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Test Your Skills: Progressivism & Imperialism Quiz

Think you can ace this Progressivism & Imperialism trivia? Challenge yourself today!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art collage of muckraker press, US warship, reform symbols on sky blue for a Progressivism and Imperialism quiz

This Muckraker Journalists & American Imperialism Quiz helps you review how muckraker journalists exposed corruption in the Progressive Era and how the U.S. expanded from Cuba to the Pacific. Answer quick questions on reform, the Spanish-American War, and overseas rule, then use your score to spot gaps before a test. For more practice, try the broader Progressivism and Imperialism quiz .

Which journalist wrote The Jungle, an exposé of the meatpacking industry?
Ida Tarbell
Lincoln Steffens
Upton Sinclair
Jacob Riis
Upton Sinclair authored The Jungle in 1906, revealing unsanitary practices in Chicago's meatpacking plants and prompting federal regulation. His work directly led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Sinclair's vivid reporting helped cement the role of investigative journalism in social reform.
Which muckraker wrote The History of the Standard Oil Company, exposing Rockefeller's monopoly tactics?
Frank Norris
Ida Tarbell
Upton Sinclair
Ray Stannard Baker
Ida Tarbell's 1904 work chronicled Standard Oil's ruthless business practices, influencing public opinion and antitrust enforcement. Her meticulously researched articles appeared in McClure's Magazine before being published as a two-volume book. Tarbell's reporting is considered a landmark in investigative journalism.
Which photographer and journalist published How the Other Half Lives, documenting tenement conditions?
Lewis Hine
Thomas Nast
Jacob Riis Foster
Jacob Riis
Jacob Riis used photography and prose to expose the harsh living conditions in New York City slums in 1890. His book led to housing reforms and greater public awareness of urban poverty. Riis pioneered photojournalism as a tool for social change.
What was the primary focus of muckraker journalists during the Progressive Era?
Exposing social and political corruption
Campaigning for prohibition
Promoting industrial growth
Advocating isolationism
Muckrakers aimed to uncover government and corporate abuses, from political machines to unsafe labor conditions. Their investigative pieces appeared in magazines and newspapers, spurring reforms. They were central to the Progressive movement's drive for regulation and social justice.
In what year did the Spanish-American War begin?
1898
1895
1904
1901
The Spanish-American War broke out in April 1898 after the sinking of the USS Maine. It lasted only a few months, ending with the Treaty of Paris in December 1898. The conflict marked the U.S. emergence as a world power.
Which territory did the United States NOT acquire from Spain after the Spanish-American War?
Philippines
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
Guam
The Treaty of Paris (1898) ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S. Hawaii had been annexed earlier, in 1898, through a separate joint resolution of Congress. Hawaii was never a Spanish colony.
The Teller Amendment declared that the U.S. would not annex which country after the war?
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Guam
Cuba
Passed in 1898, the Teller Amendment specified that the U.S. would not establish permanent control over Cuba. It was designed to assure opponents that the war's aim was Cuban independence rather than annexation. Cuba became a U.S. protectorate with the subsequent Platt Amendment.
The Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in the affairs of which nation?
Cuba
Philippines
Panama
Puerto Rico
The Platt Amendment (1901) was added to the Cuban constitution under U.S. pressure, granting the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to preserve independence or maintain order. It also allowed the lease of Guantanamo Bay for a naval station.
What policy declared equal trading rights for all nations in China?
Roosevelt Corollary
Open Door Policy
Square Deal
Monroe Doctrine
Secretary of State John Hay's Open Door Notes (1899 - 1900) sought to ensure that no single power would monopolize trade with China and that all nations would have equal access to Chinese markets. It preserved Chinese territorial integrity in principle.
The Roosevelt Corollary expanded on which earlier U.S. doctrine?
Truman Doctrine
Roosevelt Peace Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine
Eisenhower Doctrine
In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt announced the Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the U.S. could intervene in Latin American nations to maintain stability and order. It asserted a policing role in the Western Hemisphere.
Which publisher is most associated with "yellow journalism" during the Spanish-American War?
William Randolph Hearst
Benjamin Day
Adolph Ochs
Joseph Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal competed fiercely with Pulitzer's New York World, often using sensational headlines and illustrations to boost sales and public outrage, contributing to calls for war with Spain.
Which act was passed in 1906 in response to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle?
Sherman Antitrust Act
Meat Inspection Act
Pure Food and Drug Act
Clayton Antitrust Act
Upton Sinclair's vivid portrayal of unsanitary conditions in The Jungle spurred public demand for federal regulation of food safety. The Pure Food and Drug Act banned adulterated or mislabeled food and drugs. It laid the groundwork for the FDA.
Who wrote The Shame of the Cities, exposing corruption in urban political machines?
Lincoln Steffens
Frank Norris
Ida Tarbell
Ray Stannard Baker
Lincoln Steffens published a series of articles in McClure's Magazine in 1902 - 1903 exposing graft and corruption in major U.S. cities. His work galvanized reform movements at the municipal level.
During which historical era were muckraker journalists most active?
Reconstruction Era
Gilded Age
Progressive Era
Roaring Twenties
Muckrakers flourished between the 1890s and 1920s during the Progressive Era, targeting social injustices, political corruption, and corporate abuses. Their exposes led to landmark reforms.
Which president famously said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in reference to foreign policy?
Theodore Roosevelt
William Howard Taft
William McKinley
Woodrow Wilson
President Theodore Roosevelt used this phrase to describe his approach to diplomacy - negotiate peacefully while threatening with a powerful navy. It defined his foreign policy strategy in Latin America and beyond.
What term best describes the late 19th-century U.S. policy of overseas expansion and colonization?
Imperialism
Populism
Isolationism
Neutrality
By the late 1800s, the U.S. began acquiring territories abroad - in the Caribbean, Pacific, and elsewhere - reflecting imperialist ambitions. Imperialism involves extending a nation's power through diplomacy or military force.
Which law established a civil government in Puerto Rico following the Spanish-American War?
Reconstruction Act
Foraker Act
Platt Amendment
Jones Act (1917)
The Foraker Act of 1900 ended military rule in Puerto Rico and set up a civilian government with a governor appointed by the U.S. president and a partially elected legislature. It laid the groundwork for Puerto Rico's political evolution.
Which organization formed in 1898 opposed the annexation of the Philippines?
Imperialists Club
National Security League
American Anti-Imperialist League
Anti-Monopoly Party
The American Anti-Imperialist League included prominent figures like Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie, opposing U.S. colonial rule in the Philippines on moral and constitutional grounds. They argued annexation violated democratic principles.
Which photographer's work exposed child labor violations in factories and mines?
Jacob Riis
Paul Strand
Dorothea Lange
Lewis Hine
Lewis Hine's photographs for the National Child Labor Committee documented children working in mills, mines, and factories, helping lead to child labor laws like the Keating-Owen Act. His images remain powerful social records.
How was Hawaii annexed by the United States in 1898?
Treaty ratified by Senate
Purchase treaty
Executive order
Joint resolution of Congress
Congress passed the Newlands Resolution - a joint resolution - on July 7, 1898, formally annexing Hawaii. A treaty would have required a two-thirds Senate majority, which was not attainable.
Which Supreme Court case upheld that full constitutional rights do not automatically extend to U.S. territories?
Brown v. Board of Education
Downes v. Bidwell
Marbury v. Madison
Plessy v. Ferguson
In Downes v. Bidwell (1901), the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not fully apply in newly acquired territories, establishing part of the Insular Cases. This doctrine allowed Congress discretion over which rights applied.
What was McClure's Magazine best known for during the Progressive Era?
Serializing novels exclusively
Fashion and lifestyle coverage
Political cartoons only
Publishing investigative muckraker articles
Under S. S. McClure, McClure's Magazine published groundbreaking investigative pieces by writers like Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, and Ray Stannard Baker, helping define muckraking journalism.
Who believed the U.S. had a duty to civilize the Philippines under the "White Man's Burden" notion?
President Grover Cleveland
President William Howard Taft
President Theodore Roosevelt
President William McKinley
After the Spanish-American War, McKinley argued that Filipinos were unprepared for self-government and that America had a moral obligation to help uplift them, echoing Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden."
Who coined the term "muckraker" in reference to investigative journalists?
William Howard Taft
Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
President McKinley
In a 1906 speech, President Theodore Roosevelt compared crusading journalists to the 'muckraker' in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, criticizing those who focused only on scandal but later adopting the term.
Which event directly led the U.S. to declare war on Spain in 1898?
Explosion of the USS Maine
Treaty of Paris
Battle of Manila Bay
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
After the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor in February 1898 under unclear circumstances, sensationalist press fanned public outrage, prompting President McKinley and Congress to declare war on Spain.
Which cavalry unit was led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War?
Buffalo Soldiers
Blue Jackets
Rough Riders
Iron Brigade
The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, popularly known as the Rough Riders and led by Theodore Roosevelt, gained fame for their charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba. Their exploits boosted Roosevelt's national reputation.
Which amendment granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans?
Jones Act (1917)
Foraker Act
Teller Amendment
Platt Amendment
The Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 conferred U.S. citizenship on the residents of Puerto Rico and restructured the island's government, though it did not grant full voting rights in federal elections.
Which muckraking novel by Frank Norris exposed railroad monopolies in California?
McTeague
A Man's Woman
The Pit
The Octopus
Frank Norris's 1901 novel The Octopus dramatized the conflict between wheat farmers and the Southern Pacific Railroad, illustrating the abuses of corporate power in the West.
The rebellion in which Spanish colony precipitated U.S. intervention in 1898?
Cuba
Guam
Puerto Rico
Philippines
The Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, marked by uprisings and harsh Spanish counterinsurgency tactics, drew American sympathy and led to U.S. intervention. The explosion of the USS Maine intensified calls for war.
Which writer was a leading figure in the American Anti-Imperialist League?
Mark Twain
Jack London
Theodore Dreiser
Upton Sinclair
Mark Twain served on the executive committee of the American Anti-Imperialist League and vocalized his opposition to U.S. colonialism in the Philippines, arguing it betrayed American democratic ideals.
Which Supreme Court case is part of the Insular Cases and ruled that the Constitution did not fully apply in new territories?
Gibbons v. Ogden
Downes v. Bidwell
Plessy v. Ferguson
Marbury v. Madison
In Downes v. Bidwell (1901), the Court held that full constitutional protections did not automatically extend to territories acquired in the Spanish-American War, forming part of the controversial Insular Cases.
Who led the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in Hawaii in 1893?
Sanford B. Dole
Grover Cleveland
John L. Stevens
William McKinley
Sanford B. Dole, head of the provisional government backed by U.S. minister John L. Stevens and marines, played a central role in the 1893 coup that deposed Queen Liliuokalani. Dole later became President of the Republic of Hawaii.
What legislative act formally annexed Hawaii as a U.S. territory?
Newlands Resolution
Hawaiian Organic Act
Teller Amendment
Foraker Act
Congress passed the Newlands Resolution on July 7, 1898, by a simple majority, annexing Hawaii and bypassing the two-thirds Senate vote required for a treaty. It made Hawaii a U.S. territory.
What did the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 establish?
Union with Puerto Rico
Immediate Philippine independence
A civilian government under U.S. authority
Martial law indefinitely
The Organic Act created a bicameral Philippine legislature with an appointed governor-general and provided for civil liberties, marking the transition from military to civilian rule under U.S. sovereignty.
Which author wrote The Bitter Cry of the Children, exposing child labor abuses?
Lewis Hine
Jacob Riis
John Spargo
Ray Stannard Baker
John Spargo's 1906 book detailed the exploitation of children in mines and factories, contributing to public support for child labor legislation. Though less known than Hine's photography, Spargo's writing was influential.
Who was appointed head of the Philippine Commission by President McKinley?
William H. Taft
Henry Cabot Lodge
George Dewey
Elihu Root
William H. Taft led the Taft Commission (Philippine Commission) in 1900 - 1901, organizing civil government and public works; he later served as the first civilian governor-general and eventually U.S. President.
What principle did Alfred Thayer Mahan advocate in The Influence of Sea Power upon History?
Air power is the future of warfare
Land armies determine global dominance
Strong naval power is essential for a world power
Economic alliances are more important than navies
Mahan's 1890 work argued that national greatness depended on maritime supremacy, influencing U.S. and other nations' naval buildups and imperial ambitions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Which Insular Case ruled that Puerto Ricans were not automatically U.S. citizens?
Downes v. Bidwell
Balzac v. Porto Rico
Dorr v. United States
De Lima v. Bidwell
In Balzac v. Porto Rico (1922), the Supreme Court held that Puerto Ricans did not have all constitutional rights and were not full U.S. citizens unless Congress granted them. This reinforced territorial distinctions.
The Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 restricted immigration between the U.S. and which country?
China
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Under the Gentlemen's Agreement, Japan voluntarily limited emigration of its laborers to the U.S., while the U.S. agreed to desegregate San Francisco schools. It was an informal but impactful diplomatic understanding.
Which naval commander led the U.S. fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay?
Alfred Thayer Mahan
George Dewey
David Farragut
Chester A. Arthur
Commodore George Dewey commanded U.S. naval forces to a decisive victory over the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, marking a key moment in the Spanish-American War.
What was the primary promise of the Philippine Autonomy Act (Jones Act) of 1916?
Immediate independence
Permanent U.S. annexation
Military rule continuation
Eventual Philippine independence
The Jones Act (1916) promised eventual independence for the Philippines once a stable government was established, replacing the earlier Organic Act but stopping short of granting immediate sovereignty.
What did the Foraker Act of 1900 establish in Puerto Rico?
Civilian government and partial self-rule
Full independence
Permanent military rule
Annexation as a state
The Foraker Act created a civilian government with a U.S.-appointed governor and executive council, and an elected House of Representatives, providing limited self-government under U.S. oversight.
Which event directly preceded the U.S. declaration of war on Spain in 1898?
Annexation of Hawaii
Sinking of the USS Maine
Treaty of Paris
Battle of San Juan Hill
The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, killed over 200 sailors and was sensationalized by the press, leading Congress to declare war on Spain.
What term describes the sensationalist reporting style of Hearst and Pulitzer around 1898?
Muckraking
New Journalism
Yellow Journalism
Objective Reporting
Yellow journalism featured exaggerated headlines, lurid stories, and eye-catching illustrations to sell papers and sway public opinion, notably contributing to the fervor for war with Spain.
Who negotiated the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867?
John Hay
William McKinley
William H. Seward
James G. Blaine
Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the 1867 treaty paying $7.2 million for Alaska, initially criticized as 'Seward's Folly' before gold and resources proved its value.
Which publication under Samuel S. McClure was vital in early muckraker reporting?
The Outlook
Collier's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
McClure's Magazine
Founded by Samuel S. McClure in 1893, McClure's Magazine became the leading outlet for investigative journalism, featuring writers like Tarbell, Steffens, and Baker.
What legal doctrine did the Insular Cases establish regarding constitutional rights in U.S. territories?
Doctrine of nullification
Separate but equal doctrine
Territorial incorporation doctrine
Implied powers doctrine
The Insular Cases held that full constitutional rights do not automatically extend to unincorporated territories; Congress may decide which provisions apply. This territorial incorporation doctrine created a dual system of rights.
Who served as the first American Governor-General of the Philippines after 1901?
Leonard Wood
Arthur MacArthur Jr.
William Howard Taft
Francis Burton Harrison
William Howard Taft headed the Philippine Commission and became the first civilian Governor-General in 1901, overseeing the transition to civil government and preparing for eventual autonomy.
Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis influenced U.S. policymakers toward what policy?
Monetary reform
Isolationism
Overseas imperial expansion
Labor unionization
Turner argued in 1893 that the closing of the American frontier would push the nation to seek new opportunities abroad, influencing support for imperial ventures like the Philippines and Hawaii.
Under the Platt Amendment, what did the U.S. secure in Guantanamo Bay?
Shared fishing rights
Exclusive coaling station
Sovereign ownership
Perpetual lease for a naval base
The Platt Amendment granted the U.S. the right to lease or buy lands for naval stations in Cuba, resulting in the perpetual lease of Guantanamo Bay for military use.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand muckraker journalists -

    Explain how muckraker journalists exposed corruption and social injustice during the Progressive Era and shaped public demand for reforms.

  2. Identify prominent muckrakers -

    Recall key figures such as Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens and summarize their major investigative works.

  3. Analyze Progressive Era dynamics -

    Interpret the social, economic, and political factors that fueled Progressivism and influenced reform agendas.

  4. Recall Spanish-American War trivia -

    Recognize the primary causes, pivotal battles, and outcomes of the Spanish-American War through targeted quiz questions.

  5. Compare American Imperialism strategies -

    Contrast the diplomatic, economic, and military methods the U.S. used to extend its influence at the turn of the 20th century.

  6. Apply historical knowledge -

    Use insights from this Imperialism in American history quiz and Progressive Era questions to confidently tackle challenging scenarios.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Muckraker Origins -

    In the late 19th century, muckraker journalists exposed corruption and social injustice by publishing detailed investigations in popular magazines like McClure's and Collier's. Figures like Ida Tarbell, whose 1904 series dismantled Standard Oil's monopoly, demonstrate how in-depth reporting fueled public demand for reform. Use the mnemonic "TIS" (Tarbell, Ida's Series) to recall her landmark work.

  2. Legislative Impact of The Jungle -

    During the Progressive Era, quiz questions often focus on Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel The Jungle sparking outrage over meatpacking abuses and directly leading to the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act. This connection demonstrates how muckraker journalists exposed corruption and social injustice to drive federal reforms. Remember "JMP" (Jungle, Meatpacking, Protection) to link Sinclair's work to these landmark laws.

  3. Spanish-American War Trivia -

    Spanish-American War trivia often centers on 1898 events like the USS Maine's sinking, sensational yellow journalism, and the De Lôme letter - all of which stirred public support for U.S. intervention. Use the acronym "YDS" (Yellow press, De Lôme, Sinking) to recall the three main catalysts that propelled Congress to declare war. This segment is a staple of any Imperialism in American history quiz.

  4. Key Progressive Amendments -

    Progressive Era questions frequently test your grasp of the 16th through 19th Amendments - covering income tax, direct senatorial elections, Prohibition, and women's suffrage between 1913 and 1920. A handy phrase - "Tax, Vote, Dry, Vote" - reminds you of the sequence: 16th (Tax), 17th (Vote), 18th (Dry), and 19th (Vote). Mastery of these reforms is key to acing any Progressivism quiz.

  5. Imperial Expansion & Open Door Policy -

    After victory in the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines while also introducing the Open Door Policy to ensure equal access to Chinese markets. Remember "PGP-O" (Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines, Open Door) to track major postwar imperial moves. Questions on these topics are common in an Imperialism in American history quiz.

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