Aim: Review for Test on
Imperialism and World War I
Bring a #2 pencil and a pen.
Essay Topic: U.S. foreign policy
Example: Open Door Policy, Monroe
Doctrine, Roosevelt Corollary and
Neutrality
1 A. Open Door Policy
1899 U.S. Secretary of State John Hay goes
to China.
 U.S. afraid of being cut out of trade in
China.
 Secured equal trading rights for all.
 Sphere of Influence- economic control of
one nation over another.
 Chinese reaction: Boxer Rebellion

1B. Monroe Doctrine
1823- No further colonization of the
Western Hemisphere.
 U.S. agrees to stay out of European affairs.
 Any attempt to do so is an act of war.

1C. Roosevelt Corollary
1904- addition to the Monroe Doctrine.
 US. Will act as an “international police
power.”
 U.S. will intervene in the affairs of Latin
America.

1D. Neutrality
WWI 1914- 1918.
 U.S. enters in 1917
 U.S. was officially neutral before the war
began.
 Goes back to policy of neutrality after
WWI.
 Gave aid and arms to the Allies.

1E. Dollar Diplomacy
President Taft
 Federal government encouraged
investments overseas (particularly Latin
America).
 Such investments would increase American
intervention in foreign affairs.

2. Why did the U.S. become
imperialistic?
Spanish American War 1898 encouraged
imperialism.
 Naval bases
 “New Manifest Destiny”
 Acquired: Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines,
Hawaii, Samoa

3. What were some of the results
of American imperialism?
Turning point in American history.
 U.S. becomes a world power.

4. Why did the U.S. get involved
in Latin America?
Because of close proximity of Latin
America.
 Our neighbor- concerned about what
happens there.

5. What were the causes and
results of the Spanish American
War?
Causes: Yellow journalism, U.S.S. Maine,
economic interests, DeLome Letter,
humanitarian concerns.
 Results: U.S. acquires territories around the
world: Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines.

6. Describe President
Roosevelt’s foreign policy.
Favored imperialism
 Construction of Panama Canal
 Further reinforced the Monroe Doctrine
(Roosevelt Corollary).
 “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

7. Why did the U.S. build the
Panama Canal?
Spanish American War created a need- USS
Oregon arrived after the war was over.
 France had already tried to build.
 Originally wanted to build in NicaraguaCongress rejects.
 Panama owned by Colombia- refuse offer.
 Give aid to Panamanians in revolt.

8. Define/explain- Yellow
Journalism
Sensationalized stories
 Exaggerated and distorted events.
 Created an anti-Spanish sentiment

9. What was the U.S. role during
the beginning of WWI? Why
enter?
At the start of the war officially neutral.
 Gave aid to Allies.
 Entered because of Zimmerman Note and
Sinking of the Lusitania.

10. Wilson 14 Points
Wilson’s proposal for peace: arms
reduction, self-determination, League of
Nations and Freedom of the Seas.
 Treaty of Versailles: meant to punish
Germany. U.S. did not ratify. U.S. did not
join the League of Nations.
