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Hansen
US History
Name ___________
Unit III- The Rise of American Power- Study Guide
A Basic History of Imperialism
 Vocab- Colony, Protectorate, Sphere of Influence, Annexation, and Imperialism
 In which century did Old Imperialism mainly occur? In what hemisphere? Who did the
imperializing and who was imperialized? What factors made this Old Imperialism possible
(disease!)
 In which century did Old Imperialism end? Which revolting colony was the model for the revolts
that spread across the New World? How do the languages in the New World today leave a legacy
of Old Imperialism?
 In which century did New Imperialism begin? In what hemisphere/continents? What factors made
New Imperialism possible? (Think medicines and technologies.) Which European nation became
the dominant New Imperialist and what was its cocky phrase relating to this role?
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What arguments existed in favor and against the U.S., in particular, joining in the New Imperial
game?
 What rationale did the U.S. use to make it seem Ok to imperialize? Think about the Roosevelt
Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, trade, military bases, White Man’s Burden, and moral
diplomacy.
The Spanish American War
 What were American interests in Cuba (both righteous and selfish)?
 Understand the factors that led America into war with the current owner of Cuba, including:
treatment of Cubans- concentration camps, Yellow Journalism, the Maine, and an intercepted note
 Know the mystery involved to this day in the sinking of the Maine
 Where did the U.S. first attack Spain, and why there?
 Who was Admiral Dewey and why is he famous?
 Who won this war, and what did the victor get (Treaty of Paris)? How was this important to the
growth of the United States?
American Colonies, Protectorates, and Spheres of Influence
 The Philippines
o What was the shared goal of American and Filipino’s (for example, Aguinaldo) at the
beginning of the fighting in the Philippines?
o What changed the American and Filipino goals? (this is a complicated question with
multiple answers)
o Why did the U.S. ultimately need to perpetrate mass death in the Philippines?
o How were African-American soldiers in an unusually bad position in his fight?
 Hawaii
o What economic value did the U.S. see in Hawaii?
o Who did the U.S. fear might seize this economic value if we didn’t?
o Know that Queen Lilikoulani was ordered to accept a set of rules imposed by Americans
against her wishes and that Hawaii became a state because marines seized it against the
wishes of the current president.
 Panama
o Know that Panamanians were supported in a revolution against their Columbian by
America. Know why America was so nice.
 Cuba
o Know that the U.S. forced Cuba to accept the Foraker Act, which forbid Cuba from doing
anything that might harm the United States.
 Mexico
o Understand that the U.S. became involved in Mexico as part of or Moral Diplomacy. In
other words, we thought that the government of Mexico was undemocratic, and it was our
aim to fix it.
o Also, be aware that the U.S. physically invaded Mexico to punish bandits such as Pancho
Villa and Emiliano Zapata, who rejected the government that America finally decided to
support in Mexico, despite the fact that this government was not fully democratic (but
o
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promised to protect American economic interests]. Know that these bandits had killed
Americans in protest.
The U.S. incursions into Mexico infuriated Mexicans. These tension were put on hold,
but not eliminated, when WWI started.
China
o
Understand that China was falling apart in the late 19th century and that Europeans had
been moving in to secure spheres of influence.
o Know how this led to the American Open Door Policy and what this policy was.
o Know what the Boxer Rebellion was, whether it was successful, and its basic impact on
China.
Puerto Rico
o Know that Puerto Rico was made into a territory, giving its people some rights, but not
full citizenship or statehood.
World War I
 Know, in detail, the four M.A.I.N. causes of WWI. Be able to connect the ‘M’ to the industrial
revolution, understand how the ‘M’ is a paradox, how the ‘I’ connects to the rest of this unit, and
how the ‘N’ connects to Social Darwinism.
 Know the names of the alliance groups during the war and the key countries on each side. Know
Italy’s unusual decision at the start of the war. Know that the U.S. declared neutrality for the first
three years of the war.
 Know the many factors that caused the U.S. to lean towards the Allies as the war went on. In
particular, think about investments, Belgium, the Lusitania, the Zimmerman Telegram, and the
collapse of Russia.
 Know the year in which the U.S. joined the war and on which side.
 Know the unique style of fighting in WWI and the impacts of this new style. Know why the style
of fighting was so different in the early 20 th century.
 Know the impacts of the war on the American home front. Think- Daylight savings, Liberty
Bonds, greater gov control of the economy, propaganda, and the Espionage and Sedition Acts.
 Know the ironic gains made by minority groups in America as a result of the war. Think women,
Great Migration, etc.
 Know about the influenza pandemic that followed the war.
 Know that the U.S. role in WWI led to the acceptance of the U.S. as a first rate power.
Below this line is the new stuff, added on 11-30
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Understand Wilson’s three main goals as part of the Fourteen Points
o Preventing Future War
o Settling European Border Disputes – Self Determination
o League of Nations
Know why Wilson’s goals were largely rejected, and which Europeans were key in rejecting them
Know that the Treaty of Versailles replaced Wilson’s Fourteen Points. Know its three long term
basic flaws
o German humiliation
o Russian humiliation
o Non-white humiliation (related to lost self-determination)
Know (generally) what happened to the disintegrated pieces of the Ottoman Empire
Understand why the U.S. didn’t join the League of Nations, including the role of Conservative
senators (led by Henry Cabot Lodge) and the role of Wilson’s failing health
Finally, know the basic big picture impacts of WWI on the U.S.
o Leading Industrial power
o New fuel for minorities’ calls for equal rights
o Women’s suffrage
o The Great Migration
o Greater government control over society
o Stronger American military
Know that problems from WWI still loomed in the background and would eventually result in
WWI