Question

march of the flag, 1898
by sen. albert j. beveridge
senator albert j. beveridge gave this speech while running as a republican in
the us senate race in indiana. he was elected in 1899. at the time, the united
states had just defeated spain in the spanish - american war, and as a result
won new territory from spain, including puerto rico in the caribbean, and the
philippine islands and guam in the western pacific. americans were divided on
the issues of expansion and imperialism. while some believed that it was wrong
to colonize foreign lands, others believed that the united states had a duty to
bring western civilization to those they viewed as inferior.
fellow - citizens—it is a noble land that god has given us; a land that can feed
and clothe the world.... it is a mighty people that he has planted on this soil; a
people sprung from the most masterful blood of history.... it is a glorious history
our god has bestowed upon his chosen people; a history whose keynote was
struck by liberty bell; a history heroic with faith in our mission and our future; a
history of statesmen, who flung the boundaries of the republic out into
unexplored lands and savage wildernesses...
therefore, in this campaign the question is larger than a party question. it is an
american question. it is a world question. shall the american people continue
their resistless march toward the commercial supremacy of the world?....
the opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their
consent. i answer, the rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority
from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-
government. we govern the indians without their consent; we govern our
which statement best describes the main idea of senator albert j. beveridge’s
speech “march of the flag”?
the united states
will soon become
an economic
superpower.
imperialism
benefits the united
states and the
countries it
occupies.
god has chosen
the united states
to be the greatest
nation on earth.
the united states
has no right to
invade other
territories.

Explanation:

To determine the main idea, analyze the speech context: post - Spanish - American War, Beveridge's view on imperialism. The speech emphasizes the US's role in expansion, with the idea that imperialism benefits the US and occupied countries (e.g., mentions duty to bring Western civilization, commercial supremacy). The first option focuses on economic superpower (narrower), third on divine chosenness (not main), fourth is anti - imperialism (opposite). The second option matches the pro - imperialism stance, stating imperialism benefits both the US and occupied nations.

Answer:

B. Imperialism benefits the United States and the countries it occupies.