UNIT X - 1880-1920
World Power
THEMES:
The changing role of the U.S. in world affairs
The Spanish-American War
The failure of neutrality
Causes and results of World War I
Global awareness and the shrinking world
Treaty negotiations and the Senate rejection of the Treaty of Versailles

OUTLINE:

New Imperialism and Darwinism-survival of the fittest meant that the U.S. had to be strong religiously, militarily, and politically. Expansionists of the late 19th century extended the idea of Manifest Destiny to apply to all parts of the world. The U.S. had to compete with imperialistic Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan.

Stirring Expansion
1. "Yellow press"-Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst whet popular taste.
2. Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis (1885) -book by Rev. Josiah Strong stressed superiority of Anglo-Saxon civilizations to spread religion and values to "backward" peoples; encourage Americans to support active government involvement in foreign affairs.
3. Influence of Sea Power Upon History- (1890) - book by Alfred Thayer Mahan; strong navy crucial to securing foreign markets and becoming world power; caused Congress to build up Navy.
4. Politicians-republicans endorsed search for new markets (Henry Cabot Lodge and TR).

Hawaii
1893-Expansionists overthrow Queen Liliuokalani; Cleveland opposes annexation; McKinley annexes July.
1898-Becomes territory 1900, state 1959.

Latin America and the Spanish American War
Events prior to war
1. Pan-American Conference 1889-held in Washington, organized by Secretary of State James G. Blaine; created permanent organization for international cooperation on trade and other issues; held primarily to reduce tariffs; brought cooperation on economic and political issues.
2. Venezuela 1895-1896-boundary dispute between British colony Guiana and Venezuela; Secretary of State Richard Olney gets Britain to agree to arbitrate the dispute; Britain wants U.S. friendship and agrees. Latin American nations appreciated U.S. efforts of protection from Europe.

Causes of the Spanish American War
1. Jingoism-nationalism for aggressive foreign policy.
2. Cuban Revolt 1895-Cuban nationalists try to overthrow Spanish colonial rule by sabotaging Cuban plantations. Spain sends General Valeriano Weyler and 100,000 troops to suppress the revolt.
3. Yellow press-exaggerate false accounts of Spanish atrocities in Cuba; Americans urge intervention to stop the suffering.
4. De Lome Letter 1898-Spanish minister Dupuy de Lome's letter critical of President McKinley was leaked to the press and printed in William Hearst's New York Journal; Insult against U.S. national honor.
5. Maine 1898-battleship that exploded in Havana harbor, killing 260 Americans on board; yellow press accused Spain of causing explosion.
6. War Message to Congress April 1898-McKinley yields to public pressure. His reasons for intervention were to end barbarities, to protect the lives of U.S. citizens, to end injury to commerce, and to stop a menace to our peace.
7. Teller Amendment-joint resolution authorizing war, declaring that the U.S. didn't want political control of Cuba and that Cuba could have its own government when peace came.

Fighting the War
1. The Philippines-Manila Bay-George Dewey's fleet opens fire on Spanish ships May 1, 1898; Spanish fleet pounded by naval guns; U.S. troops take Manila August 13 with aid of Emilio Aguinaldo.
2. Cuba Invasion
a. San Juan Hill and El Caney-July 1, Rough Riders led by Roosevelt made heroic victory with aid of African American veteran regiments.
b. Santiago Bay-U.S. Navy destroys Spanish fleet on July 3; Spain asks for terms of peace.
c. Leaders-Spain: Admiral Cervera (Navy); U.S. : General William R. Shafter, Colonel Leonard Wood, Theodore Roosevelt.
d. Disease-maleria, typhoid, dysentery, and yellow fever; bad meat; cases 500 deaths as opposed to only 500 in battle.

Treaty in Paris-Dec. 10, 1898
1. Terms of treaty-Cuban Independence, U.S. gains Puerto Rico and Guam, U.S. gets Philippines for $ 20 million.
2. Philippine debate-need 2/3 Senate to ratify treaty, anti-imperialists fear taking possession of different race and culture; violate Declaration of Independence for Filipinos, ratified Feb. 6, 1899, Filipinos angry-Aguinaldo fights against U.S. Control; insurrection lasts 3 years, costs many lives; ends 1902.

Other Results of the War
1. Anti-imperilism League-led by William Jennings Bryan against further expansion in the Pacific.
2. Insular cases-Supreme Court cases (1901-1903) that ruled that constitutional rights were not automatically extended to territorial possession; Congress had the power to decide.
3. Platt Amendment 1901-army appropriations bill; withdrawal of U.S. troops from Cuba; made Cuba a U.S. protectorate.
4. McKinley wins election 1900-beats Bryan with U.S. prosperity and gold standard.
5. Recognition of U.S. power-national pride, Southerner's attacked to the Union, European nations recognize U.S. as first-class power.

Open Door Policy
1. 1st round of notes-1890's, Russia, Japan, Britain, France, and Germany dominate trade in regions of China; Secretary of State John Hay dispatches diplomatic note 1899 to these nations to have Open Door and equal trading privileges.
2. Boxer Rebellion 1900-Chinese nationalists, Society of Harmonious Fists, attacks foreign settlements, murder missionaries; U.S. troops march into Peking and make China pay indemnities.
3. 2nd round of notes-state commitment to preserve China's territory and safeguard equal trade.

Roosevelt's Big Stick
1. Panama Canal-Panama Revolution 1903 successful rebellion against Colombia, sign Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty to grant U.S. control of canal zone; Hay Pauncefote Treaty-remove British involvement with canal; Building the canal- 1904 began; completed 1914; George Goethals engineer; Dr. William Gorgas eliminates mosquitoes; 1921 pay Colombia indemnity of $ 25 million for loss.
2. Roosevelt Corollary-Dec. 1904 U.S. would occupy countries with debts to Europe and collect customs taxes until debts were satisfied; send forces to Haiti, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua; causes poor relations with Latin America.
3. Japan-Russo-Japanese War-1904-1905, Roosevelt holds conference at Portsmouth 1905 to end war; Japanese wanted more from Russia that they got; "Gentlemen's Agreement" law in California discriminates Japanese; segregated schools; 1908 compromise: less Japanese migration to U.S. for repeal of discriminatory law; Great White Fleet-U.S. navy sent on a world cruise 1907-09; Root-Takahira Agreement-1908 Secretary of State Elihu Root an Ambassador Takahira pledge mutual respect for Pacific possessions and Open Door.
4. Peace Efforts-Algeciras Conference in Spain-settle conflict between France and Germany over claims to Morocco; 2nd International Peach Conference-Hague 1907; limiting warfare.

Taft's Diplomacy
1. China's railroads-Taft sends American to invest with the British, French, and Germans; Russia and Japan defy Open Door by building rail in Manchuria.
2. Nicaragua-intervene in Nicaragua's financial affairs and send marines.
3. Lodge Corollary-Japan wants to buy part of Mexico's Baja Peninsula; Lodge introduces resolution that non-European powers couldn't own territory in the Western Hemisphere.

Wilson's Diplomacy
1. Respect rights and spread democracy.
2. Jones Act 1916-full territorial status to Philippines; Bill of Rights and male suffrage; independence when government stable.
3. Full U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and limited self-government 1917.
4. Repeal act that exempted U.S. ships from paying tolls in the Panama Canal; pleased the British.
5. 30 Conciliation Treaties by Bryan-nations submit disputes to commissions and take a year of cooling off before military action.
6. Maintain stability an protect Panama Canal-held troops in Nicaragua, Haiti (1915), and Dominican Republic (1916).
7. Mexico-Wilson dislikes Huerta, Mexican dictator. He puts embargo on Mexico and blockades Vera Cruz. When Americans are arrested at Tampico, Wilson occupies Vera Cruz. Dispute is mediated by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Democratic Carranza takes over and is challenged by Pancho Villa, who is pursued by General Pershing.

World War 1
The U.S. leading up to War
1. Neutrality-free seas, no taking sides
2. Lusitania-sinking of British passenger liner 1915, American killed; Wilson warns Germany.
3. Arabic-passenger ship sunk, more Americans killed; Germany promises not to sink anymore.
4. Economic links with Britain and France-U.S. send more supplies to Allied British and French than to Germany.
5. J.P. Morgan loans $ 3 billion credit to Britain and France.
6. Public Opinion-1st and 2nd generation immigrants support neutrality, majority want Britain and France to win; British news stirs propaganda against Germany.
7. Preparedness-National Security League promotes expansion of armed forces; increases army to 175,000 and builds 50 warships.
8. Opposition to war-Midwest and west, populists, Progressives, Socialists against buildup.
9. Wilson wins in 1916-beats Charles Evans Hughes on pledge to stay out of the war.
10. Peace Efforts with both Allied and Central powers in 1915 fail.

Immediate Causes of Entry
1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare-causes U.S. to break U.S. diplomatic relations with Germany.
2. Zimmerman telegram-March 1, 1917, Germany offers Mexico help in regaining territory for aid in war; intercepted by British intelligence, causes anger.
3. Russian Revolution-March 15 overthrow czar and proclaim republic.
4. German subs sink 5 unarmed ships.
5. Wilson declares war April 1917.

Mobilization
1. U.S. ships supplies to Allies.
2. War Industries Board controls raw materials and prices.
3. Food Administration rations food.
4. Fuel Administration saves coal and closes nonessential factories.
5. Liberty Bonds sold and excise tax place on luxury goods.
6. Committee on Public Information stirs propaganda against Germany.
7. Espionage Act imprisons persons who incite rebellion or obstruct the draft; Sedition Act prohibits disloyal remarks about the government.
8. Selective Service Act of 1917 drafts 2.8 million (African Americans fight in segregated units).
9. Women fill jobs; Mexicans enter the U.S. to work crops; African Americans go north.

Fighting the War
1. U.S. goes overseas late in 1917; builds convoy system to escort merchant ships.
2. American Expeditionary Force plugs weaknesses for French and British.
3. Americans stop German advance at Chatueau-Thierry 1918.
4. Meuse-Argonne Offensive-allies drive Germans back to German border.
5. Germans sign armistice, surrender arms, give up navy, and evacuate occupied territory Nov. 1918.
6. Total U.S. fatalities: 112,432.

Making Peace
1. Fourteen Points-freedom of seas, no secret treaties, reducing arms, self- determination, and an association of nations.
2. Treaty of Versailles-Big Four: Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando. T
Terms of treaty: disarmament of Germany and strip of colonies in Asia and Africa and reparations to Britain and France; self-determination for territory controlled by Germany, Austria Hungary, and Russia;charter for a League of nations to protect independence and integrity of other nations.

Battle for Ratification
1. Republicans have majority 1918, including Henry Cabot Lodge.
2. Opposition, Irreconcilables and reservationists, fear that the League would involve the U.S. in a war and violate the constitution which gives only Congress power to declare war, interfere in domestic matters like the tariff and immigration, bring British influence on the U.S., and break traditional isolationism.
3. Wilson denounces reservations and tours country to get people support; suffers from a paralytic stroke; instructs Democrats in the Senate to reject the Lodge reservations.
4. Senate rejects treaty with and without reservations; 3rd vote some Democrats support it with reservations but fall short of majority. U.S. makes separate peace with Germany in 1921.

Postwar Problems
1. Demobilization-women and African Americas lose jobs when production falls off; farmers suffer from falling prices; inflation and consumer buying spree brings recession in 1921.
2. Red Scare-anti-Communist hysteria causes A. Mitchell Palmer to gather information on radicals; mass arrest of anarchists, Socialists, labor agitators, and foreigners.
3. Labor-public turns against unions in fear of revolution; strikes in 1919: Seattle peaceful strike for higher pay; Boston police strike for the firing of a few officers (National Guard breaks strike); U.S. Steel Corporation violent strike.
4. Race riots-African American migration the North angers whites. St. Louis, Illinois 1917; 1919 violence in Chicago where 40 died and 500 were hurt; South increases racial violence.

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