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World War I: U.S.
Entry
February 21, 2012
Goal: Examine the ways in which U.S.
foreign policy changed during the early
1900s.
During the early 1900s, American foreign
policy changed drastically. American
presidents became more aggressive when
dealing with foreign nations. Due to this
dramatic shift in policy, the U.S. expanded
profoundly.
1. In what ways did American foreign policy change during the
early 1900s?
2. How did American presidents affect foreign policy?
3. How did the U.S. change as a result of these new policies?
American presidents became more aggressive when dealing with
foreign policy at the start of the 20th century. President Theodore
Roosevelt issued the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine, establishing the U.S. as a “police power” in Latin
America. This direct involvement in Latin American affairs was
made possible by the increase in American military presence
throughout the western hemisphere. In keeping with Roosevelt’s
motto, to “speak softly, but carry a big stick,” the U.S.
increased the size of their navy and began to intervene in Latin
American conflicts. Through this more aggressive foreign policy,
the U.S. was able to attain the land necessary to construct the
Panama Canal, a huge economic gain for commercial trading as
well as military presence.
In what ways did the
U.S. become a major
world power during
the early 1900s?
U.S. Becomes a World Power
U.S. foreign policy becomes more
rigorous & aggressive during the early
1900s
“Progressive Diplomacy”—commercial
expansion backed by military presence
Theodore Roosevelt, Taft & Wilson’s
Administrations
Roosevelt: “The Big Stick”
• To increase U.S. political & economic
status, U.S. must be militarily strong
• “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
Panama Canal
• Roosevelt attempts
negotiations
• Panama declares
independence from
Colombia
• U.S. immediately
recognizes independence
• Republic of Panama grants
U.S. control of 10 mile
canal zone
Roosevelt Corollary
• What is the purpose of this document?
• In what ways has American foreign
policy changed since the early
administrations?
Russo-Japanese War, 1904
•
•
•
•
Threat to U.S. Open Door Policy in China
Roosevelt mediates the peace agreements
Japan becomes dominant power in East
U.S. builds up naval presence in the
Pacific
“Gentlemen’s Agreement”
Japan not to issue
passports to Japanese
looking to emigrate to
the U.S. in exchange
for Roosevelt’s efforts
to stop anti-Japanese
discrimination
Taft: Dollar Diplomacy
• “Dollar Diplomacy”—replace militarism with
business investments
• U.S. investment in Central America grows
rapidly
• China “closes” the door
– Neutralization scheme over
RRs—Japan & Russia kick out
U.S.
Wilson: Moralism & Realism
• Wilson emphasized foreign investments
& industrial exports
• Mexican Revolution of 1911
• I’ll need to expand
American Neutrality
• What is Washington warning future Americans of
in this passage?
• What does Washington say about defensive
alliances?
• According to Washington, when is it okay to be part
of a defensive alliance?
• In our history, when have there been “extraordinary
emergencies” that required us to join an alliance?
The Sides of WWI
• Triple
Alliance:
Germany,
AustroHungary &
Italy
• Triple
Entente (the
Allies): Great
Britain, France
& Russia
M.A.I.N Causes of WWI
• Militarism: aggressive build up of armed forces to
intimidate other countries
• Alliances: agreements between European Nations to
support each other in case of war
• Imperialism: European nations were in a race to build
their empire-USA too!
• Nationalism: Intense pride in ones country leads to
tensions with other countries
START of WWI In Europe
• June 1914: Assassination of Arch Duke
Ferdinand
• European nations form alliances
– Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Ottoman Empire & Bulgaria
– Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain
The Platt Amendment of 1901 provided for:
a) the United States' right to intervene in Cuba
to maintain peace and law and order.
b) the construction of the Panama Canal.
c) the leasing of the port of Hong Kong.
d) a large subsidy to the British to compensate
for American diplomatic slights.
e) the establishment of cavalry under the
command of Theodore Roosevelt.
When President Taft called for "Dollar
Diplomacy," he advocated
a) that American government money be loaned
to underdeveloped countries.
b) purchasing foreign-owned territories.
c) the rejection of the Open Door Policy.
d) encouraging foreign exports by reducing
tariffs.
e) that American businessmen should invest in
underdeveloped countries rather than lend
those countries U. S. dollars.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
established which of the following?
a) the right of European nations to forcefully collect
debts in the Western Hemisphere.
b) the right of the United States to build and fortify an
Atlantic-Pacific canal.
c) the independence of Panama from Columbia.
d) the right of the U. S. to act as an arbitrator in
European conflicts with Western hemisphere
nations.
e) the right of the U. S. to act as a police power in the
Western Hemisphere nations.
January 26, 2016
Goal: Assess the effectiveness of U.S. neutrality at
the onset of WWI. Determine the causes of U.S.
involvement.
What was the official
policy of the United
States at the outbreak
of WWI?
Neutrality and Isolationism
• Thomas Paine’s Common Sense argues for
avoiding alliances
• Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality of
1793- U.S. neutral in war between England
and France
• Monroe Doctrine
American Neutrality
• Examine Wilson’s Declaration of Neutrality
• Find significant quotes that reflect the main
point of his speech
• In what ways does Wilson’s Declaration of
Neutrality reflect other stances of neutrality in
U.S. history?
Wilson’s Stance on WWI
The United States must be neutral
in fact as well as in name....We
must be impartial in thought as
well as in action.
President Wilson, 1914
America’s Feeling of War
• Europe’s problem
• War too expensive
• America a country of immigrants- 1/3 of
population either an immigrant or a child of
an immigrant
• Divided loyalties
Economic Pressures
Economic ties to the Allies
U.S. ceases trade with Germany
Economic boom due to wartime production
“The war should be a tremendous opportunity
for America.”
 —J.P. Morgan, personal letter to President
Woodrow Wilson, September 4, 1914
To what extent did
the U.S. abide by its
proclamation of
neutrality?
Preparedness & Peace
- Teddy Roosevelt, Leonard Wood, and Henry
Cabot Lodge fund military preparedness
camps since Wilson against
- Peace advocates led by women like Jane
Addams
- Wilson’s “preparedness campaign”
 National Defense Act (June 1916)- reorganized
National Guard and created Reserve Officers’
Training Corps.
- Wilson wins reelection in 1916
“He kept us out of war!”
Election of 1916
US Declares War
• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: German
U-boats attack US supply ships heading to
Britain – interfering with our right to trade
and endangering American life
• Sinking of Lusitania: Germans sink British
passenger ship with American onboard (1915)
• Zimmerman Telegram: Germans send
message to Mexico to become an ally of
Germany (1917)
German warnings published in U.S.
newspapers
The Zimmerman Note
•
•
•
What is Germany promising?
What historical event is being referenced?
Why can we consider this a cause of U.S. entrance to WWI?
Zimmerman Note/Telegram
• https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/
zimmermann/
U.S. Enters WWI
1. Germany resumes unrestricted submarine
warfare despite Sussex Pledge
2. Zimmerman Note
3. Congress declares war, April 2, 1917
US Declares War
• Armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable. Because submarines are
in effect outlaws when used as the German submarines have been used
against merchant shipping…We shall fight for the things which we have
always carried nearest our hearts,--for democracy, for the right of those
who submit to authority to have a voice in their own Governments, for the
rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by
such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations
and make the world itself at last free
1. Why does Wilson believe that the
US can no longer follow the policy of
Neutrality?
2. What is the US fighting for?
3. Who does Wilson have to ask to
declare war?
Total War
• Total warfare: calls for the mobilization of the
entire citizenry to support the war effort.
• Negative effect of making citizens targets of
war.
American Mobilization
Selling the War- Propaganda
Committee of Public Information
Led by publicist George Creel
Told Wilson he would transform the war into a
struggle for democracy
Themes of U.S. propaganda: unity, image of
despicable enemy, crusade for peace and freedom
Discuss
1.
2.
3.
4.
What the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act?
What court case deals with these Acts?
What was the decision of this court case?
What was America’s reaction to immigrants
at this time?
American Mobilization
Controlling Dissent
• Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917-1918)made it illegal to speak out against the
government
• suppressed anti-British, pro-German, and antiwar opinions
• Over 1,500 people were prosecuted and over
1,000 convicted under these laws, many for
small acts of dissent; deportations of
immigrants
Espionage Act and Sedition Act
1. Espionage Act
1. Cannot aid the enemy or refuse military duty
2. Sedition Act
1. Illegal to “utter, print, write, or publish any
disloyal or abusive language” criticizing the US
government
3. Schenck v. United States
1. Limited free speech rights during times of “clear
and present danger”
American Mobilization
1. Fading Opposition to the War
Role of women- 1 million women join the work
force both at home and overseas
2. “You’re in the Army Now”
Selective Service Act (the “draft”)
3. Racism in the Military-
 African Americans in service limited to
menial work behind the lines or to color
regiments under white commander
War Welfare State
1. War Industries Board (1917)competition gave way to cooperation
w/ government as regulated industry
and agricultural production
2. War increases industrial production
3. Women replace men at work
4. National War Labor Board- worked
with American Federation of Labor
(AFL) (Unions- workers rights)
Lever Food and Fuel Control Act
1.
2.
3.
What was the purpose of this law?
Who led the Food Administration?
What was his slogan?
Who led the Fuel Administration?
Food Administration
• Stabilized prices to provide food for U.S. and
allied troops
Victory Gardens
How did the US fund the War?
• Liberty Bonds- loan or IOU
War Revenue Act of 1917
1. High Taxes
2. Taxed the wealth
3. Federal Revenue grew 400%
Women’s Suffrage
• Suffrage Movement split:
• NAWSA proclaimed loyalty to government and
war: Leader Carrie Cat joined women’s
committee of the Council of National Defense
• National Women’s Party: radicals, pacifists,
oppose war, picket white house, arrested and
treated as political prisoners
Women Picket the President
Also going on…
• Prohibition fight continues (ratified Jan. 1918 to
take effect Jan. 1920)
• Influenza Epidemic 1918-19
• The Great Migration (over 300,000 blacks migrate
north to cities between 1914 & 1920)