Unit IX: Imperialism & WWI
Imperialism
Define Imperialism:
Pre-Civil War: US isolation
What forces lead the US to imperialize
Yellow journalism, power, need for new resources, frontier is closed, industry wants new markets, Darwinism
Cap’t Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote a book that said successful nations had great navies (lead to $$ in our navy)
Regions we are interested in:
Caribbean
Hawaii
Asia
Early US Involvement
Review Monroe Doctrine
Alaska 1867
Tension with Europe over Latin America
Remind them of the Monroe Doctrine
Almost go to war with England over land in South America
After dispute, our relationship changes with England (start of good relationship)
We try to improve our image in Latin America (not very effective)
Gain Pacific Islands in 1800’s- Samoa & Wake Island
Hawaii
Had been an independent kingdom, but many Americans invest in Hawaii (sugar cane)
1870’s -1880’s, we gain access to Pearl Harbor for trade
1870’s Hawaiian sugar can enter the US “duty free” (no tariffs), but 1890 McKinley tariff ends that
Americans in HI upset, so the solution is to annex HI
1893 White pop. revolts & overthrows Queen Liliuokalani
President Cleveland sends a commission to investigate & orders the Queen to be restored
President McKinley will annex HI in 1898
Spanish-American War
1895 Cuba revolts against Spain
Remember we’ve always been interested in Cuba (Ostend Manifesto)
Americans are torn on whether we should help Some believe it’s similar to our war for independence
Others think we should focus on our own problems (McKinley was anti-war)
Cubans want our help
**interesting group of those who opposed & supported war
Journalists exaggerate the problems in Cuba (use of Yellow journalism) and more Americans support revolt
There were major atrocities by the Spanish
Spanish-American War
2 causes of US involvement:
De Lome letter-
Sinking of USS Maine (we learn later it was a pure accident)
260 killed
April 1898 Congress declares war
Prep for war:
Pass Teller Amendment- promising Cuba their independence
Assistant secretary to the Navy (TR) sends US Navy (under Com. Dewey) to Philippines to prepare for war (another Spanish colony eager for independence)
Spanish-American War Fighting
Cuba
US troops not prepared for tropical climate (disease is a major problem)
TR quits job & creates a volunteer army called Rough Riders (before his presidency)
Philippines
Filipino insurgents led by Emilio Aguinaldo welcome US troops
War is very short & armistice is signed in August 1898
“a splendid little war”
http://www.owasso.k12.ok.us/webpages/gyankey/regadvhandouts.cfm?subpage=313704
Treaty of Paris
Cuba independent
We gain Puerto Rico, Guam & Philippines
Philippines upsets Americans & Filipino people (wanted independence)
Americans thought it was “un-American”
Anti-Imperialist League opposed acquisition (Twain, Gompers, Carnegie)
Problems with treaty:
Very controversial
Barely passes Congress
http://www.mark-carlile.com/id8.htm
What to do with the islands?
Puerto Rico
Foraker Act gives limited gov’t
Insular Cases- Congress has power to decide what to do with PR
Cuba
Help the islands rid of yellow fever, build roads, hospitals
Americans want ability to influence Cuba, so force new gov’t to adopt Platt Amendment (violates Teller Amendment)
Give US land for military
Limit Cuba’s debt
US can intervene as needed
**resented by Cubans
Impact of S-A War
Gain land
Controversy over Philippines (war to come later)
Affirms our presence as a world power
Closed tension b/w North & South
Trouble in the Philippines
Resent that they didn’t gain independence when Cuba did
We need their location for access to Pacific
Revolt 1899 by Aguinaldo
Atrocities on both sides & guerilla warfare
US finally puts down rebellion
Independence comes in 1946
ASIA
Open Door Policy
Europe traded freely in China & we fear we’ve been left out
Sec. of State John Hay writes Open Door Note to other powers suggesting that we “share” China
Attempt to gain access to trade
It works
Chinese reject foreign intervention with Boxer Rebellion
Put down by joint forces
Chinese Exclusion Act
Tension on the west coast with Irish & Chinese workers
Violence towards Chinese (due to job competition)
1880’s Gov’t passes legislation to limit Chinese immigration to only skilled workers
No un-skilled workers (same people who build RR)
1ST Time in history that immigration is limited
LATIN AMERICA
TR & Imperialism
Believed in Big Stick Diplomacy
“speak softy & carry a big stick”
Adds on to Monroe Doctrine with Roosevelt Corollary: ‘Police Power’
We can back up this statement
No one can bully Latin America, but us
Hurts our relationship with LA- “bad neighbor policy”
Panama Canal
US had a desire & need for a canal in Central America
Nicaragua & Panama were the options, but a French company already started a route in Panama
FR desperate to get out & wanted to sell
US buys option, but Panama is part of Colombia & they refuse to allow the US to build canal ( we offer $$ but still told no)
FR Company panics, so they encourage Panama to rebel (US encourages revolt too, but not actively involved)
Panama gains independence & wow they allow the US to build canal
We offer money to Colombia anyways
Impact of Canal
Greatest engineering accomplishment since trans. RR
Connects Atlantic with Pacific (quick route)
1904-1914 Cost of $400 million
Hurts our relationship with Latin America due to revolt
TR gets credit for building canal & bad press
**Opens for business on 8-15-1914 and in 1999 U.S. returns the Canal to Panama
TR’s other foreign Policy
Negotiates peace b/w Japan & Russia Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Great White Fleet Sends US navy around the world to show off & remind everyone of “big stick
diplomacy”
Gentleman’s Agreement San Francisco school districts segregates Japanese kids from white students->
Japanese gov’t is furious
Make a deal with TR to limit immigration to only skilled workers if schools are integrated
2nd time in history, an immigrant group is limited (1st: Chinese)
Taft & Imperialism
Taft practiced Dollar Diplomacy-
Particularly in Latin America
Wilson’s Imperialism
Goal: was anti-imperialistic & wanted to improve relations with Latin America
Stops dollar diplomacy
Preps Philippines for independence with Jones Act
Reality: events happen that lead Wilson to take action
Sends forces to Haiti & Dominican Republic to put down revolt
Bought Virgin Islands from Denmark (protect canal)
Problems in Mexico
Revolts in MX & people upset with US exploitation
Leads to massive immigration to US
Wilson refuses to acknowledge current leader of MX (Huerta) Provides weapons to two rebels groups
Lead by Carranza & Pancho Villa (rivals), but Carranza comes to power (1914)
Tampico Incident
US sailors arrested in MX & Wilson ready to use force if needed
ABC powers intervene & mediate the conflict (Argentina, Brazil & Chile)
1916: Villa upset & raids US towns -> forces sent to capture Villa, but not successful
WWI
Start of WWI
Causes: MANIA
Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism & Assassination (US guilty of many of these characteristics too)
Spark: assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
US response: NEUTRALITY
Germany- hoped German immigrants in US would support War (they don’t)
Agents try to win over Americans, but it fails
Information to know
Austria-Hungary
www.wikipedia.com
America & neutrality
Businesses realize the economic opportunities with war- willing to trade with both & loan money
$2 billion to Allies & $27 million to central powers
Overwhelmingly trade with Allied forces (due to location)
Upsets Germans who launched submarine warfare around England
Wilson asserts that US ships should have freedom of the seas since we are “neutral”
Germans sink Lusitania (British ship carrying Americans)
Wilson warns the Germans, but they sink more ships- Arabic & Sussex
Germans issue Sussex pledge to warn US ships before they are attacked
America & neutrality
Even though we are still neutral, US is prepping for war
Size of military is expanded
Income taxes increased (pay for potential war)
January 1917: Germany announces it will fire on armed and unarmed ships
Election of 1916- Wilson defeats Charles Evan Hughes on the platform that he kept us out of the war
Before our entry, he develops the 14 points
Idealistic goals for peace
Creation of the League of Nations (peace-keeping organization)
America’s entry in WWI
Zimmermann Note March 1917
Secret letter that proposed an alliance between MX & Germany
Russian Czar overthrown in 1917
Easier for US to join Allied Powers
Wilson asks Congress for war April 1917
The world must be safe for democracy
American War effort
Numerous boards & committees created to run the war effort & maintain support
Committee on Public Info (George Creel)- propaganda
War Industries Board (Bernard Baruch) –tells factories what to produce
Food Administration (Hoover)- encourage volunteer rationing
Wheatless Wednesdays
Fuel Admin
National War Labor Board (Taft)- settle labor disputes
AFL supports the war
IWW (new union) is anti-war & more radical (leader: William Haywood)
Other efforts to encourage support
Passage of 18th Amendment
Sacrifice & somewhat anti-German
Paying for war: increases taxes, loans & selling war bonds
Create a draft
Espionage & Sedition Act
Limit criticism of war
Many imprisoned (IWW workers & Debs)
Socialists & IWW were both anti-war
Legislation was challenged, but S. Court ruled in Schenck v. US that limitations were allowed when there was a “clear & present danger”
You can’t scream “fire” in a crowded building
Minorities & WWI
German Americans were under scrutiny for treason
Many German cultural items were banned
Beer halls closed, schools drop German, can’t listen to Beethoven
Sauerkraut-> liberty cabbage
African Americans
Many move north for jobs & to escape discrimination
Move known as Great Migration
Move sparks violence in all white towns & riots/tension exist during WWI
Move continues into 1920’s too
Many African Americans serve in segregated troops
Women & WWI
Traditional roles at 1st -> War bond drives, conserve food, nurses
Over time, work in more male dominated fields
Many see this a breakthrough
Changes were limited & brief
Unions upset (want women in domestic work)
Lasting impact: 19th amendment (right to vote) due to the work of:
NAWSA (Catt)
Militant group splinters off (led by Alice Paul)
Picket White House, hunger strikes, burn Wilson’s speeches
Impact: made NAWSA more acceptable to Wilson
WWI Fighting
Read your textbook over American military efforts in WWI
Focus on the new technology- machine guns, tanks, airplanes, gas
Trench warfare
Forces were segregated
End of war
November 11th Germans sign an armistice
Bulgaria, Turkey, A-H already out
11th hour, 11th day of the 11th month
Germans promised the peace treaty would be around the 14 points
Wilson prepares to attend peace treaty
1st president to do so
Doesn’t invite any Republicans
Both actions are bad moves as Henry Cabot Lodge who was skilled in these matters-> hurts his attempt for the US to sign peace treaty
Treaty of Versailles
Italy, England, France & US
No Germany or Russia
Europe wants to punish Germany & doesn’t want to include the 14 points
Wilson has to compromise to keep the League of Nations
All blame on Germany (forced to pay $$ and accept all blame)
Leads to bitterness & resentment (all parties were to blame)
Treaty at home
Wilson comes home excited to have Congress sign the treaty
Faces major opposition lead by Henry Cabot Lodge
Some Americans think treaty is too harsh or not harsh enough
Wilson tours the country trying to gain support- Leads to exhaustion & a stroke
Lodge is worried about the League bringing the US into future wars (would lose power to declare war)
Willing to compromise, but Wilson refuses to compromise
Remember he’s already compromised a lot at Treaty meeting
Congress never signs the treaty & the US never joins the League of Nations
Will sign a separate peace with Germany later
Impact of WWI
Russia converts to communism (USSR)
US isolates themselves after the war
Problems brewing & US will avoid any conflict
Miss opportunity to become world power
Bitterness in Europe
Works cited
http://www.mrallsophistory.com/revision/the-paris-peace-conference-and-the-treaty-of-versailles.html
www.wikipedia.com
https://www.epals.com/projects/info.aspx?divid=diaspora
http://legendarycmk.blogspot.com/
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/nfhtml/nfgal2.html
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/graphic/large/Versailles.jpg