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Difficulty: EasyImperialism and the Spanish-American War

Source: Alfred Thayer Mahan, *The Influence of Sea Power upon History*, 1890

'Having no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting places for them, where they can coal and refit, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea.'

The argument presented in the excerpt was most frequently used by late-nineteenth-century expansionists to support which of the following actions?

  1. The acquisition of overseas territories to serve as coaling stations and naval basesAnswer
  2. B
    The launching of the Spanish-American War in retaliation for the sinking of the Lusitania
  3. C
    The establishment of a mutual defense alliance with Latin American nations to enforce the Monroe Doctrine
  4. D
    The adoption of strict isolationist policies that completely restricted international trade

Answer

The acquisition of overseas territories to serve as coaling stations and naval bases
The argument in the excerpt asserts that the United States cannot project naval power without overseas bases for refueling and maintenance. Late-nineteenth-century expansionists used this rationale to justify acquiring island territories in the Pacific and Caribbean, such as Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core argument of the source.
Alfred Thayer Mahan argues that U.S. warships need 'resting places' to 'coal and refit' to project power globally.
This establishes the logical link between naval power and the need for overseas bases.
2
Connect the source's argument to late-nineteenth-century foreign policy actions.
Late-nineteenth-century expansionists cited Mahan to support the acquisition of strategic islands in the Pacific and Caribbean.
This explains the historical application of Mahan's theory.
3
Match this connection to the correct option.
The option advocating the acquisition of territories for naval bases and coaling stations is selected.
This directly matches the goal of providing places to coal and refit ships as stated in the text.

Key Concept

Motivations for U.S. Imperialism and Naval Expansion
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

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