The Spanish–American War (College Board AP® US History): Exam Questions

7 mins7 questions
11 mark

"At the time when the Government of the United States was informed by that of Germany that it had leased from His Majesty the Emperor of China the port of Kiao-chao and the adjacent territory in the province of Shantung, assurances were given to the ambassador of the United States at Berlin by the Imperial German minister for foreign affairs that the rights and privileges insured by treaties with China to citizens of the United States would not thereby suffer or be in anywise impaired within the area over which Germany had thus obtained control."

John Hay, "First Open Door Note", September 6, 1899

The policy described in the excerpt was most directly a reaction to the

  • Rising tensions between the U.S. and Japan over the annexation of the Philippines

  • Division of China into spheres of influence by European powers

  • Growing Chinese influence over Western economic markets

  • Military defeat of Britain in the Opium Wars

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21 mark

"At the time when the Government of the United States was informed by that of Germany that it had leased from His Majesty the Emperor of China the port of Kiao-chao and the adjacent territory in the province of Shantung, assurances were given to the ambassador of the United States at Berlin by the Imperial German minister for foreign affairs that the rights and privileges insured by treaties with China to citizens of the United States would not thereby suffer or be in anywise impaired within the area over which Germany had thus obtained control."

John Hay, "First Open Door Note", September 6, 1899

The views expressed in the excerpt most directly influenced which of the following?

  •  U.S. involvement in the Boxer Rebellion

  • Construction of the Panama Canal

  • Annexation of Hawaii

  • Issuing of the Roosevelt Corollary

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31 mark

"At the time when the Government of the United States was informed by that of Germany that it had leased from His Majesty the Emperor of China the port of Kiao-chao and the adjacent territory in the province of Shantung, assurances were given to the ambassador of the United States at Berlin by the Imperial German minister for foreign affairs that the rights and privileges insured by treaties with China to citizens of the United States would not thereby suffer or be in anywise impaired within the area over which Germany had thus obtained control."

John Hay, "First Open Door Note", September 6, 1899

Which of the following best represents a later example of the principles expressed in the excerpt?

  • U.S. involvement in the Korean War 

  • U.S. participation in the Bretton Woods Conference

  • The U.S. refusal to join the League of Nations after World War I

  • The Marshall Plan’s economic aid to rebuild Europe after World War II

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41 mark

"We Filipinos are convinced that we are fighting for a noble cause, the cause of liberty and independence, and so unanimous are we in this conviction that we are resolved to succumb rather than fail in maintaining it. Have you forgotten your history, Americans? Have you forgotten your struggle for independence and liberty? Must we not detest your conduct as doubly infamous for being the exploitation of weaker and less civilized people under the mask of liberating them?"

Emilio Aguinaldo, "Aguinaldo’s Case against the United States," North American Review, September 1899

What is Aguinaldo’s primary argument in this excerpt?

  • Abandoning its colonies in the Caribbean would be morally correct

  • The United States is acting hypocritically by denying Filipino independence

  • Colonizing weaker nations would benefit America economically

  • Filipino resistance to U.S. rule is futile

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51 mark

"We Filipinos are convinced that we are fighting for a noble cause, the cause of liberty and independence, and so unanimous are we in this conviction that we are resolved to succumb rather than fail in maintaining it. Have you forgotten your history, Americans? Have you forgotten your struggle for independence and liberty? Must we not detest your conduct as doubly infamous for being the exploitation of weaker and less civilized people under the mask of liberating them?"

Emilio Aguinaldo, "Aguinaldo’s Case against the United States," North American Review, September 1899

Aguinaldo characterizes U.S. conduct in the Philippines as

  • Consistent with American ideals of freedom

  • A noble effort to civilize weaker nations

  •  Hypocritical exploitation of weaker people

  • A diplomatic effort to stabilize the region

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61 mark

"We Filipinos are convinced that we are fighting for a noble cause, the cause of liberty and independence, and so unanimous are we in this conviction that we are resolved to succumb rather than fail in maintaining it. Have you forgotten your history, Americans? Have you forgotten your struggle for independence and liberty? Must we not detest your conduct as doubly infamous for being the exploitation of weaker and less civilized people under the mask of liberating them?"

Emilio Aguinaldo, "Aguinaldo’s Case against the United States," North American Review, September 1899

What historical context best explains Aguinaldo’s opinion of U.S. actions in the Philippines?

  • The Treaty of Paris granted independence to the Philippines

  • The U.S. annexed the Philippines after defeating Spain, despite Filipino resistance

  • The U.S. ended its policy of imperialism after the Spanish-American War

  • The Philippine-American War resulted in Filipino victory and independence

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71 mark

"We Filipinos are convinced that we are fighting for a noble cause, the cause of liberty and independence, and so unanimous are we in this conviction that we are resolved to succumb rather than fail in maintaining it. Have you forgotten your history, Americans? Have you forgotten your struggle for independence and liberty? Must we not detest your conduct as doubly infamous for being the exploitation of weaker and less civilized people under the mask of liberating them?"

Emilio Aguinaldo, "Aguinaldo’s Case against the United States," North American Review, September 1899

Aguinaldo appeals to the American public in this excerpt by

  • Highlighting the economic benefits of Filipino independence

  • Referencing America’s own revolutionary struggle for liberty

  • Threatening military retaliation against the United States

  • Proposing a diplomatic compromise for shared governance

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