🗽US History – 1865 to Present Unit 5 – American Imperialism & World War I Era

Key Concepts and Terms

• Imperialism: Policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force
• Manifest Destiny: Belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the North American continent
• Spanish-American War: Conflict between the U.S. and Spain in 1898, resulting in U.S. acquisition of territories
• Yellow Journalism: Sensationalized reporting that contributed to public support for the Spanish-American War
• Open Door Policy: U.S. policy aimed at securing equal trading rights in China
• Roosevelt Corollary: Addition to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American affairs
• Dollar Diplomacy: U.S. foreign policy aimed at furthering its interests in Latin America and East Asia through economic influence
• Zimmermann Telegram: Secret message from Germany to Mexico, proposing an alliance against the U.S., which contributed to U.S. entry into World War I

Historical Context

• Post-Civil War era: Period of rapid industrialization, economic growth, and westward expansion in the U.S.
• Closing of the American frontier: By 1890, the U.S. had expanded to the Pacific Ocean, leading to a shift in focus towards overseas expansion
• European imperialism: Major European powers, such as Britain, France, and Germany, were actively colonizing and establishing spheres of influence around the world
  • Scramble for Africa: European nations competed for control of African territories in the late 19th century
  • Partition of China: Foreign powers, including the U.S., sought to establish spheres of influence and gain trade concessions in China
• Rise of Japan: Japan emerged as a major power in East Asia, challenging Western dominance in the region
• Growing U.S. economic and military power: The U.S. became increasingly assertive in international affairs as its economic and military strength grew

American Imperialism: Causes and Motivations

• Economic interests: Desire for new markets, raw materials, and investment opportunities drove U.S. expansion
  • Access to resources: U.S. businesses sought control over natural resources, such as sugar, tobacco, and minerals, in overseas territories
  • Trade expansion: Securing access to foreign markets was crucial for the growth of U.S. industries
• Strategic concerns: Control of overseas territories was seen as necessary for national security and power projection
  • Naval bases: Acquisition of strategically located territories, such as Hawaii and the Philippines, provided the U.S. with naval bases and coaling stations
  • Geopolitical competition: The U.S. sought to counter the influence of other imperial powers, particularly in the Caribbean and Pacific regions
• Cultural and ideological factors: Belief in the superiority of American values and institutions fueled expansionist sentiments
  • "White Man's Burden": Idea that it was the duty of Western nations to "civilize" and "uplift" non-Western peoples
  • Social Darwinism: Application of Darwin's theory of natural selection to human societies, justifying imperialism as a natural process of the "survival of the fittest"
• Domestic politics: Imperialism was supported by various political and interest groups
  • Business interests: Corporations and financial institutions lobbied for expansionist policies to protect and expand their investments
  • Political leaders: Presidents, such as Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley, actively pursued imperialist policies
  • Media influence: Newspapers, particularly those engaged in yellow journalism, played a significant role in shaping public opinion in favor of imperialism

Major Events and Conflicts

• Hawaiian annexation (1898): The U.S. annexed Hawaii, which had been under American influence since the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893
• Spanish-American War (1898): Conflict between the U.S. and Spain, triggered by American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence
  • Battle of Manila Bay: U.S. naval victory over Spanish forces in the Philippines
  • Treaty of Paris: Spain ceded control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S.
• Philippine-American War (1899-1902): Conflict between the U.S. and Filipino revolutionaries who sought independence following the Spanish-American War
• Boxer Rebellion (1900): Anti-foreign uprising in China, which the U.S. helped suppress as part of an international coalition
• Panama Canal construction (1904-1914): The U.S. supported Panama's independence from Colombia and secured control over the Panama Canal Zone
• U.S. interventions in Latin America: The U.S. intervened in various Latin American countries to protect its interests and maintain stability
  • Venezuela Crisis (1902-1903): U.S. pressure on European powers to accept arbitration in a dispute with Venezuela
  • Dominican Republic (1916-1924): U.S. military occupation and establishment of a customs receivership
  • Nicaragua (1912-1933): U.S. military interventions and support for the Nicaraguan government against rebel forces

U.S. Entry into World War I

• Initial neutrality: The U.S. remained neutral during the early years of World War I (1914-1917)
  • Woodrow Wilson's policy: President Wilson sought to maintain U.S. neutrality and serve as a mediator between the warring parties
  • Trade with belligerents: The U.S. continued to trade with both the Allied and Central Powers, leading to tensions with both sides
• Factors contributing to U.S. involvement:
  • Unrestricted submarine warfare: Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare, which targeted U.S. ships and resulted in American casualties (Lusitania incident, 1915)
  • Zimmermann Telegram: Intercepted message from Germany to Mexico, proposing an alliance against the U.S. in exchange for territorial concessions
  • Economic and cultural ties: The U.S. had stronger economic and cultural ties with the Allied Powers, particularly Britain and France
  • Ideological factors: Wilson's vision of a post-war world based on democracy and self-determination aligned more closely with the Allied cause
• Declaration of war (April 1917): The U.S. declared war on Germany, citing the need to protect American interests and defend democracy

Impact on American Society

• Economic mobilization: The U.S. economy shifted to support the war effort
  • Increased government control: The government took a more active role in directing economic activity through agencies like the War Industries Board
  • Industrial expansion: War-related industries, such as steel, chemicals, and munitions, experienced significant growth
  • Agricultural boom: Demand for food exports to Europe led to increased agricultural production and higher prices for farmers
• Social and political changes:
  • Women's roles: Women entered the workforce in greater numbers to fill positions vacated by men serving in the military
  • African American migration: The Great Migration of African Americans from the South to Northern cities accelerated, driven by job opportunities in war industries
  • Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917-1918): Laws that restricted free speech and targeted individuals suspected of disloyalty or anti-war activities
  • Red Scare (1919-1920): Fear of communist influence led to heightened suspicion and persecution of political radicals and immigrants
• Cultural impact:
  • Propaganda: The government used various forms of propaganda to promote the war effort and shape public opinion
  • Nationalism and patriotism: The war fostered a sense of national unity and pride, as well as suspicion of foreign influences
  • Artistic and literary expressions: The war inspired a generation of writers and artists, who grappled with the conflict's impact on society and the human experience

Global Consequences

• Redrawing of political boundaries: The war resulted in the collapse of empires and the creation of new nation-states
  • Treaty of Versailles: Peace settlement that imposed harsh terms on Germany and redrew the map of Europe
  • Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires: The war led to the breakup of these multi-ethnic empires and the emergence of new countries
  • Rise of nationalism: The principle of self-determination, championed by Wilson, fueled nationalist movements in colonized regions
• Shift in global power dynamics:
  • Decline of European powers: The war weakened the economic and military power of European nations, particularly Britain and France
  • Rise of the U.S. as a global power: The U.S. emerged from the war as the world's leading economic and financial power
  • Bolshevik Revolution in Russia (1917): The war contributed to the collapse of the Russian Empire and the establishment of the Soviet Union
• League of Nations: International organization proposed by Wilson to promote peace and collective security
  • U.S. non-participation: Despite Wilson's efforts, the U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles and membership in the League of Nations
  • Limitations and failures: The League of Nations proved ineffective in preventing future conflicts, due in part to the absence of the U.S. and other major powers
• Economic consequences:
  • War debts and reparations: The war left many countries with significant debts, and the reparations imposed on Germany strained its economy
  • Disruption of global trade: The war disrupted international trade networks and led to a period of economic instability and recession in the 1920s

Legacy and Long-Term Effects

• U.S. foreign policy:
  • Isolationism: The U.S. largely retreated from international affairs in the 1920s and 1930s, focusing on domestic issues
  • Interventionism: The U.S. continued to intervene in Latin American affairs, as exemplified by the Good Neighbor Policy under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • World War II: The unresolved issues and instability created by World War I contributed to the outbreak of World War II
• Domestic politics and society:
  • Roaring Twenties: The post-war period saw economic prosperity, cultural changes, and social tensions in the U.S.
  • Great Depression: The economic instability of the 1920s contributed to the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression
  • New Deal: President Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression, which expanded the role of the federal government in social and economic affairs
• Remembrance and commemoration:
  • Veterans' organizations: Groups like the American Legion were formed to support and advocate for veterans
  • Memorials and monuments: Communities across the U.S. erected memorials to honor those who served and died in the war (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier)
  • Artistic and cultural expressions: The war continued to inspire literature, art, and film in the decades that followed ("All Quiet on the Western Front", "A Farewell to Arms")
• International relations:
  • U.S.-Soviet rivalry: The ideological differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, which emerged as a major power after the war, set the stage for the Cold War
  • Decolonization: The war accelerated the process of decolonization, as colonized peoples sought independence from weakened European powers
  • Collective security: The failure of the League of Nations led to the creation of the United Nations after World War II, with the U.S. playing a key role in its establishment