New Territories: Becoming a World Power Key Ideas Chapter 9, Lesson 1.

New Territories: Becoming a World Power

Key IdeasChapter 9, Lesson 1

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Chapter 9, Lesson 1New Territories

Vocabulary•IsthmusA narrow strip of land that links two larger pieces of land. It has water on both sides.Ex: Isthmus of Panama in Central America

•CanalA waterway built for boat travel and shipping.Ex: the Panama Canal

How does the Panama Canal work?


1. How did Alaska become part of the United States?Russia offered to sell its colony of Alaska in 1867, and

the United States purchased it.

2. Many Americans believed that buying Alaska was a bad idea. What changed their minds?

Originally people thought this was a foolish purchase. In 1896, however, miners found gold in Alaska. Later, people discovered that Alaska’s fish, forests, and minerals were very valuable, making Alaska a good purchase.


3. What economic interests did Americans have in Hawaii?

Hawaii had many pineapple and sugar plantations, which were a great economic source.


4. How did Hawaii become part of the United States?The queen of Hawaii wanted the power and land

returned to the people instead of the Americans owning the plantations. The plantation owners were afraid she would take away their plantations, so they led a revolt and forced her from power. After the revolt, Hawaii asked to join the United States.


5. What were Spain's colonies in the late 1800s?Spain also controlled Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine

Islands, and Guam.

In the time of the late 1800s, the U.S. wanted to expand its territories to show the world that it was a powerful country.


6. How did American newspapers influence people's opinions of Spain?

The newspapers wrote about the harsh treatment of Cubans by Spain. The newspapers exaggerated this news to shock and attract readers. When the U.S. decided to declare war against Spain, Americans were in favor of this because of what they read.


7. Why did the United States declare war on Spain?The U.S. Navy ship Maine was in a harbor in Cuba

when it exploded. American newspapers blamed Spain, and President McKinley soon asked Congress to declare war on Spain.


8. How did President William McKinley help expand America’s role in the world?

President William McKinley knew that if the United States defeated Spain, the U.S. would gain more territories. This is usually one of the conditions after a war is over – the losing country usually gives up territory. Gaining territory outside of the continental U.S. would help expand America’s role in the world by showing it is a powerful nation.


9. Who were the Rough Riders and who led the Rough Riders?

The Rough Riders was a volunteer fighting group. They went to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American war.

Theodore Roosevelt, the Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy, led the Rough Riders. Roosevelt later became President of the United States.


10. How did the Rough Riders help the United States win the Spanish-American War?

The Rough Riders won a famous battle called the Battle of San Juan Hill, which helped lead the U.S. to victory over Spain.


11. What was the importance of the Panama Canal? The canal linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canalwould save ships huge amounts of time and money when traveling from one coastof the U.S. to the other. Instead of having to travel around the southern tip of South America, they could cut through the Panama Canal.


What was Theodore Roosevelt’s role in the Panama Canal?

In order to build the canal, it would have to cut through Panama. Panama was a part of Colombia, and this country did not want to sell Panama to the U.S. Roosevelt helped the people of Panama win their independence from Colombia, and Panama then agreed to let the U.S. build the Panama Canal. This also showed the nation

that the U.S. was a powerful nation.

New Territories: Becoming a World Power Key Ideas Chapter 9, Lesson 1.

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