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Difficulty: EasyImperialism and the Spanish-American War

"The treaty of peace with Spain is now before us... The question is... whether this country, which has been the great model of a republic of equal rights, of self-government, of constitutional liberty, shall now enter upon a career of empire, conquering and holding in subjection a people who have done us no wrong, who have a right to self-government, and who have not consented to our dominion."

— Senator George F. Hoar, Speech in the United States Senate, 1899

Based on the excerpt, Senator Hoar’s arguments most directly oppose which of the following foreign policy actions?

  1. A
    Declaring war on Germany in response to the sinking of the Lusitania
  2. B
    Entering into a defensive military alliance to colonize Latin America under the Monroe Doctrine
  3. The acquisition and annexation of overseas territories such as the PhilippinesAnswer
  4. D
    The assimilation of Native American tribes through the distribution of reservation land

Answer

The acquisition and annexation of overseas territories such as the Philippines
The correct answer is correct because Senator Hoar's speech directly criticizes the United States for entering 'upon a career of empire, conquering and holding in subjection a people... who have not consented to our dominion.' This argument was a central point of the anti-imperialist opposition to the annexation of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context and main argument of the source.
The source is a speech by Senator George F. Hoar in 1899, opposing the treaty of peace with Spain because it would embark the U.S. on a 'career of empire' by conquering and holding a people without their consent.
This establishes that the debate concerns American territorial acquisition and imperialism at the end of the Spanish-American War.
2
Connect the argument in the source to the correct historical event.
Opposing a 'career of empire' and the subjection of non-consenting peoples aligns with opposition to the acquisition and annexation of territories like the Philippines.
The treaty ending the Spanish-American War ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States, sparking a major national debate over imperialism.

Key Concept

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

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