Download American Imperialism and World War I Study Guide

 American Imperialism: Political and Economic
Expansion
A. General Causes of American Imperialism
 1. Yellow Journalism
 2. Mahan’s “Sea Power” Theory
 3. European example in Africa
 4. Persistent notions of Social Darwinism
 5. “Bringing our blessings to those less advanced than ourselves”
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B. Spanish-American War
1. Causes
1. Battleship Maine incident
2. Circulation battle: Pulitzer v. Hearst
2. Territorial Acquisitions
1. From Spain: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines
2. Protectorate over Cuba
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 The Debate Over Annexing The Philippines
 The Anti Imperialism League opposed: violated U.S. commitment to principles of
self-determination and anti-colonialism
 Supporter of Annexation argued that U.S. had a moral responsibility to “civilize”
the islands (and could make for a valuable trading partner)
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C. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, 1904
 1. TR worried about Latin default on debts owed to Euro banks resulting in
intervention
 2. TR issued it to forestall Euro intervention
 3. The corollary expands U.S. role in L. Amer.
 4. Claimed U.S. right to role of international police power. TR, Taft, and Wilson
all used it in Latin America
 5. TR Explains:
 “Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the
ties of civilized society, may in America as elsewhere, ultimately require
intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the
adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United
States …to the exercise of international police power.”
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D. Taft and Dollar Diplomacy
 Taft sought to use economic investments to bolster U.S. foreign policy
 Taft’s attempt to use Dollar Diplomacy in Asia and Latin America achieved very
little success
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E. The Open Door Policy
 1. As China’s Qing (Manchu) dynasty weakened, Euro powers carved out spheres
of influence of political leverage and commercial privileges.
 2. Although he knew he could not force the Euros to leave China, Sec. of State
John Hay sought to protect American missionary and commercial interests
 3. In 1899, Hay sent the nations with spheres of influence in China a not calling
for open access to China for American investment
 4. Known as the Open Door, the policy underscored America’s commitment to
free trade and opposition to obstacles that restricted international commerce
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II. The Road to War
A. American Neutrality
1. Wilson proclaims neutrality at first
2. Wilson’s neutrality was consistent with U.S. history of avoiding
entangling alliances
3. Wilson demanded that other belligerents respect U.S. neutrality on the
high seas
B. The German Challenge to American Neutrality
 1. German launched submarine warfare in the Atlantic in 1917 in response to
trench warfare stalemate in France and an effective British blockade
 2. Zimmerman Telegram: In 1917, the German foreign secretary (Zimmerman)
offered Mexico a military alliance v. the U.S. so the could regain long lost
territory. British intelligence intercepted the telegram.
C. Wilson’s War Message
1. Wilson accused the Germans of violating freedom of the seas, killing innocent
Americans, and interfering with Mexico.
2. Wilson galvanized public opinion by calling on America to launch a noble
crusade “to make the world safe for democracy.”
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III. World War I At Home and Abroad
A.The Black Migration
1.Causes of the migration:
a. Jim Crow laws denied African Americans full rights as citizens
(poverty and systematic discrimination in the South).
b. Wartime demand for labor in northern industrial cities
2. Exodus from the rural South
a. In 1915, most African Americans lived in the rural South.
b. Southern blacks (sharecroppers) sought to fill the demand for labor
in northern cities
B. The Committee on Public Information
1. The Committee on Public Information used propaganda to arouse public
support for the war and to stifle dissent.
2. Americans were persuaded to buy war bonds and believe that Germany
was a particularly barbarous nation.
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IV. Treaty of Versailles
A.The Fourteen Points
1. Wilson’s 14 Points:
a. Open diplomacy
b. Freedom of the seas
c. Creation of an international organization (like U.N.)
d. National self-determination for oppressed minorities
2. Wilson’s 14 Points did not include:
a. Recognition of Allied economic and territorial agreements during
the war
b. A provision to create the international monetary fund
B. Reasons the U.S. Did Not Vote to Join the League of Nations
1. Wilson refused to compromise on the issue of America’s unconditional adherence
to the charter of the League of Nations. This hardened the Senate’s opposition to
the Treaty of Versailles.
2. Opponents believed that the League would lead to more international wars.
3. Senator Lodge was a skillful opponent of the League. The personal and political
rivalry between Wilson and Lodge precluded any chance of a compromise.
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V. The Red Scare of 1919-1920
A. The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
1. Led by Lenin, the Bolsheviks overthrew the czar and seized power in
Russia
2. Widespread postwar labor strikes confused and frightened America
B. The Palmer Raids of 1919-1920
1. Caused by the fear of communism and radicalism
2. Conducted against suspected communists and anarchists
3. Disregarded civil liberties. FBI created. 4,000 people were arrested and
denied counsel.
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