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Imperialism (1890-1914) and World War I (1914-1919)
Was it a good thing or a bad thing that the U.S. became an empire? Why?
The United States would grow increasingly imperialistic after the Civil War, culminating with our
involvement in World War I. The American government increasingly supported expansion because
of Social Darwinism, jingoism, the arguments of Frederick Jackson Turner and Alfred T. Mahan, and
the pursuit of new markets and new sources of raw materials. All of these social, economic, and
military reasons apply to the process of the US annexing Hawaii.
imperialism
Social Darwinism
jingoism
Frederick Jackson Turner
Alfred T. Mahan
“Seward’s Folly”
Sanford Dole
Queen Liliuokalani
US involvement in the Spanish-American War was due to sympathy for Cuban rebels and feeling
disrespected by Spain. Public opinion in America in support of war was encouraged by yellow
journalism. During the war, the US is convinced that a shorter route is needed from the Pacific to
the Atlantic and Teddy Roosevelt becomes popular nationally by leading the Rough Riders. As a
result of the war, the US gains new land, new influence in Cuba, new internal debate over
imperialism, and worldwide recognition as the newest empire.
yellow journalism
William Randolph Hearst
Joseph Pulitzer
De Lôme letter
U.S.S. Maine
Rough Riders
Treaty of Paris
Platt Amendment
Anti-Imperialism League
US imperialism in the Western Hemisphere was much more aggressive than US imperialism in Asia,
where the goal was economic expansion. Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick diplomacy often used the
military to be a sort of police force in the Caribbean, a goal he stated in his Roosevelt Corollary. His
successor, Taft, relied on investment and loans more so to control weaker areas, known as Dollar
diplomacy. The Moral diplomacy of the next president, Wilson, focused more on spreading the
ideals of democracy, though his involvement in Mexico seemed more obsession than idealism.
spheres of influence
Boxer Rebellion
Open Door Policy
Big Stick diplomacy
Panama Canal
Roosevelt Corollary
Dollar diplomacy
Moral diplomacy (a.k.a. Missionary diplomacy)
Pancho Villa
When World War I broke out in Europe between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers, the
United States declared neutrality. The U.S. was involved in lucrative trade and loans to both sides,
especially the Allies. The neutrality was challenged by German u-boats that would attack ships with
Americans on board in the Atlantic, most notably the Lusitania. These attacks, combined with the
Zimmerman note threatening the American Southwest and the Russian Revolution ending the
autocracy of Russia, led Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress for war “to make the world safe for
democracy” in 1917.
militarism
alliances
imperialism
nationalism
Archduke Ferdinand
Allies
Central Powers
u-boat
Lusitania
Zimmerman note
Russian Revolution
In the US, this was a popular war. Overall, government powers expanded in this war. Wilson used
the Selective Service Act to get soldiers for war and sold liberty bonds to pay for much of the war.
Both were advertised to the public through propaganda. The Espionage and Sedition Acts would be
challenged by Schenk v. U.S., where free speech would be officially limited to anything not
presenting “a clear and present danger.” Women’s role in the war effort would be rewarded with the
19th Amendment.
Selective Service Act
liberty bonds
propaganda
Espionage Act
Sedition Act
Schenk v. U.S.
19th Amendment
A lot of the technology that first emerged in the Civil War came to define World War I, such as
trenches. A new technology, tanks, would be depended upon for attacks against trench warfare.
The weapons of war were increasingly impersonal and deadly, such as mustard gas.
trench warfare
With the help of the U.S., the Allies won World War I. Woodrow Wilson took his Fourteen Points to
meet with the other Big Four leaders of the Allies in Versailles, but found that they were more
interested in punishing Germany more than preventing another war. Wilson’s idea for a League of
Nations would be adopted. Republicans in Congress such as Henry Cabot Lodge would never
approve the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations because of Wilson’s disregard for
domestic issues while in Europe and his disregard for Republican input during the treaty
negotiations. Because of the trade and loans made to Europe, the U.S. would find itself among the
wealthiest countries in the world.
Big Four
Fourteen Points
Treaty of Versailles
League of Nations
Henry Cabot Lodge
After WWI, traditionalists drove forth the Red Scare, largely a reaction to the Russian Revolution and
“new immigrants.” Unions suffered from “red” associations.
Red Scare
Palmer Raids
Sacco and Vanzetti
quota system