Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/786

 588 General History of Europe In 1914 the United States and Mexico were on the verge of war, but it was averted through the friendly mediation of Argen- tina, Brazil, and Chile, the three most prosperous South American republics the "ABC powers," as they were called. Again, in 1916, a raid by the Mexican bandit Villa into New Mexico led to armed intervention by our forces, which came to an end only when war with Germany became imminent. The large population and vast natural resources of the Latin- American countries promise to make them a very important factor in the history of the future. The cultivation of friendly relations between the United States and the countries to the south is obviously one of the chief tasks of the American government. QUESTIONS I. How did the Industrial Revolution open world trade? Compare steamship and railroad as factors in the spread of commerce. What change in the routes of trade was made by the Suez Canal ? the Panama Canal? How does foreign commerce stimulate imperialism? What effects did the missionaries have in spreading European culture ? II. Why should the Chinese object to Europeans' entering China? When did Europeans enter it? What is a "treaty port"? Why is a "railroad concession " in a backward country likely to bring international disputes? What power in the East is most dangerously situated with regard to China ? Explain why the Japanese were able to pass from feudal to modern conditions so much more rapidly than the nations of Europe. W 7 hat pretexts did the powers of Europe have in seizing Chinese territory? Explain the causes and results of the Boxer upris- ing. How have the interests of Russia and Japan clashed? Out- line the Russo-Japanese War. Why has China been a prey to the European nations? How did Yuan Shih-kai try to turn the republic into an empire? III. When was Africa opened up to colonization ? Why has it been so behind America? Mark on an outline map the possessions of the European powers prior to the W r orld War of 1914. Sketch the his- tory of Egypt to the middle of the nineteenth century. How did the English get control of Egypt ? How have they used their control ? IV. Trace the expansion of the United States since 1867. What were the causes and results of the Spanish-American War? Review the relations of the United States to Latin America.