Social Studies Midterm 8th Grade

Imperialism

the policy of powerful countries seeking to control the economic and political affairs of weaker countries or regions.

Isolationism

a national policy of avoiding involvement in other countries’ affairs.

Foreign Policy

actions that a nation takes in relation to other nations

Domestic Policy

actions that a nation takes to deal with internal issues

Why did the American economy need new foreign markets in the late 1800’s? What were other reasons for imperialism?

Business people wanted new markets for their manufactured goods.  Countries wanted new sources of raw materials.  Obtaining colonies was seen as a source of national pride.

Why was Commodore Perry sent to Japan in 1854? Why was he successful?

To open up trade with Japan.  Four warships were sent to Tokyo Bay, it didn’t work.  He returned to Japan a year later with 7 warships, and gifts, and opened 2 ports to trade.  

Why was Alaska called “Seward’s Folly”? Why was that nickname not a good one? 1867

People thought that Alaska was a frozen wasteland and a waste of money. This was a bad nickname because it happened to be the second-best land deal in U.S. history.  We bought Alaska for $7.2 million, 5 cents/acre.  It was full of many natural resources such as oil, natural gas, timber, gold, fish, copper, fur etc…  

Why did overseas expansion of trade make a large navy necessary?

A large navy was necessary to protect American merchant ships, and also to control distant regions.

Why was Hawaii irresistible to the U.S.? How did we acquire Hawaii?

Hawaii has rich soil for growing pineapples and sugar cane.  It is also a perfect spot for Asia bound merchant ships and military vessels to stay at port.  American businessmen had millions of dollars invested in plantations here. U.S. Marines landed on the shores of Hawaii to force Queen Liliuokalani to accept a new constitution which gave American planters more power.  Hawaii was annexed in 1898. 

Roosevelt and the Panama Canal- why did we want it?

1. greatly benefit American commerce and military capability.

2. shorten trip from New York to San Francisco nearly 8,000 miles.

“Big Stick Policy”- how did we get it?

When Colombia wouldn’t let the U.S. buy the land for the Panama Canal, Roosevelt sent down a battleship to support a Panama revolution.  Panama became independent and agreed to let the U.S. build a canal.

What were the Difficulties in Construction

1.  Mosquitoes carried malaria and yellow fever- but were exterminated by Dr. Gorgas

2. 40,000 workers struggled to dig the canal

Roosevelt Corollary and Big Stick Policy

A. The United States will use its military to promote its interests- words will be backed up by strong action. “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

B. The United States had the right to intervene in Latin America

Dollar Diplomacy- Taft

A. Policy of building economic ties to Latin America in the early 1900’s.

B. Taft “Substitute dollars for bullets.”

Moral Diplomacy- Wilson

Lead by example

Yellow Journalism

Sensational stories that were biased or untrue about Spanish cruelties to Cubans

De Lome Letter

written by the Spanish Minister to the U.S. calling McKinley weak

Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Secretary of the Navy later to become President

Americans under Admiral Dewey destroy the Spanish Fleet within hours at the

Battle of Manila Bay

Teddy Roosevelt organized

“The Rough Riders” in Cuba where they took San Juan Hill.

Platt Amendment

US can intervene in Cuban affairs and Naval base at Guantanamo Bay

Why did people call it “The Gilded Age”, as opposed to “The Golden Age”?

Because it looked good from the outside, but underneath there were problems

What were some of the problems in government and society during the Gilded Age?

Poverty, government corruption, bad working and living conditions

What is a Civil Service job?

A government job- an example is a Federal job