American Expansion and Imperialism Quiz

Secretary of State who spearheaded the acquisition of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.

The purchase of Alaska from Russia by the United States for $7.2 million in 1867, initially met with skepticism and derision.

A period of intense global expansion by European powers and the United States, driven by economic, political, and social motives.

The influential naval strategist who advocated for a powerful U.S. Navy to protect American interests abroad, shaping American foreign policy and expansion.

The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 by American settlers who sought annexation of the islands, sparking debate and controversy.

Aggressive nationalism promoting assertive foreign policy and often characterized by an eagerness to engage in war or conflict.

An explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898, blamed on Spain and fueling anti-Spanish sentiment that escalated to war.

The conflict between the United States and Spain over Cuba in 1898, fueled by yellow journalism and the sinking of the Maine, marking a period of American expansionism.

Paid farmers to reduce crop production to stabilize prices.

Created jobs through federally funded construction projects during the Great Depression.

Regulated the stock market to ensure corporate transparency and prevent future economic crises.

Legalized beer and wine sales in the United States, ending Prohibition to raise tax revenue.

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition in 1933.

Roosevelt's radio addresses to the nation, providing reassurance and explaining his policies.

Provided jobs and funded public works projects across the United States from 1935 to 1940.

Offered loans and improved living conditions for struggling farmers during the Dust Bowl.

Guaranteed the right of workers to form unions and engage in collective bargaining.

Enforces labor rights and oversees union activities.

Established social insurance for retirees and the unemployed, creating the foundation of social security.

The proposal to allow the President to add justices to the Supreme Court, aimed at increasing support for New Deal legislation.

Established a minimum wage and overtime pay standards for workers.

A severe drought that caused widespread dust storms and devastated agriculture in the Great Plains.

Roosevelt's wife, a prominent advocate for women's rights and social justice.

A legal case that symbolized the conflict between science and religion in the 1920s. It centered around the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

Illegal bars that operated secretly during the Prohibition era.

The illegal production and distribution of alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.

An infamous mobster who gained power and wealth through illegal alcohol sales during Prohibition, particularly through bootlegging and Chicago's underworld.

A period after World War I when many Americans held anti-immigrant sentiments, fearing that immigrants threatened American jobs, culture, and values.

Laws that restricted immigration to the US based on nationality, particularly targeting Eastern and Southern Europeans.

A white supremacist organization that targeted African Americans, Jews, and other minority groups. Known for violence and intimidation.

A cultural movement of the 1920s that celebrated African American arts, music, literature, and culture, particularly in Harlem, New York.

A prominent poet of the Harlem Renaissance known for his powerful and evocative writing that explored themes of race, identity, and the African American experience.

A popular music genre characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and unique rhythms that became synonymous with the 1920s and helped define the decade's cultural landscape.

A key figure in popularizing jazz music with his incredible trumpet skills and energetic performances, known as 'Satchmo.'

The period from 1920 to 1929, known for economic prosperity fuelled by industrial growth and the rise of consumerism.

The sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915, which killed 128 Americans, significantly strained relations between the United States and Germany.

The United States' economic ties with the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia) through trade, which intensified as the war progressed, creating a significant economic interest for the U.S. to support the Allies.

British propaganda efforts effectively swayed American public opinion against Germany, portraying them as aggressors and barbarians. These efforts played a crucial role in shaping American sentiment towards the war.

The debate within the United States regarding preparedness for war. Proponents advocated for military readiness to counter potential threats, while opponents favored isolationism and non-intervention.

The sinking of American ships by German U-boats, despite German promises to refrain, intensified tensions and ultimately led to the United States declaring war.

Germany's secret proposal to Mexico in 1917, offering to help them reclaim lost territory from the U.S. if they joined the war against the Allies. The intercepted telegram, known as the Zimmermann Telegram, outraged American public opinion.

The U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, primarily prompted by Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, which directly threatened American interests.

President Woodrow Wilson's diplomatic efforts to warn Germany against further aggressive actions, particularly in the Atlantic, aiming to prevent a direct confrontation and safeguard American interests.

President Woodrow Wilson's vision for a peaceful post-war world, emphasizing self-determination for nations and the establishment of a League of Nations to prevent future conflicts.

President Wilson's 14 Points, proposed in 1918, outlined his vision for a just and lasting peace after World War I. These fourteen points addressed issues of self-determination, territorial adjustments, and disarmament.

A proposed international organization, advocated for by President Woodrow Wilson, aiming to maintain global peace through cooperation and diplomatic processes.

The treaty that officially ended World War I, signed in 1919, imposed harsh penalties upon Germany, including territorial losses, disarmament, and financial reparations.

The U.S. Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, primarily due to opposition to the League of Nations, which was seen as a potential threat to American sovereignty.

The mass arrests of suspected communists and radicals in the United States following World War I, fuelled by fears of a communist revolution and fueled by xenophobic anxieties. These raids were led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.

Significant economic growth and prosperity experienced in the United States during the 1920s, marked by technological advancements, increased consumerism, and a boom in manufacturing.

A policy implemented by President Theodore Roosevelt to ensure fair treatment for all citizens, emphasizing government intervention where necessary.

The policy of President William Howard Taft, focused on using financial investments abroad to promote U.S. interests and expand international influence.

A law passed in 1914 creating a central banking system in the U.S. with 12 regional banks overseen by a Federal Reserve Board. This helped regulate the money supply and stabilize the economy.

A movement led by various individuals and groups advocating for social and political reforms during the early 20th century, aiming to address problems stemming from industrialization and urbanization.

An agreement between the U.S. and Japan in 1907, limiting the immigration of Japanese laborers to the U.S. It was a response to growing anti-Japanese sentiment. This agreement was informal, not a treaty or law.

The sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania by a German submarine in 1915, killing over 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans. This incident significantly strained U.S.-German relations and brought the U.S. closer to entering World War I.

A term used to describe the investigative journalism practiced by journalists during the Progressive Era. They exposed social ills and corruption, often through writing articles and books.

Wilson's policy advocating for democratic principles and moral conduct in international affairs. It promoted expansion of democracy, self-governance, and peaceful solutions to conflicts.

A policy of President Theodore Roosevelt, characterized by using the federal government's power to regulate and control large corporations, often through antitrust lawsuits. It sought to break up monopolies and promote fair competition.

Roosevelt's efforts to mediate a labor dispute in 1902 between coal miners and the mine owners, demonstrating the government's willingness to intervene in labor conflicts.

Wilson's program aimed at dismantling economic privileges and restoring competition, focusing on breaking up monopolies, reducing tariffs, and reforming the banking system.

A policy of using economic power, mainly financial interventions and investments, to stabilize economies and promote U.S. interests in Latin America, particularly in the early 20th century.

A law passed in 1906, requiring the federal government to inspect meat processing facilities and enforce sanitary practices. It was a response to public outcry about unsanitary conditions exposed in Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle.'

A law enacted in 1916, granting the Philippines territorial status and promising future independence. It was a significant step towards self-government for the Philippines, which had been a U.S. territory since the Spanish-American War.

The term 'containment policy' refers to Truman's strategy during the Cold War to prevent communism from spreading further, particularly in Eastern Europe.

The Korean War was a conflict that began on June 25, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. It was a major turning point in the Cold War, as it showed the potential for a direct confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union.

The Inchon Landing was a successful amphibious assault led by General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War in 1950. It was a crucial turning point in the conflict, as it allowed UN forces to break through North Korean lines and recapture Seoul.

The Chinese Counterattack was a massive intervention by China in the Korean War in 1950. It was a shocking development for UN forces, who had been making progress against North Korea. The counterattack forced the war into a stalemate, leading to years of bloodshed.

The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed in July 1953, formally ended the Korean War. However, it was not a peace treaty, meaning that North and South Korea remained technically at war. This led to a division of the peninsula along the 38th parallel, which persists until this day.

Sputnik I, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, became the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. Its launch triggered the space race, putting pressure on the US to achieve similar technological breakthroughs and sparking a new chapter in the Cold War.

The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was a significant piece of legislation passed by the US Congress in 1958. Its aim was to improve education in science, mathematics, and foreign languages, recognizing the need for stronger STEM education to compete with the Soviet Union.

The U-2 Incident was a significant Cold War event in 1960 when a US spy plane was shot down over Soviet airspace. This incident further escalated tensions between the US and USSR, as it exposed the US's espionage activities and underlined the mistrust and suspicion that characterized the Cold War.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day confrontation in 1962 between the US and the Soviet Union over the Soviet Union's deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba. It was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war and a defining moment in the Cold War.

Eisenhower's Farewell Address, given in 1961, was a historical speech in which he warned about the growing influence of the 'military-industrial complex' on US policy. He felt that the close relationship between the military, industry, and the government posed a potential threat to individual liberties and democratic values.

The mass movement of African Americans from the South to northern cities, specifically for industrial jobs, during World War II. This migration was a crucial part of the war effort and led to significant social and demographic changes.

A prominent American artist best known for his realistic and sentimental illustrations, particularly his series of 'Four Freedoms' paintings that captured the essence of American values during World War II.

Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, authorized the internment of Japanese Americans in designated zones for national security concerns. The order was based on fears of espionage and sabotage, despite the lack of any concrete evidence.

The forced relocation and imprisonment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans, primarily those living on the West Coast, during World War II. This action was based on the unfounded fear of espionage and sabotage and was later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

A key Supreme Court case in 1944 that upheld the constitutionality of the government's internment orders for Japanese Americans during World War II. This decision fueled debate about civil liberties and national security during wartime.

Allied raids on Germany, targeting industrial centers and military installations, as part of a strategic campaign to weaken the Nazi regime's military capabilities and force a surrender. This tactic involved bombing cities, which often resulted in heavy civilian casualties.

The pivotal, major victory for the Soviet Union in 1942, halting the German advance deep into Russia. This battle marked a turning point in World War II, demonstrating the resilience of the Soviet forces and ultimately contributing to the defeat of the Nazi regime.

The U.S. military strategy during World War II to take control of key islands in the Pacific, selectively bypassing heavily fortified areas and engaging in smaller battles. This island-hopping approach allowed the U.S. to advance toward Japan by seizing strategic positions.

Suicide attacks by Japanese pilots during World War II, often crashing their planes into enemy ships or land targets. These kamikaze attacks reflected the intense patriotic fervor and willingness to die for their nation, even when facing overwhelming odds.

The top-secret American project during World War II that developed the atomic bomb. This initiative was highly secretive, involving leading scientists from different nations, and resulted in the first nuclear weapons.

The use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. This act marked the first use of nuclear weapons in warfare, causing immense destruction and casualties. It remains one of the most morally complex events in human history.

The dropping of an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. This event, along with the bombing of Hiroshima, led to Japan's surrender in World War II. It was a pivotal moment in the conflict, showcasing the incredible devastation caused by nuclear weapons.

The first meeting of the 'Big Three' allied leaders (Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin) in 1943. This summit focused on planning for the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day) and coordinated war strategies.

The second meeting of the 'Big Three' allied leaders (Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin) in 1945. This summit primarily discussed post-war plans, including the division of Germany, future elections, and Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

The final major conference between the Allied leaders, held in 1945 after the defeat of Germany. This conference consisted of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin. The focus was on finalizing demands for Japan's surrender and establishing post-war plans for Germany.

The United States' post-World War II initiative to rebuild European economies by providing extensive aid to countries devastated by the conflict. This program aimed to prevent economic collapse and promote stability in Europe, contributing to American global leadership and economic dominance.