Unit 5 US Foreign Policy, 1890-1920
I. American Imperialism A. What is Imperialism? B. Stated motivations (how we were helping others) Helping free countries from foreign domination Spreading Christianity Spreading democracy and resisting tyranny C. Deeper motivations (self interest) Business of financial interests (money) Strategic interests (naval bases, canals, etc)
D. US involvements around the world Country Where The US Was involved Stated Reasons for involvement Deeper motivations for involvement Was this justified in terms of the the themes of liberty and equality? Explain your answer. Hawaii (342-245) Missionaries sought to Christianize the Islands To end the monarchy and bring democracy Economic interests - US sugar planters wanted Hawaiian annexation to make their business more profitable. The US sought a naval base and refueling station at Pearl Harbor (which was in the mid Pacific) Cuba (346-356) To free Cuba from the Spanish To end the brutality directed against the Cuban people by Valeriano Weyler (the Spanish general in charge), who was rounding people up and placing them in unhealthy camps. To gain revenge for the Sinking of the USS Maine - which was blamed on the Spanish To protect the interests and property of American sugar planters. To gain political control over Cuba - The Platt Amendment was forced into the new Cuban constitution which limited the sovereignty of the cuban government. Based on the Platt Amendment, the US could intervene in Cuban affairs, would gain military bases in Cuba. The US refused to withdraw its troops until the Platt Amendment was made part of the Cuban Constitution. The Philippine s (348-355) To free the Filipinos from Spain According to McKinley There is nothing left for us to do but to Military bases, naval stations and refueling centers The Filipinos fought for their independence against the US between 1899-1904. 20K filipinos died and the Islands did not gain their independence until 1946
rounding people up and placing them in unhealthy camps. To gain revenge for the Sinking of the USS Maine - which was blamed on the Spanish into the new Cuban constitution which limited the sovereignty of the cuban government. Based on the Platt Amendment, the US could intervene in Cuban affairs, would gain military bases in D. US Involvements around the world Cuba. The US refused to withdraw its troops until the Platt Amendment was made part of the Cuban Constitution. The Philippine s (348-355) To free the Filipinos from Spain According to McKinley There is nothing left for us to do but to take them all and educate the filipinos and to uplift and Christianize them. Military bases, naval stations and refueling centers The Filipinos fought for their independence against the US between 1899-1904. 20K filipinos died and the Islands did not gain their independence until 1946 Puerto Rico (352-353) Acquired as a result of the Spanish American war - so freedom from the Spanish was a motivation Bring democracy and the blessings of the liberal institutions of our government - General Nelson Miles, Military governor of PR PR was strategically important to our interests in the Caribbean (including the Panama canal) Residents of PR were granted citizenship in 1917 Panama (360-362) The United States claimed in 1903 that it was helping the Panamanian people achieve independence. US warships were present when Panama declared its independence. Strategic interests. The United States wanted the land to build the Panama canal. Fifteen days after the revolution the US paid Panama for the rights to build the canal.
E. US Policy in Latin America
A. Theodore Roosevelt Talk softly and cary a big stick - The US used its navy to force Latin American countries to Agree to its demands (for example - Panama) The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine - Held that the US had the right to use military force in Latin America to protect its economic interests
B. William Howard Taft Dollar Diplomacy - Taft increased American investments in Latin America Taft continued TR s policy of military intervention in Latin America when American economic interests were threatened
C. Woodrow Wilson Missionary diplomacy - Wilson emphasized democracy and human rights in his speeches about US policy in Latin America Wilson also continued TR s policy of military intervention in Latin America when US interest were threatened
A. Reasons for US entry II. World War I Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - German submarines sank ships of Neutral nations - including the US The Zimmermann Note - Germany sent a telegraph to Mexico urging them to attack the US. The US finds out and the public is furious US Economic Interests - The US had invested far more money in the allied countries and didn t want to lose this To Make the World Safe For Democracy - Wilson claimed the US had to enter the war to protect democracy and human rights
B. The American Impact on the War The Convoy system - By escorting supply convoys across the Atlantic, the US was able to cut losses to U-boat attacks in half by the end of 1917. Fresh troops - By the end of the war, the US had over 1 million men fighting in Europe. These fresh troops tipped the balance in favor of the Allies
C. The War at Home 1. Economic impacts The War Industries Board - Coordinated production of war time goods. Oversaw the conversion of civilian industries to military production. Headed by Bernard Baruch The Food Administration - Coordinated voluntary food saving efforts such as Meatless Mondays and Wheatless Wednesdays. Headed by Herbert Hoover
C. The War at Home 2. Propaganda The Committee on Public Information oversaw the distribution of war time propaganda. This agency distributed 75 Million pieces of printed information about the war. Headed by George Creel.
C. The War at Home 3. Funding the War - The cost $35.5 billion Increased taxes - To meet the needs of the war tax rates were raised on almost every income level, but especially on the wealthy. Additionally, industries had to pay a war profits tax and taxes were increased on luxury goods and alcohol. War Bonds - Like other countries, the US also sold war bonds to finance the war. War bonds helped ordinary people feel like they were part of the war effort.
C. The War at Home 4. Suppression of Dissent Espionage and Sedition Acts - In 1917 and 1918 Congress passed laws which made speaking out against the war effort or the nation a crime. These laws led to 20,000 prosecutions including Eugene Debs who was jailed for nearly five years for opposing the draft.
III. The War s End: The Treaty of Versailles What Britain and France wanted Punishment for Germany What Wilson Wanted A Lasting Peace Wilson s 14 Points was his plan for a lasting peace. The League of Nations was the last and most important of these points
Why Wilson Wanted The US to join the League of Nations Wilson believed the LoN could be a place where disputes could be solved through negotiation not war Wilson believed that the US was now a world leader and that without our participation the league would fail The US Senate rejected the Treaty in 1920 and the US never joined the League of Nations Why many in the Senate objected to the US joining the League of Nations The Republican leader of the Senate, Henry Cabot Lodge objected to the collective security provisions of the treaty (if a member nation were attacked, other members were obliged to defend them). He believed that the US might be forced into a war we did not wish to enter The treaty committed the US to involvement in world affairs when most Americans wanted to pursue isolationism Some objected to the potential cost of defending other members of the League