Zinn 12
Zinn Chapter 12
1. Why might Teddy Roosevelt have thought that the United States needed a war in 1897?
a. The United States was struggling politically and economically. It was believed that opening up markets overseas would relieve a lot of the problems that the United States was having in its depression.
2. In what sense was expansion overseas “not a new idea”? If it was not new, then why did it not begin until 1898?
a. The Monroe Doctrine moved the US down south into the Caribbean even before the war against Mexico. The US needed to gain more power and unity before it could think of expanding its markets.
3. How many times did the US government intervene in the affairs of other countries between 1798 and 1895?
a. Ten times.
4. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge believed that the United States needed to control the balance of trade in the Pacific. Which island and countries did he believe were key acquisitions towards attaining such a goal?
a. The Hawaiian islands, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
5. Senator Albert Beveridge argues in 1897 that “the trade of the world must and shall be ours”. What might his motivations and reasons have been for making such a statement?
a. He realized that American factories were making more than the American people could use, and that American soil is producing more than they consume. He said that fate has written that policy for them.
6. The ideology justifying American aggression in 1846-48 was similar to or different from the same ideology of 1896?
a. It was similar.
7. US business interests favored an “open door” policy over the conquest of colonies. From this point of view, what were the pros and cons of intervening in the Cuban revolt that began in 1895? Why did intervention ultimately win out?
a. American merchants were very interested in involving Cuba in their markets. Americans as a whole believed that Cuba was fighting a similar fight; one for liberation. The United States was able to peacefully expand its market, as well as assisting
1. Why might Teddy Roosevelt have thought that the United States needed a war in 1897?
a. The United States was struggling politically and economically. It was believed that opening up markets overseas would relieve a lot of the problems that the United States was having in its depression.
2. In what sense was expansion overseas “not a new idea”? If it was not new, then why did it not begin until 1898?
a. The Monroe Doctrine moved the US down south into the Caribbean even before the war against Mexico. The US needed to gain more power and unity before it could think of expanding its markets.
3. How many times did the US government intervene in the affairs of other countries between 1798 and 1895?
a. Ten times.
4. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge believed that the United States needed to control the balance of trade in the Pacific. Which island and countries did he believe were key acquisitions towards attaining such a goal?
a. The Hawaiian islands, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
5. Senator Albert Beveridge argues in 1897 that “the trade of the world must and shall be ours”. What might his motivations and reasons have been for making such a statement?
a. He realized that American factories were making more than the American people could use, and that American soil is producing more than they consume. He said that fate has written that policy for them.
6. The ideology justifying American aggression in 1846-48 was similar to or different from the same ideology of 1896?
a. It was similar.
7. US business interests favored an “open door” policy over the conquest of colonies. From this point of view, what were the pros and cons of intervening in the Cuban revolt that began in 1895? Why did intervention ultimately win out?
a. American merchants were very interested in involving Cuba in their markets. Americans as a whole believed that Cuba was fighting a similar fight; one for liberation. The United States was able to peacefully expand its market, as well as assisting