pres. William McKinley

Answer 8

Supported U.S. expansionism, annexed Hawaii (1898), and led the U.S. into the Spanish-American War, solidifying the nation’s imperial power.

Question 9

William Randolph Hearst

Answer 9

Publisher whose sensationalist journalism (“yellow journalism”) helped incite U.S. public support for the Spanish-American War.

Question 10

Alaska Purchase

Answer 10

Cause: Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million to avoid British encroachment.
Effect: The U.S. gained vast resources and strategic territory, proving its value later during the Gold Rush.

Question 11

Hawaiian Annexation

Answer 11

Cause: Economic interests in sugar plantations and strategic military positioning.
Effect: Hawaii became a U.S. territory, later achieving statehood in 1959.

Question 12

Spanish-American War

Answer 12

Cause: U.S. intervention in Cuba’s fight for independence, spurred by yellow journalism and the USS Maine’s explosion.
Effect: The U.S. emerged as a global power, gaining Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Question 13

Insurrection

Answer 13

A violent uprising against authority or government. Example: The Filipino resistance during the Philippine-American War.

Question 14

Sakoku (Isolation) / Unequal Treaties / Meiji Restoration / Westernization

Answer 14

Sakoku: Japan’s isolationist policy pre-1854.
Unequal Treaties: Forced trade agreements favoring Western powers after Japan’s opening.
Meiji Restoration: Japan’s rapid modernization post-1868.
Example: The Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) ending Japan’s isolation.

Question 15

Open Door Policies

Answer 15

U.S. policy advocating equal trade access in China to prevent colonization. Example: John Hay’s notes during the Boxer Rebellion.

Question 16

Emilio Aguinaldo

Answer 16

Filipino revolutionary leader who fought against Spanish and later U.S. colonial rule during the Philippine-American War.

Question 17

Empress Dowager Cixi

Answer 17

Conservative Qing ruler who resisted Western reforms, indirectly leading to China’s decline and the Boxer Rebellion.

Question 18

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt

Answer 18

Brokered the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905), ending the Russo-Japanese War, and sent the Great White Fleet to demonstrate U.S. naval power.

Question 19

Sec. of State John Hay

Answer 19

Promoted the Open Door Policy, ensuring U.S. trade rights in China without direct colonization.

Question 20

The Boxers (Society of Righteous & Harmonious Fists)

Answer 20

Anti-foreign, anti-Christian Chinese militants whose rebellion led to international intervention in 1900.

Question 21

Eight-Nation Alliance

Answer 21

Coalition of nations, including the U.S., that crushed the Boxer Rebellion to protect foreign interests in China.

Question 22

Perry Expedition / Treaty of Kanagawa

Answer 22

Cause: U.S. sought trade with isolated Japan.
Effect: Opened Japanese ports, ending sakoku and sparking the Meiji Restoration.

Question 23

Philippine-American War / Balangiga Massacre

Answer 23

Cause: Filipino resistance to U.S. annexation.
Effect: Brutal conflict and U.S. dominance over the Philippines.

Question 24

Boxer Rebellion

Answer 24

Cause: Rising anti-foreign sentiment in China due to Western exploitation.
Effect: Suppressed by the Eight-Nation Alliance, increasing foreign control.

Question 25

Russo-Japanese War / Treaty of Portsmouth

Answer 25

Cause: Rivalry over control of Korea and Manchuria. Effect: Japan emerged as a modern power; treaty mediated by Roosevelt.

Question 26

Great White Fleet

Answer 26

Cause: Roosevelt’s desire to showcase U.S. naval strength. Effect: Strengthened U.S. global influence and deterred potential adversaries.

Question 27

Monroe Doctrine / Roosevelt Corollary

Answer 27

Monroe Doctrine: Declared the Americas off-limits to European intervention. Roosevelt Corollary: Asserted U.S. right to intervene in Latin America. Example: U.S. involvement in the Dominican Republic to stabilize finances.

Question 28

Isthmus

Answer 28

A narrow land bridge connecting two larger land masses. Example: The Isthmus of Panama, critical for canal construction.

Question 29

Dollar Diplomacy

Answer 29

U.S. policy of using economic power to influence foreign nations. Example: Investment in Central American countries to stabilize their economies.

Question 30

“Banana Republics”

Answer 30

Politically unstable countries dependent on exporting a single crop. Example: U.S. corporate influence in Central American nations like Guatemala.

Question 31

Pres. William H. Taft

Answer 31

Promoted "Dollar Diplomacy" to expand U.S. economic influence in Latin America and East Asia.

Question 32

United Fruit Company

Answer 32

A U.S. corporation that dominated Central American economies, often influencing local politics and creating “banana republics.”

Question 33

Francisco “Pancho” Villa

Answer 33

Mexican revolutionary who opposed U.S. intervention, leading to the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916.

Question 34

Gen. John J. Pershing

Answer 34

Led the Pancho Villa Expedition, showcasing U.S. military strength despite its failure to capture Villa.

Question 35

Banana Wars

Answer 35

Cause: U.S. desire to protect economic and political interests in Latin America. Effect: U.S. military interventions reinforced its dominance in the region

Question 36

Purchase & Construction of Panama Canal

Answer 36

Cause: Need for a faster maritime route between the Atlantic and Pacific. Effect: Revolutionized global trade and solidified U.S. control over Panama.

Question 37

Mexican Revolution / Pancho Villa Expedition

Answer 37

Cause: Mexican instability and Villa's raids on U.S. soil. Effect: Demonstrated U.S. military readiness but strained U.S.-Mexico relations. Mexican Revolution, (1910–20), a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted ultimately in the end of the 30-year dictatorship in Mexico and the establishment of a constitutional republic.

Question 38

Pancho Villa Expedition

Answer 38

In 1916, U.S. forces led by General John J. Pershing entered Mexico to capture revolutionary leader Pancho Villa after his raids on U.S. soil. Though unsuccessful, it demonstrated U.S. military readiness and strained U.S.-Mexico relations. Connection: Francisco "Pancho" Villa: His raid on Columbus, New Mexico, provoked the expedition. Gen. John J. Pershing: Led the U.S. forces during the expedition. Imperialism Type: Military Imperialism: Demonstrated U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere under the Roosevelt Corollary.

Question 39

Panamanian Revolution

Answer 39

Summary: In 1903, the U.S. supported Panama’s independence from Colombia to secure control over the construction and operation of the Panama Canal. Connection: Isthmus: The narrow land bridge of Panama was crucial for the canal's construction. Dollar Diplomacy: The U.S. invested heavily in Panama to ensure the canal's economic success. Imperialism Type: Economic Imperialism: Secured a critical trade route, showcasing U.S. interest in controlling global commerce.

Question 40

The Samoan Crisis

Answer 40

Summary: In the late 19th century, the U.S., Germany, and Britain competed for control of the Samoan Islands, leading to a tense standoff resolved through diplomacy in 1899. Connection: Alfred Thayer Mahan: Advocated for naval bases like Samoa to strengthen U.S. power. Imperialism Type: Military Imperialism: Securing Samoa provided a strategic naval base in the Pacific for the U.S. Navy.

Question 41

Franco-Prussian War

Answer 41

Summary: In 1870-1871, Prussia defeated France, unifying Germany and shifting the balance of power in Europe. The war's outcome influenced global imperial ambitions by showcasing the importance of military strength. Connection: Coup D’etat: Napoleon III's defeat led to a collapse of his regime and political instability in France. Imperialism Type: Military Imperialism: Highlighted the role of military victories in expanding and consolidating national power.

Question 42

Russo-Japanese War

Answer 42

Summary: In 1904-1905, Japan defeated Russia in a conflict over control of Korea and Manchuria. The war marked Japan’s emergence as a modern imperial power. Connection: Pres. Theodore Roosevelt: Mediated the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the war. Meiji Restoration: Japan's modernization efforts enabled its victory. Imperialism Type: Political Imperialism: Japan expanded its influence in Asia, asserting dominance over regional politics.

Question 43

First Sino-Japanese War

Answer 43

Summary: In 1894-1895, Japan defeated China, gaining control of Korea and Taiwan and proving its status as an imperial power. Connection: Unequal Treaties: China’s defeat led to another set of unfavorable agreements with foreign powers. Westernization: Japan’s adoption of modern military tactics contributed to its success. Imperialism Type: Military Imperialism: Japan used military strength to secure new territories and assert regional dominance.

Question 44

How did the Roosevelt Corollary influence U.S. actions during the Panamanian Revolution?

Answer 44

It justified U.S. intervention in Panama’s independence from Colombia to protect American economic interests and establish dominance in Latin America.

Question 45

What was the significance of Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War for Western imperial powers?

Answer 45

Japan’s victory challenged the notion of European dominance by showing that a modernized Asian nation could rival and defeat a Western power in imperial conflicts.

Question 46

Why was Samoa considered strategically important during the Samoan Crisis?

Answer 46

Its location provided a critical naval base for the U.S. to project power in the Pacific and secure trade routes, supporting Alfred Thayer Mahan’s naval theories.

Question 47

What were the costs and benefits of the United States becoming a global power?

Answer 47

Benefits: Economic growth (Hawaiian annexation) and military power (naval bases). Costs: Ethical concerns (coup in Hawaii) and resource strain (Spanish-American War).

Question 48

Why was the United States so committed to opening and controlling Asia?

Answer 48

To access Asian markets (Open Door Policies) and compete with European powers (Perry Expedition).

Question 49

Why did the United States intervene or interfere in Latin America?

Answer 49

To protect economic interests (Banana Republics) and control trade routes (Panama Canal).