Social Studies
Chapter 9 Study Guide
Define the following terms:
1. imperialism- nations build empires by adding colonies.
2. yellow journalism- exaggerated news to shock and attract readers.
3. nationalism- the belief that your country deserves success more than others.
4. militarism- the building of a strong military to frighten or defeat other countries.
5. alliance- an agreement that nations make to support and defend each other.
6. trench warfare- soldiers fight from long narrow ditches.
7. rations- government limits set on goods civilians could have such as meat.
8. propaganda- information used to shape people’s thinking.
9. armistice- an agreement to stop fighting.
10. isolationism- the idea of staying out of world events. (mind your own business)
11. What two territories were the last to become US states?
Alaska and Hawaii
12. How did the US acquire Alaska?
Purchased it from Russia.
13. What event triggered the beginning of the Spanish-American War?
The sinking of US navy ship “Maine” off the coast of Cuba. America blamed
Spain.
14. What land was acquired by the US as a result of the Spanish-American War?
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines
Cuba became independent.
15. What is the importance of the Panama Canal?
It shortened the route from the east to west coast of the US from months to a few
weeks.
16. What two alliances existed in World War I?
The Allied Powers (Allies) and the Central Powers.
17. What event triggered the US involvement in World War I?
A German submarine sand the British passenger ship, “Lusitania” which carried
many American passengers.
After promising not to the German subs sank American ships.
18. What new weapons were introduced during WWI?
Machine guns, submarines, tanks, poisonous gas, airplanes that dropped bombs.
19. Who worked in the factories making war supplies when most of the men were off f
fighting?
Women and African Americans from the South
20. What amendment was added as result of women working in factories?
The 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote.
21. Who won the war?
The Allies
22. How did the treaty of Versailles punish Germany for the war?
Germany lost colonies, gave land to France and paid money to Allied countries.
23. What was the League of Nations?
A group of representatives from different countries who would try to solve
problems peacefully.
24. Why did the US disapprove the Treaty of Versailles?
They did not want to be a part of the League of Nations. They feared it would
pull the US into future wars.