Practice free →
HomeSTAAR EOC US HistoryHistoryThe Era of Expansion and Reform › A week after the declaration of war, Commodore G…

A week after the declaration of war, Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong with six vessels. What were his orders and what did he achieve?

ATo stop the Spanish fleet; he destroyed it entirely
BTo seize Havana harbor; he took it in a day
CTo land troops in Cuba; he lost half his ships
DTo escort a convoy home; he turned back early
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. To stop the Spanish fleet; he destroyed it entirely
1. 1. Dewey was at Hong Kong with a squadron of six vessels when war was declared. 2. 2. His orders were to prevent the Spanish fleet based in the Philippines from operating in American waters. 3. 3. He went to the Philippines and destroyed the entire Spanish fleet without losing an American life. 4. 4. Havana harbor lies in Cuba, on the other side of the world from his squadron, so the first option confuses two theatres. 5. 5. The landings near Santiago in Cuba were made by troops, not by Dewey's squadron. 6. 6. Nothing describes a convoy or a withdrawal, so the last option has no support. _Source: An Outline of American History (U.S. Information Agency, 1990, public domain), section SPAIN LOSES WAR AND COLONIES_
Solve this in the app — STAAR EOC US History practice & 24k+ MCQs →
Related questions