Transcript The Emergence of the United States as a World Power

The Emergence of the United
States as a World Power
• Late 19th century/early 20th century – time of
imperial expansion for major industrial nations
(Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia)
• Imperialism – military, political, & economic
domination of a stronger nation over a weaker
(often distant & under developed) nation
• The United States was in favor to expand
overseas for more resources and expand its
“sphere of influence”
– Democracy and Christianity
• Provide both economic gain & military security
– Alfred Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power Upon
History – argued that the US needed to become a
stronger naval power to become a true world power
• Others, instilled with nationalism, felt that it was
a fulfillment of Manifest Destiny to expand
– Some, influenced by ‘‘Social Darwinism’’ (survival of
the fittest races), believed it was the US’s obligation to
govern “less civilized peoples”
– Rudyard Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden
– Whites had a moral obligation to civilize other nations
• Others were anti-Imperialist – not in US best
interests to colonize other lands – would pull US
into wars & was a contradiction to the founding
principals
• Known as Isolationist
US Expansion in the Pacific
• Alaska – acquired from Russia in 1867
– Viewed as rich in natural resources
• Hawaii – independent kingdom – Queen
Liliuokalani
– Economically dominated by US sugar planters and
businesses – lead a bloodless rebellion which
deposed the queen
– After some delay US annexes Hawaii in 1898
– Good for a Navy base
Expansion into the Pacific
• Trade with Japan, China, Southeast Asia
– Good for natural resources
• 1852 – Commodore Mathew Perry
• Travels to Japan to open trade
• Japan begins to modernize and becomes
powerful by 1890
The Spanish American War
• Spain had control of nations in the western
hemisphere from colonization in the 18th century
• Spain also controlled the Philippines
• Cuban rebellion against Spanish control begins in
1895
• Spain responds harshly to the rebellion – moved
civilians to camps where many die
• US newspapers report exaggerated stories of
Spanish atrocities – “yellow journalism” –
demands US intervention
“Remember the Maine,
To Hell with Spain”
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US Navy sent USS Maine to a Cuban harbor
USS Maine explodes in February, 1898
Kills 226 sailors
Explosion blamed upon Spain
• Investigations decades later proved that the
explosion was accidental
Spanish American War
• Spain & US declare war in April 1898
– Commodore Dewey dispatched to the Philippines to
attach Spanish fleet in Manila - US troops latter land to
seize control
– Invasion force sails for Santiago Cuba
– “Rough Riders” – led by Col. Theodore Roosevelt (before
he was president)
– San Juan & Kettle Hill
– Victory over Spain in three months
– “A splendid little war”
Results
• Cuba becomes a US protectorate – Cuban
autonomy granted with strong US oversight
• Puerto Rico, Guam, & the Philippines become
US territories
– Strong opposition against annexing the Philippines
from anti-imperialist & the Filipino people – harsh
guerilla war last for five years – Philippines
granted independence 1946
Significance
• Victory over Spain put the United States on
the stage as a world power
Expanding US Foreign Policy
• US sought to expand its role into Asia & Latin America
– Open Door Policy - US policy to encourage equal trading
relations between all nations in China
– US participates in putting down the Boxer Rebellion in China
– Great White Fleet – world tour of America new modern &
powerful navy to demonstrate world power
• Panama Canal
– US back Panama in a revolt against Columbia for
independence
– Panama allowed US to build and control a canal which
helped connect the Pacific to the Atlantic
Roosevelt – “Big Stick Diplomacy”
– “speak softly and carry a big stick”
– US would not act as a belligerent but it would not
hesitate to use military force to protect its interests
– Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine - US would
intervene in Latin America & not allow European powers
Taft – “Dollar Diplomacy”
– Increase US financial investments to Latin
American nations that cooperated with US
interests
• Pan-Americanism: Political and Economic
relations
Wilson – “Moral Diplomacy”
– Idealistic view, US to promote democratic reforms
by cooperating with democratic nations & not use
force or financial incentive
– Still had to use military force in Haiti & Mexico in
1915 & 1916 respectively (Pancho Villa raids)
The Great War 1914 -18
• First World War – conflict between European
powers which escalated into a global conflict due to
alliances and nationalistic ambitions
• Causes:
– Nationalism/Ethnic tensions within existing nations
(Slavs in Austria-Hungarian Empire)
– Arms race (naval arms race between Britain & Germany)
– Militarism – nations building up armies to intimidate
each other (Russia, France, & Germany all dramatically
increased armies)
– Alliances between nations – if one nation goes to war,
another is required to got to its aid
Alliances
• Triple Entente (Allied Powers) – France, Russia,
Great Britain (later Belgium, Serbia, Romania,
Italy, Portugal, Japan, & others)
• Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungarian
Empire, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria
Outbreak of the War
• Serbian nationalist assassinate Austrian
Archduke Francis Ferdinand
• Alliance dominoes began to fall
– War escalates into a global conflict
– US remains neutral – isolationist vs. preparedness
Trench & Submarine Warfare
• After initial advances, the war grinded into
stalemate
• Western Front – line of trenches extending from
Switzerland to the English Channel
– No Mans Land
• New technologies in war:
– Machine guns, barbed wire, airplanes, poison gas, rapid
fire/long range artillery, tanks, submarines
•
US Involvement
• German use of submarines (U- Boat) will lead to
US involvement in the war
– Sinking of the Lusitania 1915 – English passenger liner
sunk by German U-boat. 128 American killed
• Zimmerman Telegram – German offer to Mexico
to join in war against US if the US went to war
against Germany
– Message intercepted – strong anti-German feeling
• April 1917 - Wilson asks Congress to declare war
on Germany “to make the world safe for
democracy” – US enters war
“Over There”
• AEF – American Expeditionary Force –
commanded by General John Pershing
– “Doughboys” – nickname for US soldiers
– Join French & British in stopping a German
offensive
– US offensive in the Meuse – Argonne
• Played a key role in tipping the balance in
favor of the Allies
• German’s agree to an armistice on
11/11/1918
The Home-Front
• War causes increased scope of US government
• National draft to build up army
• War Industries Board – regulated US economy to focus on war
production
• Committee on Public Information – encourage public support for
the war
• Food Administration – rationing & victory gardens (day light savings
time as well)
• Espionage & Sedition Acts – made it illegal to interfere with draft or
to be critical of government
• Schenck vs US: Freedom of speech is not absolute
• The Great Migration: African Americans migrated from the rural
south to cities in the north for industrial jobs
A Changed Post War World
• 1917 – Russian Revolution – lead by the
Bolsheviks & Vladimir Lenin – take Russia out of
the war & creates the Soviet Union – communist
government
• Peace Negotiations: The Big Four (Britain, France,
Italy, & US)
• Wilson’s Fourteen Points – idealistic plans for the
post war world (good ideas, but not in practice)
– Self determination
– Open diplomacy
– League of Nations – international body to mediate
disputes
– Peace of equal nations
Treaties
• Allied nations pushed for a harsh treaty against
Germany
– War guilt clause & heavy reparations
• Treaty of Versailles – harsh peace treaty imposed
upon Germany after the war
• US Senate refuses to ratify treaty or to join
League of Nations as it is feared the it will put the
US into another war and weaken the power of
Congress – growing isolationist sentiment