APUSH Imperialism

Here is a flashcard deck about American Imperialism, as covered in the source:

Flashcard Deck: American Imperialism (Late 19th/Early 20th Century)

Card 1

Front: What is imperialism?

Back: Imperialism is when powerful nations try to take over more land. In the late 1800s, many countries, including the United States, became imperialistic.

Card 2

Front: Why did America become imperialistic?

Back:

  • Need for new markets for American goods

  • Desire to spread Christianity

  • Desire to establish naval bases around the world

  • Belief in the superiority of American democracy

  • Social Darwinism, or the idea that stronger nations were meant to rule over weaker ones

  • Fear that if the US didn't claim territories, other, more hostile nations would

Card 3

Front: What were the arguments against American imperialism?

Back:

  • It stretched American troops too thin.

  • It distracted from domestic problems.

  • It could lead to unnecessary wars.

  • It contradicted American ideals of self-determination.

  • It could lead to job competition from people in US territories.

  • It was racist.

Card 4

Front: What was the Monroe Doctrine, and how did it relate to American imperialism?

Back: The Monroe Doctrine (1823) stated that European powers could not further colonize the Americas, and if they tried, the US would consider it an attack. It positioned the US as the "Big Brother" of the Western Hemisphere.

Card 5

Front: How did the US acquire Alaska?

Back: The source doesn't say why the US acquired Alaska, but it does state that the purchase happened.

Card 6

Front: How did the US acquire Hawaii?

Back: The US became interested in Hawaii because its sugar was duty-free, and it was home to the strategically important Pearl Harbor. In 1887, wealthy white landowners pressured the Hawaiian king to transfer power to them. The McKinley Tariff of 1890 ended the duty-free status of Hawaiian sugar, leading many Americans to support annexation. In 1893, white Hawaiians, aided by the US Marines, overthrew the Hawaiian queen and established a new government.

Card 7

Front: What caused the Spanish-American War (1898)?

Back:

  • Cubans' fight for independence from Spain, which was impacting American sugar interests.

  • Concerns for the safety of Americans living in Cuba

  • Outrage over Spain's brutal treatment of Cuban rebels, fueled by sensationalized reporting known as yellow journalism.

Card 8

Front: What was the Teller Amendment?

Back: It was an amendment to the US declaration of war against Spain stating that America would not take over Cuba after winning the war.

Card 9

Front: What were the results of the Spanish-American War?

Back:

  • The US gained control of Cuba, the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

  • The war was short (113 days) with relatively few American casualties.

  • The US emerged as a world power.

  • The war fostered a sense of national unity between the North and South.

Card 10

Front: What happened in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War?

Back:

  • The US fought the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) against Filipinos who resisted American rule.

  • The US, under administrator William H. Taft, implemented programs for education, irrigation, roads, and sanitation.

Card 11

Front: What was the Platt Amendment?

Back: It gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba's affairs if its independence was threatened. This effectively made Cuba a US protectorate.

Card 12

Front: What were the Insular Cases?

Back: This was a series of Supreme Court cases that ruled that US territories did not have the same constitutional rights as US states.

Card 13

Front: What was the Open Door Policy?

Back: It was a US policy that advocated for equal trading rights for all nations in China.

Card 14

Front: What was the Boxer Rebellion?

Back: It was an uprising in China against foreign influence. The US participated in the international force that put down the rebellion.

Card 15

Front: What was the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine?

Back: It stated that the US could intervene in Latin American countries if they couldn't pay their debts, effectively making the US the "Policeman of the Caribbean."

Card 16

Front: What was Dollar Diplomacy?

Back: A policy that encouraged American businesses to invest in Latin America to promote economic stability. While it aimed to improve economies and living standards in the region, it also risked making those countries dependent on the US and led to the outsourcing of American jobs.

Card 17

Front: What was Moral Diplomacy?

Back: A policy that advocated for US involvement in other countries only for humanitarian reasons.