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IMPERIALISM AND WWI
America Expands and
Becomes a World Power
Teddy Roosevelt
“I wish to see the United States the
dominant power on the shores of the
Pacific Ocean.”
-Teddy Roosevelt, Oct. 20, 1900
Imperial Cruise
Summer of 1905 – Roosevelt dispatched the
largest delegation to Asia in U.S. History.
 He sent: Sec. of War, 7 Senators, 23
Congressman, Military and Civilian Officials,
and his daughter, Alice.
 Ocean Liner: From SF to- Hawaii, Japan,
Phillippines, China, Korea and then back to
SF.

Imperial Cruise

TR was serving as his own Sec. of State

Over the course of the trip, TR made
important decisions that would affect
America’s involvement in Asia for
generations.
Imperial Cruise
Taft led the trip and ensured a Roosevelt
name in the newspapers headlines.
 Alice went too. The “Jackie Kennedy” of her
day
 TR was enthusiastic about American
expansion in Asia, saying- “Our future history
will be more determined by our position on
the Pacific facing China than by our position
in the Atlantic facing Europe.”

Imperialistic Ideas (Expansion)
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The nation needed more markets for its
goods
John Hay’s Open Door Policy
– open access to China for American investment
and commercial interests
– bolstered American commercial interests in
China
– it gave the United States access to millions of
Chinese consumers
Imperialistic Ideas (Expansion) cont’
 Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine
– Direct cause - American fear that financial
instability in the Dominican Republic would
lead to European intervention
– Expanded America’s role in Central America
and the Caribbean
– Intervening in Latin America nations that
could not pay their debts to European
creditors
Panama Canal

1 day revolution against Colombia
– Roosevelt gave military support
Facilitated trade between Atlantic and
Pacific ports
 Alfred T. Mahan

– importance of sea power
Spanish American War

Yellow Journalism
– Sensational news stories stirred the anger of the
American public
– Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst
– “Remember the Maine, To Hell with Spain”
– “You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war"

Territories gained
– Puerto Rico, Cuba, Philippines
Presidential Foreign Policy

Roosevelt
– Big Stick

Taft
– Dollar Diplomacy

Wilson
– Moral Diplomacy
Wilson Reelected in 1916
The Democratic campaign slogan:
“He kept us out of war.”
 Prosperity resulting from increase
exports to Britain
 Wilson’s policy of neutrality

WWI
Americans viewed Germany as cold-blooded
and cruel
America enters because Germany’s
unrestricted submarine warfare

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–
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the sinking of the Lusitania
the Sussex Pledge
Zimmerman Telegram
Wilson’s decision to break off diplomatic relations with Germany
Wilson’s war message to Congress, April 1917
Lusitania – May 7, 1915
1200 people killed (Off the coast of Ireland)
 Public opinion – many countries turned
against Germany
 German gov’t tried to justify it by claiming in
an official statement that it was carrying
military aid

Sussex Pledge - 1916
Germany’s appeasement to the U.S.
1. Passenger ships would not be targeted
2. Merchant ships would not be sunk until the
presence of weapons had been established,
if necessary by a search of the ship
3. Merchant ships would not be sunk without
provision for the safety of passengers and
crew
Zimmerman Telegram - 1917
Foreign Secretary of the German Empire,
Arthur Zimmerman

The Telegram instructed German Ambassador in the U.S.,
Eckardt, that if the United States appeared likely to enter the
war he would ask the Mexico for an alliance.
German would give Mexico military aid to help Mexico gain back
land lost during the Mexican-American War
Proposed alliance with Japan
WWI Cont
African American troops were segregated and
rarely allowed to engage in combat
 CPI propaganda

– the United States was fighting for freedom and
democracy
– the United States was fighting a barbarous nation
– buying bonds was important to support the war
effort
– a German invasion of the United States was a
possibility
WWI Cont

War Boards Function
– increase cooperation among business, labor
and government

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Espionage Act 1917
Sedition Amendment 1918
Schenck v. U.S
– the government can restrict the First
Amendment right to free speech in time of
war.
Treaty of Versailles

Fourteen Points Main Ideas
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–
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self-determination
open diplomacy
freedom of the seas
a League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles cont’
Senate does not ratify
–Wilson wanted the unconditional
adherence of the United States to
the charter of the League of
Nations