Transcript Imperialism and WWI - Loudoun County Public Schools

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Imperialism and WWI
Imperialism and the Spanish-American
War
Imperialism
A policy in which a stronger nation works
to create an empire
Mid 1800s-early 1900s
Stronger countries dominate weaker
nations/territories economically,
politically, culturally and militarily
Factors that influence imperialism:
Economic, nationalist, military and
“humanitarian”
Economic Factors
An overall desire for raw materials and
natural resources
By the late 1800s, Americans had more
food and good than they could consume
New markets could solve this problem
New resources
US could gain political influence by
investing in other countries
Nationalistic Factors
Imperialists use ideas of racial, national, and
cultural superiority to justify imperialism
Social Darwinism- certain nations and races were
superior to others and were destined to rule over
inferior peoples and culture
Americans feared the US was losing vitality,
energy and spirit
A quest for a larger empire could restore the country
MONROE DOCTRINE (1823)- no Euro intervention in
Western Hemisphere
Military Factors
To expand and protect their interests
around the world imperialist nations
built up their military strength
Alfred T Mahan- naval officer and called
on the US to build a modern naval fleet
steam powered, steel-hulled ships to
protect overseas trade
By 1900, US had 3rd largest Navy
“Humanitarian” Factors
Colonial officials, doctors, missionaries
believed it was their duty to spread
“blessings” of Western civilization
US used Social Darwinism to justify
expansion
Believed it was nation’s destiny to spread
democracy and Christianity
To “civilize the uncivilized”
Super ethnocentric
Eyes on the Prize
Americans who pursued expansion
focused on:
Latin America
Islands in the Pacific
China
Opening up Japan
Matthew Perry- US naval commodore
who successfully open Japan up to
trade with the US in 1854
Allowed the US to expand in the Pacific
with trade and naval bases
Involvement in Latin America
US had strong interest there as a result
of the Monroe Doctrine
Stated that the US would oppose efforts by
any outside power to control a nation in
the Western Hemisphere
Within the US a sense of intense
national pride and desire for an
aggressive foreign policy developed
jingoism
Spanish-American War
Marked the start of US Imperialism
War began after the American demand
for Spain's peaceful resolution of the
Cuban fight for independence was
rejected
What Led to US involvement?
Yellow Journalism- newspapers used
sensational headlines and exaggerated
stories to promote readership
Pulitzer and Hurst were main sources
Encouraged Americans to sympathize with
Cuban rebels who were compared to the
patriots of the American Revolution
What led to US involvement?
deLome Letter- American newspapers
printed a letter from Spanish Ambassador
that called President McKinley “weak”
U.S.S. Maine- battleship sent to Havana
when riots broke out to rescue American
citizens
Exploded in the harbor and sank, killing over
250 Americans
Blamed the Spanish and called for war
The Spanish-American War
Congress recognized Cuban
independence
Authorized force against Spain
Began in April 1898
Teller Amendment- stated that the US
had no intention of annexing (taking)
Cuba
US destroyed Spain's entire pacific fleet
American troops invaded Cuba
Rough Riders and San Juan Hill
Teddy Roosevelt led 1st volunteer
Cavalry known as the Rough Riders
Included cowboys, miners, policemen, and
college athletes
TR and the RR charged up San Juan Hill
Most famous incident in war
Spanish surrendered shortly after
“A Splendid Little War”
- Sec. of State John Hay
Treaty of Paris
Signed in December 1898 to end the war
Spain recognized Cuban Independence
US gained Guam and Puerto Rico
US purchases Philippines for $20 million
dollars
(Teller Amendment prevented US from
taking Cuba)
Cuba
Platt Amendment- set of conditions
under which Cuba was granted
independence in 1902
Added to Cuban Constitution
Included restrictions on rights of Cubans
Granted the US the right to intervene to
preserve order in Cuba
Puerto Rico
Foraker Act- law establishing a civil
government in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico had been under direct US
military rule
Act authorized the US president to appoint
a governor and part of the legislature
US in Latin America
President Roosevelt wanted to build a
canal across isthmus of Panama
Would provide a shorter route between
Atlantic and Pacific
Make shipping faster
Ease naval transportation
1st tried to purchase land from Columbia
(owned Panama at the time)
Columbia would not sell
Panama Canal
America started revolt for Panamanian
Independence
Gave aid to Panamanians
Angered many Americans
US paid Panama $10 million for the canal zone,
leased land for $250,000 each year for 99 years
US paid Columbia $25 million for lost territory
Opens in 1914 (as war breaks out)
US Acquires Alaska
William Seward, Sec. Of State under Lincoln
and Andrew Johnson was a big supporter of
imperialism
In 1867, Seward arranged for the US to buy
Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million
Some people thought it was silly and called it
“Seward's icebox” or “Seward's folly”
Alaska didn’t become a state until 1959
Alaska was rich in timber, minerals and oil
Hawaii
Important stepping stone to Asia
Overthrew Queen Liliuokalani
Annexed in 1898
Became the 50th state in 1959
An Open Door to China
European nations and the US were
interested in creating “spheres of
influence”- areas of economic and
political control (by an outside pwr) in
China
Britain, France, Germany, and Russia had
carved China into spheres of influence to
avoid competing for trade
Threatened to limit US trade in China
Leave the Door Open
John Hay (US Sec of State) proposed the
Open Door Policy to keep trade open for
the Americans who were too late to the
party
Favored open trade relations between
China and other nations
Would ensure that the US would have
equal access to China’s consumers
Rejected by many European counties
Boxer Rebellion
Presence of foreigners caused resentment
and some in China joined secret societies
Celebrated traditional customs and criticized
western ways
One society (the Boxers) killed foreign
missionaries in May 1900 and more violence
broke out
Prompted the gov’ts of Europe and America to
send troops to stop the rebellion
Fueled Chinese nationalism
Imperialism Policies
Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Diplomacy”
Creating and using, when necessary, a
strong military to achieve America’s goals
Roosevelt Corollary- 1904 extension of
Monroe Doctrine
Asserted the right of the US to intervene in
Latin American nations
US became an “International police force” (TR)
Steps in when countries seem unstable
“Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Imperialism Policies continued
Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy- “Substituting
dollars for bullets”
Not as aggressive as TR
Worked to maintain the open door to Asia
and preserve stability in Latin America
Encouraged American investments abroad to
maintain order
Pay off countries debts to Europe to remove
European threats
Didn’t always have the best results
Imperialism Policies continued
Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy
The US would not use force to assert
influence on the world but would instead
promote human rights
Attempted to change the direction of
foreign policy instead of seeking additional
territories
Still forced to use military in some areas
Happy Tuesday!!!
 You had no homework!!!
 Did you know: Giraffes are unable to cough
Imperialism and WWI
US Involvement in WWI
Causes of WWI (1914-1918)
Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism
Militarism- During the 1800s militarism had
increased around the world, making nations eager
to use military force. Most nations had built
massive armies and navies with the latest
technology. Britain and Germany had the biggest
arms race.
Alliances- Europe was made up of a system of
alliances that kept the balance of power in
Europe. Nations agreed to defend each other if
attacked. This meant that a war between two
nations could escalate into a global conflict.
Causes Continued
Imperialism- The European powers, Russia and
Japan competed from economic power in the
1800s. France and Germany competed for colonial
gain in Africa, while Britain and Germany competed
industrially.
Because of their mutual competition with Germany,
Britain and France formed close ties with each other.
Nationalism- Aggressive nationalism was the
source of tension throughout Europe. Many French
people wanted to take revenge against Germany
and regain Alsace and Lorraine. Because of
nationalism, the region of the Balkans was known
as the “powder keg” of Europe.
Nationalism Definition
Devotion to the interest in your own
country
The War Begins~ The Spark
Not surprisingly, WWI began in Bosnia, which
was the heart of the ethnically diverse
Balkan power keg. Although inhabited by
many Serbs, Bosnia was not ruled by Serbia,
but by Austria.
When Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the
Austro-Hungarian throne, traveled through
Bosnia in June 1914, he was assassinated by
Serbian nationalist Gavirilo Princip. The
assassination of Ferdinand is known as the
“spark” that started the Great War.
German War Plan- Schlieffen Plan
Germany was faced with a two front war in
1914, with Russia to the east and France to
the west. German army general Schlieffen
organized a battle plan designed to take on
both France and Russia.
The idea was to quickly defeat France first,
and the defeat the Russians. German
generals predicted Russia would be slow to
mobilize due to a lack of industrialization
and a shortage of railroads.
German War Plan continued
In order for the plan to work, German armies
had to march through neutral Belgium, which
was protected by Great Britain. Once
Germany invaded Belgium, GB declared war.
Just as planned, Germany swept through
Belgium. However, Russia mobilized much
quicker than expected. To fight the Russians,
Germany had to divert some of its forces to the
east, which weakened their forces on the
western front.
Horrors of War
Trench Warfare led to all types of new
horrors on and off the battlefield. Many
soldiers suffered from shell shock
(combination of lack of sleep and the
horrible conditions).
The trenches were filthy; infested with rats,
polluted water, gas, dead bodies. Men would
now be at risk of trench foot from standing
in cold, damp mud and not changing socks
Wilson Urges Neutrality
Officially the US remained neutral and
preferred to maintain their tradition of
isolation from European disputes.
Cultural Ties- the US had more
similarities with the Allies than with the
Central Powers (Allies: GB, FR, Russia
(kinda), IT----- Central: Germ, AustHung, Ottoman Empire)
Neutrality Gives Way to War
In 1917, the neutral United States
declared war on Germany for several
reasons:
1. Unrestricted submarine warfare- Germany
began sinking allied ships by using its UBoats, or submarines.
2. Lusitania- the Germans sunk the large
ocean liner, and did not halt
unrestricted submarine warfare
 Americans on board
3. Zimmerman Note- The British intercepted a
message from Arthur Zimmermann, the German
Foreign Minister, to his ambassador in Mexico
Zimmermann asked for Mexican support and
promised that in return Germany would help
Mexico conquer New Mexico, Texas and Arizona
Historical Significance: These 3 actions by
Germany made it so Wilson could no longer
call for peace.
America Mobilizes for War
When the US entered WWI, the U.S. Army was only a
fraction of the size of European armies. President
Wilson encouraged Americans to volunteer for service
and pushed Congress to pass the Selective Service
Act (military draft)
24 million registered for the draft and 3 million were
drafted.
500,000 women joined the workforce for the first
time
400,000 African Americans left the rural South for
industrial jobs in the North
War Industries Board
The WIB was headed up by Bernard M.
Baruch. The WIB encouraged factories
to use mass production techniques
to increase efficiency and set price
controls on products.
Effect of the WIB: Wages went up but
the cost of living went way up because
of the rising cost of food and housing.
Committee on Public Information
Propaganda department headed by George
Creel. The CPI designed, printed and
distributed millions of posters that
dramatized the needs of America and its
allies.
Creel and the CPI’s job was to combine
education and widespread advertising to “sell
America”. The CPI also stressed the cruelty
and wickedness of the enemy (specifically
Germany)
CPI Continued
Creel and the CPI conducted the greatest
sales job ever! Governments were left to
find ways to make the war popular for their
citizens- besides songs they also used art.
Propaganda posters were widespread and
targeted all sorts of groups.
Effects of CPI- new policies
Work or Fight!
“Sweetless, Meatless, Wheatless, and Heatless”
Victory Gardens
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Much like in 1798 America created laws
to arrest anyone who spoke out
against the war. Punishment
included $10,000 fine and 20 years of
imprisonment. Eugene Debs (Socialist
Party) gave a mildly antiwar speech and
received a 10- year prison term in
federal prison
Schenck v. US
Facts: Charles Schenck violated the
Espionage Act, which made it a crime to
cause refusal of duty in the military.
Schenck had distributed pamphlet urging men
to resist the military draft.
Issue: Schenck’s appeal to the SC argued that
his actions were protected by the 1st
Amendment
Decision: the Court said that in times of war
the government may place limitations on
freedom of speech.
Opposition and its Consequences
The CPI posters and speeches intensified by
portraying Germany as the cruel enemy.
Some Americans wrongly generalized that all
German people were cruel. Americans
stopped teaching German in public schools
and we stopped playing Beethoven.
Hamburgers= “Liberty Steaks”
Dachshunds= “Liberty Pups”
German Measles = “Liberty Measles”
Flu Epidemic
An unusually deadly form of the
influenza, or flu, virus appeared in the
US. Historians believe that as many as
30 million worldwide died from the flu.
500,000 Americans were killed.
Possibly spread by soldiers.
The Tides Turn
Due to horrible military defeats, hunger
and chaos within Russia, a communist
revolution occurred against the Czar in
1917. Communist leader Vladimir
Lenin pulled Russia out of the war,
which greatly upset the other Allies.
Germany Defeated
The Germans are closing in on Paris,
but the Americans come to the rescue.
In 1918 the Allies slowly pushed the
Germans back, who were exhausted of
men and materials
America’s Greatest Hero
Trapped behind enemy lines, Alvin York
was being blistered with machine gun
fire. York took out the machine gunner
with his rifle and stormed the German
position with only a pistol. York took
the German position at amazing odds.
York won the Congressional Medal of
Honor
US Gives the Allies the Edge
Austria-Hungary surrendered first in
1918, which just leaves Germany.
Soldiers for Germany deserted or just
refused to fight anymore. Then
Germany on 11th hour of the 11th
day of the 11th month in 1918
signed an armistice.
Costs of War
The war cost the US $35.5 billion,
which was to be paid by taxpayers
and war bonds
The “Big Three”
Wilson wanted “peace without victory,” and
wanted defeated nations to be treated well to
avoid a war of revenge in the future. Wilson
introduced America’s goals his Fourteen
Points, which were admired by the Germans,
but not the other Allies.
Wilson wanted to eliminate the basic causes of
war, such as conflicts over nationalism and
imperialism. Wilson also called for an end to
alliances, a reduction of military arms, and selfdetermination
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
Self- determination- the idea that the
people of Eastern Europe would choose
their own form of government
Wilson also argued for the freedom of the
seas and the formation of the League of
Nations
League of Nations- A group of countries
with the goal of settling disputes
through negotiations rather than war
Fourteen Points
George Clemencu (FR), David Lloyd
George (GB) and Vittorio Orlando (IT) all
said NO to Wilson’s 14 points b/c they
thought it was too lenient on Germany
President Wilson succeeded in forming the
LoN. The countries that joined the LoN
promised to take cooperative economic
and military actions against any aggressive
country.
Opposition to the LoN in the US
Although it was Wilson’s idea, the US
Congress led by Henry Cabot Lodge
and the Republicans rejected the
League b/c Americans feared it would
pull them into future European wars.
The lack of the US severely weakend
the League
The Treaty of Versailles
Germany’s punishment in the Treaty can be
remembered as B.R.A.T.
1. Germany had to accept the BLAME for starting the
war in the form of a “war guilt” clause
2. Germany had to pay over $33 billion in
REPARATIONS or fines
3. Germany was forbidden to have an ARMY over
100,000 men, no submarines, and no air force
4. Germany lost TERRITORY- establishment of 9 new
nations
What happened to Russia?
Since Russia’s new communist
government left the war early, they
were not invited to Versailles. The
Allies wanted to weaken Russia to keep
communism from spreading westward
Anger over Versailles
Many Nations were upset with the ToV and felt their
goals had not been achieved:
Germany- Horrified by their reparations, reduced
military and territorial losses
US- felt the Treaty was too harsh on Germany and
the US Congress refused to approve it- signed
separate treaty with Germany
Russia-angry they were not invited to Versailles
Historical significance: the treaty that ended the “war
to end all wars” merely provided the motivation
for WWII, just 20 years later