Matthew Perry was a commodore in the U.S. Navy for several decades. He is most well-remembered for his forcible role in opening up Western trade with Japan in the 1850s. At the time, Japan was operating under a “closed country” policy that heavily restricted official trade with all the Western powers. Perry, acting on the orders of President Millard Fillmore, threatened the Japanese with destruction at the hands of superior American technology and backed up his threats with several “demonstrations.” The Japanese, fearing complete annihilation, acquiesced to all of Perry’s demands and opened up trade with the United States.

Matthew Perry was a commodore in the U.S. Navy for several decades. He is most well-remembered for his forcible role in opening up Western trade with Japan in the 1850s. At the time, Japan was operating under a “closed country” policy that heavily restricted official trade with all the Western powers. Perry, acting on the orders of President Millard Fillmore, threatened the Japanese with destruction at the hands of superior American technology and backed up his threats with several “demonstrations.” The Japanese, fearing complete annihilation, acquiesced to all of Perry’s demands and opened up trade with the United States.

While it is true that Britain had large academic societies surrounding their many universities, they did not have substantially larger academic groups than any other Western European nation. For example, the nation of Prussia overall was the most educated nation on the planet at this point in history due to their compulsory school system.

The Monroe Doctrine states that the United States will prevent any further European imperialism in the American hemisphere through diplomacy and military force if necessary. The Roosevelt Corollary, added to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, redefined exactly what was acceptable practice for the United States in the issue of imperialism. Roosevelt declared that the United States had the right to intervene in any kind of conflict, even in support of a European power, if the conflict is fomenting unrest and chaos in the Western hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine states that the United States will prevent any further European imperialism in the American hemisphere through diplomacy and military force if necessary. The Roosevelt Corollary, added to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, redefined exactly what was acceptable practice for the United States in the issue of imperialism. Roosevelt declared that the United States had the right to intervene in any kind of conflict, even in support of a European power, if the conflict is fomenting unrest and chaos in the Western hemisphere.

This question is primarily asking you to identify which of these empires rose to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century, as this was the time period in which Social Darwinism became a factor in European Imperialism. Social Darwinism was a political manipulation of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” biological theory and was used to “justify” conquering and ruling native people under the guise that they were better off being ruled by "fitter" human beings. The only one of these empires that was rising in the second half of the nineteenth century was the German empire. The Roman, Carthaginian, and Greek empires were all in their ascendency in the classical era, and the Spanish empire rose to prominence in the late-Medieval and early-Renaissance eras.

This question is primarily asking you to identify which of these empires rose to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century, as this was the time period in which Social Darwinism became a factor in European Imperialism. Social Darwinism was a political manipulation of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” biological theory and was used to “justify” conquering and ruling native people under the guise that they were better off being ruled by "fitter" human beings. The only one of these empires that was rising in the second half of the nineteenth century was the German empire. The Roman, Carthaginian, and Greek empires were all in their ascendency in the classical era, and the Spanish empire rose to prominence in the late-Medieval and early-Renaissance eras.

Corn, potatoes, and tobacco were all originally found in the New World and then transfered to the Old World. They would each have profound effects on the nature of life in Europe and Asia. Potatoes in particular changed much of European history with their ability to grow in many types of soil. Sugarcane, on the other hand, is native to India and South Asia and was transported to the New World, where it was grown in massive quantities on plantations. Sugar plantations would have a profound effect on the structure of political, economic, and social life in many American colonies for hundreds of years.

Corn, potatoes, and tobacco were all originally found in the New World and then transfered to the Old World. They would each have profound effects on the nature of life in Europe and Asia. Potatoes in particular changed much of European history with their ability to grow in many types of soil. Sugarcane, on the other hand, is native to India and South Asia and was transported to the New World, where it was grown in massive quantities on plantations. Sugar plantations would have a profound effect on the structure of political, economic, and social life in many American colonies for hundreds of years.

The Luddites were the group of English workers known for their violent opposition to new machines that were removing jobs in their industry, so they would be the best choice. The Patricians were the ruling class of the Roman Republic, so that would not be a good choice here. The Plebeians were the citizen-commoners of the Roman Republic, so they too would not be the right answer to this question. The Amish -while opposed to technology in many ways- did not protest in England nor were they part of the textile industry there, so they would not be the best answer to this question.