Notes: Becoming A World Power
1. What did George Washington warn the United States to avoid?
- George Washington warned the country to avoid involvement in the disputes and
politics of foreign nations.
2. How did industrialization affect the United States’ relationship with other countries?
- American businesses now needed new markets to sell
products.
3. What territory (later a state) became part of the United States in 1898?
- Hawaii was annexed by the U.S. in 1898.
4. Cuba was a territory of what country until 1898?
- Cuba was a territory of Spain until 1898
5. Why did Americans encourage Cubans to fight for their independence?
- Americans were sympathetic to the Cuban people because
of the stories they had read in the newspaper.
6. What event caused the United States to become involved in a war with Spain?
- The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor caused the United States to enter
a war with Spain.
7. What was an alternate name (“nickname”) for the Spanish American War and why?
- The Spanish American War was given the nickname of a
“Splendid Little War” by Secretary of State John Hay.
8. Who were the Rough Riders? Who was the leader of the Rough Riders?
- The Rough Riders was a cavalry regiment that fought in the war.
It was led by Theodore Roosevelt.
9. Where did the fighting occur during the Spanish American War?
- Fighting during the Spanish American War took place in Cuba and
in the Philippines.
10. What were the results of the Spanish American War? Make sure to include the territories gained by
the U.S.
- As a result of the Spanish American War, the United States gained 3 new territories
(Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines), Cuba gained its independence, and the
US became a world power.
11. When the United States acquired the Philippines, Americans became interested in increasing trade in
Asia. What was the “open door policy”?
- The “open door policy” allowed all trading nations acces to China’s vast markets.
12. How did the war with Spain change the American military?
- Fighting in the Spanish American War reformed the U.S. military into a better
organized and more efficient fighting force.