Quiz 2 American Foreign Policy

What role did sugar play in the annexation of Hawaii?

American sugar planters in Hawaii lost tariff-free access to the U.S. market after 1890, which hurt their profits. This economic pressure pushed them to seek annexation for security and trade advantages, though the main U.S. motive was strategic security.

What is the most likely reason the U.S. fought the Spanish-American War?

To secure U.S. strategic interests in the Caribbean and Pacific, support Cuban independence, and prevent European powers from maintaining colonies near the U.S.

Why did the U.S. choose to retain the Philippines after the Spanish-American War?

For security reasons—to prevent other imperial powers (Germany, Japan, Britain) from taking them and to use the Philippines as a base for projecting U.S. power in Asia.

What is ‘nation building’? What is the goal of ‘nation-building’?

Nation-building is when a foreign power invests in building infrastructure, education, governance, and institutions in another country. The goal is to create a stable, self-governing state that can survive without outside control.

How did the U.S. do nation-building in the Philippines?

By building roads, schools, and hospitals, banning exploitative land sales, guaranteeing Filipino bonds, and raising taxes on wealthy Filipinos to fund development. This reduced death rates and helped modernize the islands.

How do governments raise money by selling bonds?

A government issues bonds (IOUs) to investors, promising repayment with interest. This allows the government to borrow money for expenses and development.

Before 1904, who was the largest creditor in Latin America: U.S. bankers and investors or European bankers and investors?

European bankers and investors.

Before WWI, how would European major powers treat smaller countries that could not pay their debts?

They often used gunboat diplomacy—sending warships, bombarding ports, or seizing customs revenues until debts were repaid.

How did the U.S. cause the economy of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) to recover after the crisis of 1904–05?

The U.S. arranged a receivership: it collected Dominican customs revenues, used them to pay off debts, and reassured investors. This restored credit and encouraged American investment, leading to rapid recovery.

Do you think the U.S. invaded many Central American and Caribbean countries between 1905–1920s to promote industrial exports? Why or why not?

Likely not—the main motive was security (keeping Europeans out) and protecting American property rights. Industrial exports to the region were limited and not the main driver.

From 1905–1920s, did the U.S. want Central American and Caribbean economies to be weak or strong? Why?

Strong—the U.S. wanted stable, prosperous economies that could repay debts, attract investment, and avoid European intervention. The U.S. promoted this through investment guarantees and military interventions when necessary.

What was the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine? What was its most likely motive?

It declared that the U.S. could intervene in Latin American nations to maintain stability and ensure debt repayment. The motive was to protect American property rights and prevent European powers from using debt as an excuse to intervene.

How might the U.S. have affected global norms with the settlement of WWI?

By promoting Wilson’s Fourteen Points (self-determination, collective security, League of Nations), the U.S. helped establish new ideas of global governance and international law, even though it didn’t join the League.

In what way is the U.S. not a normal country?

It is unusually large and wealthy, with an outsized economy (the largest global market), meaning its policies affect the entire world economy.

In what might the U.S. have accidentally contributed to the problems that led to WWII?

By refusing to join the League of Nations, raising tariffs (Smoot-Hawley), and failing to stabilize the global economy, the U.S. contributed to international instability and the Great Depression, which fueled extremism.

After WWI, what might the U.S. have done differently to avoid WWII?

It could have joined the League of Nations, helped manage reparations, maintained open trade, and taken responsibility as the leading global economy instead of retreating into isolationism.