US Imperialism & WWI

1. US Imperialism & WWI Unit 4

2. What is Imperialism? • Imperialism: • Attempt by stronger nations to create empires by dominating weaker nations – economically, politically, culturally, or militarily.

3. Motives for Expansion 1. Economic: • Industry requires resources (rubber, petroleum, etc) • Need someone to sell your goods to • New markets

4. Motives for Expansion 2. Military Factors • Improvement in European military technology • Navies acquiring bases around the world for supplies Maxim Gun 

5. Motives for Expansion 3. Nationalism • Your nations people, ideals, and goals are superior to others • If your neighbor acquires new land, you should too.

6. Motives for Expansion 4. Humanitarian • Spread of religion (primarily Christianity) • Spread of “western cultural blessings” • White Man’s Burden

7. Hawaii • American sugar merchants gained influence from 1870s-1890s • Pearl Harbor naval base established in 1887 • American businessmen led overthrew of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893 • Established Sanford B. Dole as president • Hawaii annexed in 1898

8. The Spanish American War, 1898 • U.S. first attacked Spain in the Philippines • Quickly defeated Spanish fleet • Military victory in Cuba was swift • Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” (San Juan Hill) • Black soldiers comprised much of the army • War ended on August 12, 1898

10. “A Splendid Little War” • U.S. acquired Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. • Acquisition of the Philippines was heavily debated in Congress • Anti-Imperialist League • W.J. Bryan, Andrew Carnegie, Booker T. Washington, and Mark Twain were among those who opposed imperialism • Treaty was narrowly approved in Feb. 1899

11. Cuba • U.S. withdrawal was contingent on the Platt Amendment: • Restricted Cuba’s autonomy in foreign relations • Lease of naval bases to the U.S. • Authorized U.S. intervention to maintain order and preserve Cuban independence

12. The Filipino-American War • Filipino nationalists had fought against Spain, welcomed American victory • Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence, U.S. refused • U.S. military used harsh tactics to suppress resistance • concentration camps, mass killings

13. The Roosevelt Corollary • Roosevelt stated that the U.S. had the right to exercise “an international police power” to protect its interests in Latin America • “Big Stick Diplomacy” • Latin American countries resented American intervention

14. Wilson and Latin America • Wilson vowed to abandon imperialism, but didn’t • American military took control in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba • Wilson interfered with the revolutions taking place in Mexico • Pancho Villa led raids on U.S. in 1916, General John J. Pershingsent to pursue

15. Causes of WWI • Imperialism: • Western scramble for colonies (Africa, Asia, and the Pacific) • Great Britain and France have the most land –resources • Germany wants more power  take land from other colonizers

16. Causes of WWI • Militarism: • Policy involving building a nation’s armed forces in preparation for war. • Military has more control over government & foreign policy • Key European players: • Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Russia

17. Causes of WWI • Nationalism: • Your countries interests over the interests of others • Ethnic minorities • Want independence • Big countries protect ethnic minorities in other countries (Russia & Serbs)

18. Causes of WWI • Alliances: • Bolster each countries security • “Blank Check” • Germany  Austria-Hungary • Russia  France • Great Britain  France

19. Assassination • June 28, 1914 • Archduke Francis Ferdinand (Austria-Hungarian Empire) visits troops in Sarajevo, the capital Bosnia. • GavriloPrincip • 19 year old Bosnian Serb • Member of terrorist group “Black Hand”

20. Mobilization • July 23, 1914 • Austria-Hungary demands Serbia stop supporting terrorism in Bosnia. • Two day warning. • July 28, 1914 –war declared by Austria-Hungary

21. Mobilization • August 1, 1914 • Germany declares war on Russia • Schlieffen Plan (Germany) • Eliminate France quickly, then turn on Russia • Belgium ruins plan

22. Key Players • Central Powers: Germany, and Austria-Hungary, Turkey • Allies: Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia • Stalemate: neither side can gain an advantage. • “Trench warfare”

23. The Fighting Starts • After Germany’s invasion of Belgium, Germany and the allies became entrenched along the “Western Front” • created trenches • “no man’s land” • Trench warfare led to enormous casualty rates • Little ground ever gained by either side

24. German Submarine Warfare • German U-boat • Submarine • Germany began allowing submarines to fire on British merchant ships without warning. • Bad public image • Sussex Pledge • Sinking of the Lusitania(May 7, 1915) • German promise to US to warn ships before attacking,

25. Zimmerman Note • July 31, 1917 • Germany nullifies Sussex Pledge • End of diplomatic relationships between Germany and US • Still no war… • Zimmerman Note: • Germany’s foreign secretary • If Mexico helps Germany, they will get Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona back. • Still no war…

26. The War Resolution • March 16-18, 1917 • Germany sinks four US ships • Wilson brings the war resolution to Congress • passed by the Senate and the House, signed by Wilson April 6, 1917 • Is this a “just war”? • Analysis: • Wilson’s Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War against Germany (1917)

27. Where we left off: The U.S. Enters the War • Wilson was reelected in 1916 • “He Kept Us Out of War” • Wilson hoped to mediate conflict • U.S. intercepted the “Zimmerman note” • Germany attempted to lure Mexico into the conflict • Revolution in Russia overthrew the czar • Wilson submitted war message to Congress on April 2, 1917

28. Raising, Training, and Testing an Army • Congress passed the Selective Service Act establishing a draft • limited training, segregated divisions • American Expeditionary Force was commanded by John J. Pershing • 4.3 million Americans served (115,000 died) • African Americans served at high rates

29. Fighting “Over There” • New weapons changed nature of war • German “Big Bertha” cannon, zeppelins, machine guns, poison gas, tanks, airplanes • Medical technology did not keep pace with weaponry • “trench foot”, diseases, “shell shock”

30. Organizing the Economy for War • War Industries Board was created to set industrial priorities and supervise business to boost efficiency • Food Administration controlled production and distribution for the U.S. and Allies • National War Labor Board supervised labor relations • guaranteed right of unions to organize, improved work conditions

31. Women and Minorities • Many job opportunities opened up for women and African Americans • “heavy industry” • Jobs in industry played a major role in the “Great Migration” of African Americans to northern cities

32. Advertising the War • The government worked to promote a “war spirit” through propaganda • Committee on Public Information • promoted national unity • encouraged Americans to purchase “Liberty Bonds” • depicted Germans as brutal, subhuman

33. The Collapse of Germany • Mutiny spread among German soldiers and workers • People of Berlin rose in rebellion in November 1918 • Kaiser abdicated throne, fled to the Netherlands • Germany surrendered on November 11 • War’s toll was staggering • 26 million soldier and civilian deaths, 20 million wounded, 10 million refugees • $350 billion direct economic cost

34. Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Wilson hoped that the ending of the war would bring about a more democratic world system • create new nations, shift borders, ensure self-determination • League of Nations • Wilson agreed to travel to Paris for peace negotiations

35. The Versailles Peace Conference • Delegations were dominated by Allied leaders • Central Powers and Russia were excluded • other Allies sought to punish Germany • Wilson had to compromise on his “points” • Treaty of Versailles • Germany had to accept sole responsibility (war-guilt clause), pay reparations, give up land, limit army, destroy bases • new nation-states were created, some Allies annexed territory • proposed the creation of a League of Nations

36. The Fight Over the League of Nations • Americans generally favored the Versailles treaty and the League of Nations • Republicans in the Senate stood in opposition • Henry Cabot Lodge • “Irreconcilables” and “Reservationists” • Wilson campaigned for the passage of the treaty but fell ill • immobilized for remainder of his presidency • treaty died in the Senate