TEST #6 Lecture Notes

1. TEST #6 Lecture Notes The United States from 1890-1941 VUS.9-10

2. Imperialism • 1800s: Americans justified their taking over North America by the idea of “Manifest Destiny” • The idea of “Manifest Destiny” will lead many in the U. S. to believe that they are culturally and morally superior to other people in the world • Many Americans believed it was their duty to instill the American way of life on other people in the world • After 1850, the U. S. will develop an imperialist foreign policy • The US believed it had the right to expand outside the continental borders of the U. S. • The US was searching for overseas markets for its products • By 1900, the US had become an imperialistic nation with many colonies over the world • Americans looked to Latin American and Asia as markets and raw materials for the increased industrialization

3. Land gained after Spanish American War • Began with Cuban war for independence from Spain • Sinking of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor, February 15, 1898 united American opinion for war • Congress declared war April, 1898 • Battle of Manila Bay, May 1, ’98, entire Spanish fleet sunk • US Army troops attacked Cuba in June • United States received Puerto Rico and Guam and the Philippines in the Pacific • Cuba was granted independence from Spain • The US had the right to intervene in Cuban affairs

4. Hawaii • The U. S. wanted to expand into the Pacific region • 1820s and 1830s: U. S. missionaries had gone to Hawaii • Over time, the U. S. began to dominate the economy of Hawaii • The U. S. also wanted to depose the monarchy in Hawaii • 1887: the U. S. gained the right to build and fortify a naval base on Hawaii at Pearl Harbor • 1898: The U. S. annexed Hawaii

5. The Panama Canal • Many people in the world wanted a canal that crossed Central America—linking the Atlantic with the Pacific • 1903: Plans were made to construct a canal in the Colombian-owned region of Panama • Pres. T. Roosevelt saw many benefits to the creation of a Central American canal • 1903: the U. S. and Colombia began working on a treaty to negotiate a price for the narrow strip of land where the canal was to be built • Colombia held out for more money

6. The U. S. supported a revolution in Panama that would make Panama independent from Colombia • Once independent, the U. S. and Panama negotiated a treaty that gave the U. S. the land where the Canal would be built

7. 1904: Construction began on the Canal • The Canal took 10 years to complete • 1914: the Panama Canal was opened • Pres. T. Roosevelt felt proud of his accomplishment

10. “Big Stick” Diplomacy • Created by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt • He believed that one should not brag about America’s power • The U. S. should just be very strong so other nations would bow down to the U. S. • “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you’ll go far.” • Pres. Roosevelt used the “Big Stick” diplomacy in the Caribbean and South America • Part of his “Big Stick” diplomacy was his support for the Panamanian Revolution

12. 1904 and 1905: problems were occurring the in the Dominican Republic • Pres. Roosevelt issued a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine—the Roosevelt Corollary • Said that any “chronic wrongdoing” by a Latin American nation entitled the U. S. to intervene in the nation’s affairs • The Roosevelt Corollary caused the U. S. to commit itself to maintaining stability in the Western Hemisphere—like a police force

14. Open Door Policy • Create by Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 and 1900 • Created to strengthen the U. S. position in gaining control over specific regions of China • Hay sent out a note to Japan and key European powers asking them not to control a specific area of China • He wanted to leave the door open for ALL nations in ALL parts of China • All nations would have equal trading rights in China • Most other nations agreed to the Open Door Policy • The goal of the policy—the U. S. would get a share in the trade with China

15. John Hay

16. Dollar Diplomacy • 1909: William Howard Taft became President of the U. S. • Taft wanted to influence foreign governments by using American investment ($) • Taft encouraged American banks to lend money to Central American nations • To help the nations pay off their debts to Great Britain • Taft hoped the loans would gain the U. S. more influence in the Western Hemisphere • He also encouraged many businesses to invest in Latin America • He promised the Latin American nations that the U. S. would step in if unrest threatened their investments

17. William Howard Taft

18. World War I • World War I will dramatically change the world • There were 4 underlying causes that helped lead to WWI in Europe • Nationalism • Imperialism • Militarism • Alliances • June 28, 1914: The war will start in the Balkans when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Bosnia • Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the attack • Russia comes to help Serbia • The alliances will be brought in bringing Europe into a major conflict

19. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

20. Allied Powers in WWI at beginning of war • Great Britain • Russia • France • Serbia • Belgium • Japan • Central Powers in WWI at beginning of war • Germany • Austria-Hungry • Bulgaria • Ottoman Empire

22. At the outbreak, President Woodrow Wilson immediately declared the United States neutral • The U. S. will stay out of WWI for the first 3 years • Many in the U. S. did not want the U. S. to get involved at all • During these 3 years, the war had turned into a stalemate, with neither side having a decisive advantage

23. Several factors contributed to the U. S. finally entering WWI in 1917 • 1.) Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare—violating the freedom of the seas • Germany continued using U-boats (submarines) to attack ships • In 1915, a U-boat sank the Lusitania, killing 1,200 civilian passengers. • The press publicized the event, greatly influencing public opinion against Germany • Germany’s sinking of ships also disrupted American trade

24. Sinking of the Lusitania

25. 2.) Zimmerman Telegram • In early 1917 the British intercepted the Zimmerman telegram from the German government to their Mexican ambassador. • A German plan to keep the US out of the war by urging Mexico to declare war against America. • The press printed the telegram and public opinion changed to war

26. Original coded telegram

27. Decoded telegram

28. 3.) Americans wanted to “make the world safe for democracy” (Woodrow Wilson) • 4.) It was difficult because of the close relations with Britain, the leader of the Allied powers • As Great Britain reached stalemate, it became difficult for the U. S. to stay out of the conflict

29. America’s involvement in the war helped turn the tide in favor of the Allies • The U. S. sent much needed resources and fresh soldiers to help aid the Allies • Because of America’s involvement, the Allies were able to defeat Germany and the Central Powers • After the war, peace treaties were laid out with the defeated Central Powers • The Most important treaty was the Treaty of Versailles which dealt with Germany

30. Wilson’s 14 Points • Even before the war was over, Pres. Woodrow Wilson had created a peace plan • His plan to eliminate the causes of war • Key parts to Wilson’s 14 Points • Self-determination • Freedom of the seas • Freedom of trade • League of Nations (Wilson’s 14th Point) • Mandate System • Wilson believed the most important part of his plan was the creation of the League of Nations • This was to be an international mediating body to discuss problems in Europe and the world with the hope of deterring future wars

31. President Woodrow Wilson

32. Treaty of Versailles • Treaty dealing with Germany at the end of World War I • The French and English insisted on harsh punishment of Germany • Taking of German territory • Germany had to pay huge war reparations • Created the League of Nations—one of Wilson’s 14 Points • National boundaries were redrawn, creating many new nations

33. Meeting over the Treaty of Versailles

34. The Treaty of Versailles created new nations in Europe • Finland • Estonia • Latvia • Lithuania • Poland • Czechoslovakia • Yugoslavia

35. The Treaty of Versailles also divided the old Ottoman Empire (an ally of Germany) into mandates • The victorious Allied nations began dividing up the old Ottoman Empire (Mandates) • Great Britain gained control of Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine • France gained control of Syria and Lebanon • In the Middle East, conflicts between Jews and Muslims began to arise • Great Britain had promised the Arab nations independence after the war • Great Britain broke that promise once GB and France took over the Arab areas and turned them into Mandates • Helps explain why many Arab nations do not like western European nations today

37. League of Nations Debate in the U. S. • The US Senate refused to approve the Treaty of Versailles • Pres. Wilson (Democrat) had upset many Republicans by urging the American people to vote Democratic in the upcoming mid-term elections • Republicans won the elections, and voted against Treaty of Versailles—backed by a lot of public support to stay out of European affairs • Therefore, did not join the League of Nations • The U. S. was NOT a member of the League of Nations • Many did not like the idea of US foreign policy decisions being made by an international organization—not the U. S. • The U. S. became isolationist after World War I • The U. S. began to focus more on itself instead of other worldly problems

38. America in the 1920s and 1930s • When World War I ended, the U. S. developed an intolerance toward those that spoke against the government • This period was also known for new developments in music and art • At the end of the 1920s, the US will fall into a depression that will impact the entire world

39. 1.) Red Scare: • A violent wave of anti-communist panic that swept through the U. S. between 1919 and 1920 • 1917: the communist Bolsheviks in Russia took over the Russian government during the Russian Revolution • Many in the U. S. were afraid the same thing could and would happen • 1919: there were 2 small communist parties in the U. S. • People were afraid that these 2 small parties would lead a communist revolution in the U. S. • People in the U. S. started seeing any foreign born people as a threat to democracy • The Attorney General of the U. S. directed the Red Scare • Mitchell Palmer

40. 2.) Palmer Raids: • Mitchell Palmer believed that communists were about to take over the U. S. • Palmer was a Quaker • He was against the idea of revolution • June 2, 1919: Palmer’s fears nearly became reality • Bombs exploded in 8 cities in the U. S. • One exploded in front of Palmer’s house • After the bombings, Congress gave Palmer $500,000 to search out and destroy any radical people in the U. S. • Palmer created the Central Intelligence division • Palmer appointed J. Edgar Hoover as the head of the new government division • Palmer began to raid different organizations suspected of radical ideas • Over 4,000 people were arrested • Over 550 foreigners were deported

41. Mitchell Palmer

42. 3.) Sacco and Vanzetti: • 2 men were accused of robbing and killing a guard at the Massachusetts shoe factory • Both men were immigrants • Both men had radical political views • Many believed the only reason for their conviction was because of their immigrant status and radical views • No real evidence pointed to the 2 men’s involvement in the crimes • Even the judge at the trial denounced the 2 defendants for the immigrant background • Both men will be executed • Many protests sprang up after their execution

43. Sacco and Vanzetti

44. 4.) Mass Media and Communications: • Radio: Broadcast jazz and Fireside Chats • Brought immediate information the people—news • A new form of entertainment—music, radio shows, etc. • Jazz—a new form of music developed in the 1920s • Began in New Orleans and spread • Started as African American music, but whites soon took interest • Movies: • Started as silent films, then talking movies appeared • First talking picture: The Jazz Singer • During the Great Depression, movies offered people a chance to escape • Newspapers and magazines: • Shaped cultural norms and sparked fads

45. 5.) Agricultural Overproduction: • During WWI, US farmers began producing lots of food • The US government bought most of the farmers’ harvests to send to the troops • In the 1920s (after WWI was over), the military needed less food stuffs • The government stopped buying the harvests from farmers • US farmers now had an oversupply of food • Caused crop prices to plunge, meaning less money for farmers • Many farmers lost their land and homes on defaulted loans

46. 6.) Scopes Trial: • 1920s: science and religion will square off in this trial • 1859: Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species by Natural Selection • Said animals (and humans) had evolved from more primitive creatures • Many scientists used Darwin’s work to challenge the religious idea of creation • 1920s: Fundamentalist Christians began attacking the idea of evolution • These people believed the Bible was absolute truth • Many southern states outlawed the teaching of evolution in schools

47. 1925: Butler Act in Tennessee outlawed the teaching of evolution in schools • The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) announced it would defend any biology teacher who challenged the Butler Act • John T. Scopes accepted the offer and read about evolution to his students • Scopes was arrested and placed on trial • The case started small, but became a national news story • Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 • Later, the Supreme Court overturned the decision

48. Scopes Monkey Trial

49. 7.) Prohibition: • Many people saw alcohol as the cause of crime and violence • These people wanted to prohibit alcohol in the U.S • January 1920: The 18th Amendment (Volstead Act) was passed • National law prohibiting the manufacture, transport, and sale of liquor (alcohol) in the United States • At 1st , it looked like Prohibition might work • The consumption of alcohol in the U. S. did drop • Many people were against Prohibition • Bootleg liquor became very popular • Homemade alcohol • Alcohol brought in from Canada • Very difficult for the U. S. to keep illegal alcohol from crossing into the U. S.

50. Many began breaking the law • Illegal drinking establishments developed around the nation—Speakeasies • Many made fortunes in alcohol smuggling