Flashcards U.S. History: Constitutional Principles, Industrialization, and Imperialism

What principle states that government gets its authority from the people?

Popular Sovereignty

What limits the power of government according to the Constitution?

Limited Government

What divides power between the national government and the states?

Federalism

What divides government power among three branches?

Separation of Powers

What system allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the others?

Checks & Balances

What protects individual freedoms and legal protections?

Individual Rights

Which amendment is associated with Federalism?

Tenth Amendment

What landmark case established judicial review?

Marbury v. Madison, 1803

What was Frederick Douglass's significant question in 1876?

Do you mean to make good to us the promises in your constitution?

What were the main factors that led to U.S. industrialization?

Natural resources, labor supply, capital, technology, and pro-business government.

What was the length of railroads in the U.S. in 1865 compared to 1900?

1865: 35,000 miles; 1900: 193,000 miles

Who controlled 3/5 of steel production in the U.S.?

Andrew Carnegie

What company controlled approximately 90% of the U.S. oil business by 1881?

Standard Oil, owned by John D. Rockefeller

What were some effects of industrialization by the 1890s?

Top 10% controlled 90% of wealth; 2/3 of Americans worked for wages.

What were the push factors for immigration during this period?

Poverty, limited jobs, overcrowded cities, religious persecution.

What were the pull factors that attracted immigrants to the U.S.?

American Dream, political freedom, religious freedom, jobs.

What was the significance of Ellis Island?

Opened in 1892 as a major immigration processing center.

What percentage of Americans lived in cities by 1900?

40%

What was the Monroe Doctrine?

A policy that warned European nations against colonization in the Americas.

What event sparked the Spanish-American War?

The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Paris in 1898 for Cuba?

Cuba gained independence.

What did the U.S. acquire from Spain for $20 million?

The Philippines

What did Emilio Aguinaldo expect after the Spanish-American War?

Independence for the Philippines.

What was the Anti-Imperialist League?

A group that opposed American imperialism.

What was the key argument of the Anti-Imperialist League?

American control of other countries was inconsistent with American ideals of liberty, democracy, and self-government.

What years did the Philippine War take place?

1899-1902.

How many U.S. troops were involved in the Philippine War?

Approximately 200,000.

How many Americans were killed in the Philippine War?

Approximately 4,300.

How many Filipinos were estimated to have been killed in the Philippine War?

As many as 250,000.

When did the Philippines gain independence?

July 1946.

What was the Open Door Policy?

A policy initiated by Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 that called for equal access to Chinese markets.

What were the goals of the Open Door Policy?

To ensure Chinese independence and equal access to Chinese markets.

What is Big Stick Diplomacy?

The policy of using military strength and diplomatic pressure to protect American interests, associated with Theodore Roosevelt.

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

An assertion that the U.S. could intervene in Latin American nations to protect its interests or prevent European intervention.

What was the significance of the Panama Canal?

It was a canal supported by Roosevelt to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enhancing U.S. trade and military movement.

What was Dollar Diplomacy?

A policy emphasized by William Howard Taft that used U.S. economic power to expand influence abroad through investment and loans.

What was Moral Diplomacy?

A policy advocated by Woodrow Wilson that aimed to promote democracy and moral principles in foreign policy.

How did Wilson's Moral Diplomacy differ from Roosevelt's Big Stick Diplomacy?

Moral Diplomacy focused on promoting democracy and moral governance rather than military strength.

What was the role of yellow journalism in the Spanish-American War?

It sensationalized news to provoke public support for the war against Spain.

What event triggered the Spanish-American War?

The Cuban revolt against Spanish repression.

What was the Treaty of Paris?

The agreement that ended the Spanish-American War, resulting in the U.S. becoming an imperial power.

What was the significance of the U.S.S. Maine?

Its sinking was a catalyst for the U.S. declaration of war against Spain.

Who was Frederick Douglass?

An important figure advocating for constitutional promises and individual rights.

What did Andrew Carnegie contribute to American industry?

He was a key figure in the steel industry and promoted vertical integration.

What was the impact of industrialization on urbanization?

It led to crowded cities, tenements, and various social problems.

What were the push factors for immigration during industrialization?

Reasons that compelled people to leave their home countries, such as economic hardship or persecution.

What were the pull factors for immigration during industrialization?

Reasons that attracted people to the U.S., such as job opportunities and the promise of a better life.

What year was Alaska purchased by the U.S.?

1867.

What year did Hawaii officially become a U.S. territory?

1900.

What was the significance of the Spanish-American War for the U.S.?

It marked the U.S. emergence as an imperial power.