1. What is imperialism?
Imperialism is a policy or practice by which a country extends its power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.
2. What were the reasons for American imperialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s?
Economic interests (new markets and resources), military strategy (naval bases and global power), belief in cultural superiority (Manifest Destiny, Social Darwinism), and political competition with European powers.
3. Why was overseas expansion of the United States considered a foreign affair?
Because it involved acquiring territories and exerting influence beyond U.S. borders, requiring diplomacy, treaties, and international relations with other sovereign nations or colonial powers.
4. How did the acquisition of territories affect the United States’ role in world affairs?
It transformed the U.S. into a global imperial power with overseas possessions, increased its strategic and economic influence worldwide, and led to greater involvement in international conflicts and diplomacy.
5. What was the significance of the Spanish-American War in American imperialism?
It marked the emergence of the U.S. as a major imperial power, resulting in the acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and demonstrated America’s growing military and global reach.
6. Why might acquiring these places be considered controversial?
Because it raised questions about democracy and self-determination (governing non-consenting peoples), racial attitudes toward colonized populations, the cost of maintaining overseas territories, and whether expansion aligned with American founding principles.
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