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The Spanish-American War Test | War History

This quiz is all about the Spanish-American war.

A multiple-choice quiz by Disney101. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Disney101

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
220,179

Updated
Oct 09 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1189

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which country was once the most powerful colonial nation on earth, but by the end of the 19th century lost most of its colonies? Hint

Spain

Great Britain

United States

France

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878? Hint

Puerto Rico

Cuba

Mexico

United States

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who responded to the Cuban rebellion by putting Cubans from central and western Cuba into barbed-wired "reconcentration" camps? Hint

James Creelman

Jose Marti

Valeriano Weyler

George Dewey

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Question 4 of 10

4. What does the term "yellow journalism" mean? Hint

The yellow pages

A policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories

Dishonest journalism

The use of sensationalized reporting in the popular press

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Question 5 of 10

5. What ship did President McKinley order to evacuate American citizens who were in danger from the fighting and also to protect American property in 1898? Hint

U.S.S. Maine

U.S.S. Florida

U.S.S. New York

U.S.S. America

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Question 6 of 10

6. When did the USA declare war on Spain? Hint

June 30th 1894

April 20th 1898

April 2nd 1899

June 3rd 1894

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Question 7 of 10

7. Where did the Americans first strike against Spain? Hint

In Central America

In Cuba

In the Philippine Islands

In Spain

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who was the American Commodore during the Spanish-American war in the Pacific? Hint

Jose Marti

James Creelman

Valeriano Weyler

George Dewey

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Question 9 of 10

9. What were the "Rough Riders"? Hint

A flotilla of small, fast American ships

A crack Spanish cavalry regiment

A volunteer cavalry unit

Mounted guerrillas

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was described as "the hero of the battle at San Juan Hill"? Hint

Valeriano Weyler

Leonard Wood

Theodore Roosevelt

George Dewey

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which country was once the most powerful colonial nation on earth, but by the end of the 19th century lost most of its colonies?

Answer: Spain

Spain had only retained the Philippines and the island of Guam in the Pacific and a few very small colonies in Africa. (Spain turned to parts of West and Central Africa as a source of slaves until slavery ended in 1873).

2. Which of these rebelled against Spain between 1868 and 1878?

Answer: Cuba

The Americans had sympathy for the Cuban people during this rebellion. This revolt was not successful, but later the Cubans would have success against the Spanish.

3. Who responded to the Cuban rebellion by putting Cubans from central and western Cuba into barbed-wired "reconcentration" camps?

Answer: Valeriano Weyler

In 1896, the Spanish sent General Valeriano Weyler (1838-1930) over to Cuba to suppress the rebellion. He soon came to the conclusion that the only way to suppress the rebellion was to cut off the guerrilla rebels from any source of civilian support. In order to do this, he had about 300,000 Cuban civilians deported to camps.

These were very poorly run and many of the inmates (who, after all, had committed no crime) perished from hunger and disease. If he'd wanted to encourage popular stereotypes about "Spanish brutality" he could hardly have made a better job of it.

4. What does the term "yellow journalism" mean?

Answer: The use of sensationalized reporting in the popular press

The popular press ("yellow journalism"), which developed from about 1880 onwards, was stridently patriotic. It focused on events - allegedly as seen by "our man in Havana" - and discouraged critical thinking. In the Spanish-American war it whipped up nationalistic enthusiasm in America for the war.

5. What ship did President McKinley order to evacuate American citizens who were in danger from the fighting and also to protect American property in 1898?

Answer: U.S.S. Maine

The popular press claimed that the U.S.S. Maine had been blown up by the Spaniards and said, "The warship Maine was split in two by an enemy's secret infernal machine."

6. When did the USA declare war on Spain?

Answer: April 20th 1898

On April 11th, McKinley asked Congress for authority to use force against Spain, but it took until the 20th of April for Congress to agree. Spain declared war on April 23rd.

7. Where did the Americans first strike against Spain?

Answer: In the Philippine Islands

The Spanish were expecting the Americans to attack Cuba first because they had once tried to buy Cuba from them, but the Americans attacked the Philippines first.

8. Who was the American Commodore during the Spanish-American war in the Pacific?

Answer: George Dewey

George Dewey gave the command to open fire on the Spanish fleet in Manila, the Philippine capital on April 30th.

9. What were the "Rough Riders"?

Answer: A volunteer cavalry unit

The "Rough Riders" were under command of Leonard Wood. Theodore Roosevelt also was a commander of this group.

10. Who was described as "the hero of the battle at San Juan Hill"?

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Two days after San Juan Hill the Spanish fleet tried to escape the American blockade at the harbor of Santiago, but a naval battle that followed this ended in the destruction of the Spanish fleet. Roosevelt was said to be the hero of San Juan Hill because he had done so much during the war and it seemed to the American people that he should be the true hero because he was a great leader.

Source: Author Disney101

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