i wrote this dbq in around 45 minutes and its so unbelievably bad and not even close to being done💔 i also did not have access to the actual documents as i took the prompt and document overviews from: the 2018 apush sample responses and scoring commentary
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/apcentral/ap18-us-history-dbq1.pdf
below is my horrible dbq
Evaluate the relative importance of different causes for the expanding role of the United States in the world in the period from 1865 - 1910 (2018 DBQ) (Topics 6.2, 6.6, 7.2, 7.3)
Following the civil war reconstruction era, the United States saw many opportunities to expand territory as well as gaining political power worldwide. Through the Spanish American War in 1898 as well as other wars such as the Philippines American War, the US was able to showcase their military and political ability to be on the world stage by beating a major world power. Continued imperialist interest persisted throughout the following years, and the US was able to gain territories along the pacific and latin america such as the annexation of Hawaii and the acquisition of Guam and Puerto Rico.[historical contextualization] Although there were a diverse number of causes for US foreign involvement, the desire to expand territory worldwide for the sake of social and naval military power were the most significant factors for the expanding role of the US worldwide because it drove US’ incentive to rise as a superior nation on the global stage.[thesis]
The US followed racial superiority incentives to interfere with foreign wars in order to gain territory. In strong, our country 1885, states that with the reduced amount of land in the world, races will compete with each other for land. He believes that the anglo saxon race have particular merit to control land.(doc 2) [evidence] From this document, we are able to see in a white person’s perspective the reasons for why the US should imperialize.[POV] this racial superiority demonstrates social incentives for expanding the role of the US in the world. Additionally, in Puck’s cartoon: it's up to them, Uncle Sam is depicted lecturing rowdy students named Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam with dark skin and exaggerated features in a classroom. (doc 6) [evidence] this cartoon explains how many believed the US was a savior and the white race, depicted through uncle sam, the superior race and religion will save inferior and savage countries.the purpose of depicting the countries as savaged children was to paint the countries in an inferior light while the US and the white race are civilized. [Purpose] explains how there was incentive to civilize these savage countries. This can also be seen in the Philippine American war where the Philippines had just gained independence from Spain, but the US stepped in to govern the country as they believed they were incompetent and unable to govern themselves. [outside knowledge] [analysis].
Aside from racial incentive, desire for naval military power provided the US the desire to expand worldwide. In 1897, Thayer Mahan expressed in the interest of America in sea power, that the US does not have sufficient naval power to assert its interests in the Caribbean and Central Americas. He claims that Britain's power and influence is derived from their strong naval power. (doc 3)[evidence] mahan’s audience was the general US public as well as the government who had debates over whether the US should stay out of foreign affairs or engage in imperialism. [Audience] Thayer Mahan’s effect on the American people was strong. The comparison of US military power compared to Britain’s sparked a desire to grow stronger navally, to imperialize. This shows how military power incentivized the US to grow as a world power through amplified involvement on the global stage. [analysis]
yeah so im cooked