APUSH Imperialism Unit Assessment Questions

1.        US exerted control over Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, China, Panama, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Haiti between 1895 and 1917. US exerted control over Hawaii by annexing it and supporting groups of revolutionary white planters to overthrow the queen. Sugar tycoons overthrew the queen and established government. During the Spanish-American war, US seized Cuba and Puerto Rico. The US passed the Platt Amendment in 1901 to limit Cuba’s ability to make treaties with other countries. It also authorized the US to intervene in Cuban affairs. The US treated Puerto Rico like a territory. They passed the Foraker Act to give the US the power to appoint the governor and upper legislative of Puerto Rico. They later passed the Jones- Shafroth Act which allowed Puerto Ricans to have their own civilian government. Yet, it also gave the governor and President of the US veto power over laws in Cuba. They also had power to stop legislation and control economic matters, mail service, immigration, and defense. In the Philippines, the US sent missionaries to convert the people, had business men clamor the Philippine market, and made the Philippines a protectorate. In response, the Philippines strongly disliked how the US did not grant them independence and began to rebel. The Philippine-American lasted from February 4, 1899 to July 4, 1902. In China, the US tried to establish its own “sphere of influence”. They didn’t want foreign powers to monopolize China. Therefore they set up many trade deals and sent many active missionaries. Secretary of State John Hay established the Open Door Note in 1899. The US also helped to finance and send troops to suppress the Boxer Rebellion. They then continued to exploit trade in China and use dollar diplomacy. The US used gunboat diplomacy to secure Panama from Columbia during the Columbia Revolution to build the Panama Canal. They then negotiated the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty to widen the canal zone to 10 miles and in return, pay the New Panama Canal Company $40 million. Dollar Diplomacy was also evident in countries such as Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, and Haiti, although it was only successful in the latter two. In the Dominican Republic specifically, the US accepted a treaty in 1905 that made the Dominican Republic a protectorate of the US. The US would invest heavily in these weaker countries to lift them out of debt, and thus gain economic leverage over these countries. These countries would then become dependent on the US, who would then exploit the country’s natural resources. One of the main reasons for American imperialism was the fact that the US was running out of resources, therefore, using dollar diplomacy to gain access to these resources was justified in the eyes of the US. In Haiti and Mexico, moral diplomacy was also evident to protect US interests in the area and to promote democracy. In Haiti, the US government and bankers collaborated to take control of Haiti’s national bank, therefore controlling Haiti economically.

2.       The Roosevelt Corollary reaffirmed American protection over Latin America and promised to protect them with military intervention. The Venezuela Border dispute increased the prestige and revived the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine. President Cleveland warned Britain to not take Venezuela territory, saying that the US was dominant in the western hemisphere. They then mediated a border, saying that if Britain did not accept, then war would follow. As a result, Britain was kept out of Venezuela. The Samoan Crisis also revived the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine. The US battled Germany for control of the Samoan Islands. Although the Germans were not completely kicked out, the US limited their influence in the area. The Spanish-American War greatly revitalized the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine. The US did not like how the Cubans were being brutally treated by the Spanish. The US won the war, and therefore expelled the Spanish from the region and gained many territories in the Pacific, like the Philippines.

3.       The US’s reaction to the Mexican Revolution was one that tried to parallel the ideology of Moral Diplomacy. They intervened by supporting the rebels trying to overthrow the government. They did so by giving arms to these rebel groups. They also collaborated with certain foreign countries to ensure that their national interests would be protected and promoted in Mexico. The US’s goal during the Mexican Revolution was to establish a pro-American government in Mexico that was both democratic and supportive of US interests. Therefore, by supporting rebel groups, if these groups gained power then they would be indebted to the US.

4.      Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy and Woodrow Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy had some similarities and differences. Yet, in the end, it was Teddy’s Big Stick Policy that leads me to believe that he was the more successful President. Big Stick Policy meant that if you “speak softly and carry a biog stick, you will go far”. By negotiating peacefully, but with a formidable threat of force the US could get other country’s to succumb to their interests without having to actually fight them. This policy proved useful in many cases, for example, in the Panama Canal where the US exhibited gunboat diplomacy. TR also sent around his “Great White Fleet” to promote the perception of American military strength to JapanTakahira Agreement, in which both sides would respect each other’s territorial possessions in the Pacific and follow the Open Door policy in China. Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy was less successful for many reasons. First, it contradicted itself. This is because moral diplomacy advocated economic pressure on non-democratic countries or countries that didn’t support US interests, all without the use of force. Economic pressure was enforced through embargoes. Yet, in the end, force had to be used. Moral diplomacy ended up failing because it led to nations heavily resenting the US, like Mexico. It also inevitably led to the use of arms and overprotected American corporations. It was such a despised policy that it was heavily abandoned in the 1920s. Big Stick Policy was more successful than Moral Diplomacy because Big Stick accomplished more than Moral did. Therefore, Teddy was the more successful President.

5.       DBQ

6.       Traditional American values of freedom and citizenship for all were blatantly dismissed during America’s imperialistic conquest. This was evident in numerous occasions. For example, the US passed the Platt Amendment on Cuba to exert control over them in treaty making and they exploited Cuba’s resources. The use of Dollar and Moral Diplomacy to take control of a country economically and make them dependent on the US was also a direct contradiction to the US’s values of democracy and self-determination. Dollar Diplomacy was used to control countries like Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua to keep foreign funds out and take over the country economically. The US did not allow the Philippines to gain their independence, and instead, made them into a protectorate. Although the Jones-Shafroth Act allowed Puerto Ricans to establish a civilian government, there were many implications that went along with the Act; the US had the right to veto laws, stop legislation, and exhibit control over economic matters, mail services, immigration, and defense. Cuba and the Philippines were both fighting for their independence, prior to the Spanish-American War. Although the US supported their independence, they ultimately did not grant them full independence. This US hypocrisy was scorned upon by foreign powers.  

The Jungle DBQ Thesis

“…hams, which had been spoiled in pickle…poisoned rats lying about…dung of rats covering them”, described Upton Sinclair in a letter to President Roosevelt. Outraged and in disbelief, numerous journalists and authors across the nation captured this horrific tale and made it aware throughout the country. The meatpacking command has made the factories a near-death camp, as shown with evidence in the articles. With substantial evidence from both government investigation and eyewitness accounts on the horrendously unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, Upton Sinclair is validated to pursue his goals on reforming the meatpacking industry, as mentioned in his novel The Jungle. 

Taking of the West Questions

1. US relations with Native Americans grew worse in the Civil War. This can be accounted for the fact that American troops had to be withdrawn from their posts in the west, which made the posts more vulnerable to Native American attacks. The Civil War also drained the US of it’s money, so it could not pay its annuity to the Indians. Many Indians, like the Sioux, starved because they had not received their payments. As a result, fighting ensued. Chief Little Crow encouraged fighting the Americans, which would last for more than a decade. As Americans kept expanding west and as Native Americans grew angry at their continuous loss of land, the two constantly clashed.

2. a. The hostility felt by Americans toward Native Americans was deeply rooted in the fact that they viewed the Indians as savages.  They didn’t view the Indians as equals. This led to various massacres and wars out in the west between the two entities. This disrespect showed up in many ways, for example, the mutilation of corpses after the Dakota Uprising.

b. The goal of the Dawes Plan was to grant landholding to Native Americans. This replaced communal landholdings which occurred in the past and assimilated Native American tribes into American society.  I disapprove of the plan because it acted as a scapegoat for the American government. The Native Americans were being offered a small amount of land and the American government ignored the cultural aspects that would be impacted

3. The government had a big role in the settling of the west. They constantly encouraged settlement of the west to the people.  They sponsored numerous railroad and canal projects to make the expansion process easier for the people. The government was a driving and controlling force for settlement, as it granted generous amounts of land to people who decided to settle. Some adventuresome individuals that aspired for gold rode this government intervention and therefore had an easier process of transporting to the west in search for gold or a better life.

4. The “New South” conformed to its rhetoric because of the many changes it experienced. King Cotton was beginning to lose ground, as it was believed to be the cause of the South’s defeat.  Tobacco, rice, and cane sugar became a popular cash crop. This diversification of crops helped the south grow less dependent on cotton, and boosted its recovery. The South began to manufacture more, using cotton mills.  Coal, iron, and limestone also drove the New South, as steel was also produced. By the 1900, Southern coal production has increased by five million tons. The South also became more industrialized with hydroelectricity and more railroads. Paper was also greatly produced because the arm climate allowed for a quick regeneration of trees.

5. Blacks improved economically and politically. Emancipation and the passage of the 13^th, 14, and 15^th amendments gave blacks citizenship and let them have more opportunities economically. Yet, there was little improvement socially. This racism kept on living even after the Civil War, and inspired such things like the Black Codes, the KKK, and the Jim Crow Laws. The South’s loss in the Civil War and it’s struggles in reconstruction generated a lot of bad temper, which sought blacks as a scapegoat. The harsh racism and segregation made it hard for blacks to assimilate into society, and also proved that attitudes towards blacks had not changed so much from the antebellum times.

6. This high level of competitiveness can be contributed to many things. Post-war sentiments still float in the atmosphere and lead groups of 

different regions to despise each other. There were heavy economic and social issues in the country and different parties sought different ways to fix it. Also, the presidency of Grant and his administration proved to be an utter disaster, as corruption was rampant throughout. The Panic of 1873 made the situation worse, as the treasury was lacking funds. House of Representatives switched six times between 1869 and 1891. There was also a high level of voter turnout. Yet, despite the heavy competition, none of the parties provided worthy presidents, as there was an era of forgettable presidents.  Patronage and bribery dominated politics throughout the era. Garfield’s assassination by another office seeker only made the level of tension and competition worse.

APUSH Lesson V HW

Reactions to the end of the war and the death of President Lincoln were mixed, but ultimately, they became uniform. The North’s reaction to the end of the war was one of pride and happiness that the war was over. Their economy  was still intact and was running strong as ever. Also the North won, so they would be able to decide what to do with the South. Many abolitionists were glad that slavery would come to an end. The South’s reaction could also be said to be one of happiness since the war was over. It was long and took a heavy toll. The South’s economy was devastated after the war. Entire cities were burned to the ground. Free labor was not available anymore so plantations were collapsing. The South’s main export, cotton, could not be produced in such quantities as from before. The South also lost much of its youth and vigor to the war. It’s political power was also shattered due to the fact that they lost the war and were at the mercy of the North. So in overall, the North was happy that the war was over and it was still in good shape, and that it had a greater amount of political power. The South, on the other hand, was also happy the the war was over, but only because it would mean the end of the Union’s army destruction their farmlands and cities. Other than that, they could be described as very frustrated and angry because they lost a lot and now they still had to pay the price for losing the war.
At first, the reactions to Lincoln’s death were mixed, but eventually, those who found satisfaction in Lincoln’s death thought otherwise. Northerners became more bitter and hostile toward the South, particularly because they believed that Confederate leadership, including Jefferson Davis, had devised the assassination plot. But in all, the Northerners, particularly recently freed African Americans, mourned Lincoln’s death. Since Lincoln died at the height of his fame, he became a martyr for the nation and its struggle for equality. The South, at first was satisfied that Lincoln had died, due to the fact that they saw Lincoln as the man who ordered the destruction of their farmlands and cities. But eventually, they wished that Lincoln had not died, for Lincoln’s plans of Reconstruction were moderate, and thus far less severe than the Reconstruction plans of the radicals in Congress.

APUSH Lesson V Appomattox Analysis

April 9, 1865 marked the day the Confederate Army began to surrender. The surrender terms put the Confederates on parole and let them go home. Officers were allowed to keep their side arms and swords. Soldiers were also allowed to keep their own horses. The terms of surrender imposed on them by the Union were just right.

The benefits of the terms were that the southerners could be reintegrated into the Union quickly and without too much hassle. It also served as a generous welcome back into the Union and didn’t humiliate the Confederates. The southerners would not feel as much resentment towards the north. As General Grant stated, “The war is over. The rebels are our countrymen again.” The Confederate soldiers would also be able to support themselves when they got home because they kept their horses. Grant understood that in order for the nation to begin acting as a whole again, the south had to be given as little humiliation as possible and allowed to be able to prosper again.

The disadvantages of the terms was that the confederates may have not been thoroughly punished enough. They may not have learned their lesson. Evidence of this appears later with the formation of the Black Codes, the KKK, and a general sentiment of racism. Had the confederates and the south been given greater punishment they may have been more obliged to respect blacks and the country more.

APUSH Lesson VI HW

1. The 13th amendment abolished slavery and established that Congress could enforce this law by appropriate legislation. The law was officially passed when ¾ of states ratified it. The 14th amendment was made to transform the principles of the Civil Right Bill into constitutional amendments. Thus, it removed the Civil Rights Bill and also protected Congress from a future southern takeover. It also guaranteed the citizenship of African Americans, but not voting rights. Before, African Americans could not sue in court because they were not citizens, like in the case involving Dred Scott. With the 14th amendment, blacks were considered citizens and could now sue in federal courts. Although they still lacked voting rights, the proportion of Congressional representation of states that denied suffrage was reduced. The south also lost its Congressmen because under the 14th amendment, they were not allowed to hold office. The government would also not compensate the slave owners for their loss of slaves. The 15th amendment had its ratification work cut out for it when the Military Reconstruction Act required states to grant full suffrage for blacks. Therefore, it paved the way for a less strenuous ratification of the 15th amendment. The 15th amendment wanted to ensure universal suffrage for all African Americas and strengthen Republican control over the southern states. It also assured that if the southerners ever came to dominate Congress again, they couldn’t revoke this suffrage.

2. Johnson was considered a lightweight in terms of punishing the south. Lincoln was more aggressive than Johnson, and the Radical Republicans were even more aggressive than Lincoln. Johnson only wanted slaves to be readmitted into the Union if they abolished slavery. Lincoln, was more concerned with having southern states set up a state government before they addressed the slavery issue. He also supported 10% of all Confederate states’ voters had to pledge allegiance to the United States in order to be readmitted into the Union. The Radical Republicans had the harshest readmission standards, calling for 50% 10% of all Confederate states’ voters had to pledge allegiance to the United States in order to be readmitted into the Union. They also required states to have a Constitutional convention that would require approval by the federal government. One area where all three agreed upon was that the Confederates had to pay their own debt. With regard to African Americas, everybody supported the abolishing of slavery, or the 13th amendment. Both Johnson and Lincoln did not support black suffrage. yet, Johnson and his administration failed to inhibit the South’s implementing of the Black Codes, which heavily restrained free blacks’ rights. The Radical Republicans were the most generous to the blacks, extending the Freedom Bureau Scope and making the Civil Rights Act. Eventually, all three groups supported the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment.

3. Plessy vs. Ferguson marked the failure of the Reconstruction period. This is because it constitutionalized black and white segregation. It stated that the two races would be equal, but made separate. This was especially true in public institutions, like schools. This segregation would end 58 years later in Brown vs. Board of Education.

4. One of the biggest failures of the Reconstruction was in changing the South’s attitude toward blacks and its government. Johnson’s minimal punishment failed to stimulate a true apology from the south. The establishment of Black Codes, nativist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. sharecropping practices, rise of a white-dominated herrenvolk democracy in the south, lack of women’s suffrage, failure to make black’s politically powerful, Civil Rights Cases, 1883, and other sorts of mistreatment to African Americans were the pinnacle of the Reconstruction’s failures. However, the Reconstruction did not come without success. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments helped to equalize blacks into society. The Freedmen’s Bureau, Military Reconstruction Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1875 were all formed as well during this time. Other types of reform like women’s property rights, education, and tax systems were also made.

5. The truth is, most Northern citizens did not feel too strongly about southern politics and black mistreatment. They were already preoccupied enough with civil war debts taxes, post-war recovery and the Panic of 1873.. Furthermore, it seemed to be an endless turmoil of southern politics: the north grew impatient. Northern politicians were also dreading the southern political scene, especially the carpetbaggers and the bayonet rule.

6.         The relationship between blacks and whites in the south did not experience the desired change that pro-abolitionists would have liked. Although there were a few improvements, the overall sentiment of the southerners was hateful toward the blacks.
            In antebellum times, slavery was justifiable, for example, in Document 1. In this document, Calhoun says that the world has always known slavery, that there was always an inferior race that served a more dominant race. This inferiority has carried through to post-Civil War times. In Document 3, the Goodings describe that “it was distasteful to have a Negro company of U.S. troops located here.” Sharecropping was also evident throughout the south to keep slaves bound to the white plantation owners through a constant cycle of debt. This persistent degradation of blacks in society did not vanish from the radar after the Civil War. In Document 4, Ogden describes the racism that occurred against blacks through the mob attacks and the simple fact that whites still presented themselves as the dominant race. The formation of the Ku Klux Klan also disturbed the peace. The KKK violently harassed blacks, and even whites who helped blacks. In Document 9, Plumly is harassed by fellow whites on being a “nigger teacher”. Black codes were also established in the south to restore the per-emancipation feelings as much as possible. This kind of discrimination and harassment is still apparent even though the war to eradicate these feelings has been fought.
            Although the discrimination was apparent, there were a few changes that improved the blacks’ status in society. They were given rights by 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, in which slavery was officially abolished, citizenship was granted for blacks, and voting rights were granted to blacks. Groups also formed to help protect the blacks in the south, for example, the Freedmen’s Bureau. In Document 7, Dr. Knox begins to treat freed slaves. He also condemns the segregation of blacks and whites, saying that it only further disturbed the peace. 

APUSH Civil War Unit Lesson IV Homework

2. Sea power and international diplomacy was vital in securing victory for the Union. Sea power benefited the Union because it allowed them to execute a key maneuver as stated in the Anaconda Plan. This maneuver was to encircle the South’s coasts and enforce a blockade. the South could not export goods and get help, and other nations were warned to steer clear of helping the South. But even so, many foreign powers considered intervening with the South. However, these thoughts of intervening ended when the South lost the battle of Antietam. Overall, control of the seas allowed the Union to restrict the South and cut off their line of hope which was foreign support. And international diplomacy was vital because had other nations intervened on behalf of the Confederacy the course of the war may have been much different.

3. The Confederacy had many sources of dissent and rightfully so. For starters, the war was being fought primarily because a few large plantation owners owned the majority of the slaves. Most people did not have more than 100 slaves. Therefore, many people felt like they were being forced to fight on behalf of the rich plantation owners. The military draft did not help boost sentiment either, as people called it “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight”. There were also citizens in the Confederacy who were still loyal to the Union called Unionists. Another source of dissent was over the Homestead Act passed by the North, because many feared that these new states would become pro-Union. Economically, the Confederacy was suffering. There was rampant inflation as well as a decrease in agriculture and industry production by one third. A food shortage also became a problem since the Union blockade around the South (part of their Anaconda Plan) was taking its toll on the Confederate states. Generally, many Southerners wanted nothing to do with the war, since they believed it did not affect them at all because they were not slave owners. This is why they became angered when some of them were drafted, because they were being forced to fight in a war in which they were not technically a part of. Many women also showed dissent because they were forced to do unusual tasks due to the lack of men to perform them.
   The North had its internal dissents as well. Many factories were angered when the government passed the Homestead Act, for they feared that they would be in lack of workers due to the workers fleeing west. To add to their discontent, many workers were also drafted into the army. As in the Confederacy, many in the Union felt as if this was “a rich man’s war, poor man’s fight” because they saw the politicians starting this war and them, the common people, the one’s who had to fight it. Reelecting Lincoln was also a huge source of dissent in the Confederacy because many anti-war Democrats (Copperheads) opposed Lincoln. Additional economic sources of dissent were the National Banking system and the protective tariffs. This would be the first National Bank since Jackson ended it. One of the biggest issues facing the Union was whether or not slaves should be emancipated. Lincoln did not want to justify the war as a war on slavery at the beginning because this would drive the border states away. But in the end, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation because it would give the Union a better moral clause and effectively end foreign support for the South. Without foreign support, which the South was hoping to get, the war would be difficult to win.

4. The most important battle of the Civil War was the Battle of Antietam. The outcome of this battle had many political, economic, and military implications. General Lee instigated this battle because he had a plan to invade the North. This plan involved using the North’s resources upon capturing them. This would have had devastating effects on the Northern economy, as their food supply was already limited due to the separation with the South. Lee also planned to capture factories and use them for the Southern cause. Therefore, it is clear that the victory at Antietam was huge for the North economically as they protected their economic resources. The political aspect of the victory was even more important though, as the result of the battle would determine the way the war went. Had the Confederacy not lost, they would have gained the support of foreign powers and this would have sealed the North’s fate. But the Confederacy did not win and in turn, this convinced foreign powers not to intervene on behalf of the South. Also, victory at Antietam convinced Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave the Union a higher “moral purpose” for the war. This motivated the Union and convinced other foreign nations not to intervene. Militarily, this would be a huge victory for the North and boosted morale greatly. It changed the tide of the war too, as Lee would never be so close to victory again.