Chapter Ten Expansionism and World War I Becoming
Chapter Ten: Expansionism and World War I
Becoming a World Power • Imperialism: policy of establishing economic, political and military dominance over weaker nations on humanitarian and moral grounds. • The United States had a long standing wish for non-intervention, but often intervened themselves • Monroe Doctrine: in early 1800’s, US told Europe to stay out of the Western Hemisphere
Need for Imperialism? • Senator Albert J. Beveridge (Indiana) – “Most future wars will be conflicts for commerce. ” • Called openly for US to open new markets – American Farmers – Manufacturers • Investors – Wanted foreign markets to invest in
Foes of Imperialism • Not everyone liked the idea of forcing US control on others • United States founded by breaking away from foreign control • Nation Magazine, 1902: “We made war on Spain four years ago for doing the very thing of which we are now guilty ourselves. ”
US in the Caribbean • President Theodore Roosevelt – “Speak softly and carry a big stick. ” • “The Big Ditch” – The Panama Canal – Canal through Central America (specifically Colombia) would allow ships to more easily sail from Atlantic to Pacific • Hay-Herrán Treaty – US wanted to pay $10 million upfront plus $250 thousand annually for land – Six mile wide canal zone that would save sixty days travel time – Colombia wanted more money
Introducing: Panama • United States decided not to negotiate with Colombia • USS Nashville sailed to region to support local rebels; arrived on November 2, 1903 • November 4, 1903: Panama declares independence from Colombia; recognized by US (of course) • Colombia, faced with local resistance plus US opposition, ended up with nothing • Panama agreed to US terms (of course) and over the next decade the Panama Canal was built.
US Expansion • US feared European intervention into South America, despite the Monroe Doctrine • Dominican Republic owed European nations, including Germany, money – The Dominican Republic’s unstable government fought over control of funds to pay Europe with • President Teddy Roosevelt sent US troops in to control Dominican Republic and ensure European nations would stay out of the United States’ neighborhood • Roosevelt Corollary: President declared that the US would be a “police force” for the Western Hemisphere, extending the Monroe Doctrine
Dollar Diplomacy • New President in 1909: William Howard Taft • Diplomacy: the art of conducting international business • Agreed with idea of “carry a big stick, ” but Taft’s weapon was cash: he favored monetary control rather than military control • Encouraged bankers to lend money to Central American countries and to invest in those countries’ businesses • Interest on US loans made countries even more economically unstable, and even more dependent on US for aid: the US had unofficial control without ever threatening war
The United States in Asia • US looked to China to open new markets for trade • 400 million inhabitants attractive to both US businesses and to missionaries that wanted to convert “heathens” to Christianity – Built hospitals and schools • New converts, it was believed, would certainly buy US products
An Open Door • Secretary of State John Hay asked for an “open door” policy in China to ensure no country would dominate the market • Russia, Japan, Britain and France also feared control by others, and temporarily agreed to the request • America would have free access to China without having to fight another nation • Chinese fate decided by other nations: an insult to the idea that they were free
Boxer Rebellion • Boxers: members of a secret Chinese society that hated foreign influence in their country • 1900: Rioted in Beijing (Chinese capitol) • Foreigners, diplomats, and Chinese Christian converts were held for almost sixty days • Freed by foreign army made up of Americans, Russians, Germans, French, British and Japanese • China forced to pay $333 million and house foreign troops
The Philippines • US freed Philippines from Spanish control during Spanish-American War (1898) • Teller Amendment: addition to Cuban constitution granting country complete independence from United States at the end of the war • With a catch: the US could intervene legally anytime if they felt they needed to • Philippines expected the same treatment from the US
Philippines: Asian Port • United States viewed control of the Philippines as important for success in Asian trade • Natural resources (especially rubber) attractive to US, especially close to Asia • President Mc. Kinley annexed islands – US “feared anarchy” – “Educate…uplift…civilize” population
Filipino Resistance • Guerilla war fought from 1902 to 1906 – Guerilla war: fighting by small, independent bands, using tactics such as sabotage and sudden ambush • Led by Emilio Aguinaldo • 120, 000 American troops fought – 4, 200 casualties • Filipino losses: – 15, 000 rebel soldiers – 200, 000 civilians
Russo-Japanese War • US wanted no dominant power in Asia: a country with strength could keep the United States out of Asian markets • Japan: militarized quickly starting in 1870 s, but lacked natural resources • 1904: Japan attacks Russia to gain area on the mainland • US supports Japan over Russia – Russia controlled more Asian land was the greater threat
Russo-Japanese War cont. • President Teddy Roosevelt negotiated a peace between the two nations in 1905 • Japan gained: – Land in Korea – Ports in China – Railroads in Southern Manchuria • Russia – Kept North Manchuria • Japan forced to stay out of Philippines
Racial Politics • Asians discriminated against in US – Japanese had embarrassed Russians – San Francisco schools segregated Japanese • President Teddy Roosevelt built stronger Navy to support overseas market: the Great White Fleet – 16 battleships toured the world as a show of the United States’ power – Stopped in Japan in 1908
Entering the 1910 s • The United States were recognized for the first time as policemen of the world – Incursions into South America and Asia – Panamanian Independence (for the Canal Zone) – Negotiations between Russia and Japan, as well as between the major powers of Europe • US economy for the first time was very dependent on nations around the world – Instability elsewhere could hurt the US
World War I Europe Explodes
President Wilson • Woodrow Wilson: former university president elected US President in 1912 • Believed strongly in the idea of self-determination: the right of people to choose the form of government they live under and to control their internal affairs • Wilson often went against his own beliefs, particularly in Mexico
Mexican Revolution • Mexican ruler Porfirio Diaz fell in 1911 after thirty years of rule • Under Diaz, Mexican economy was strong enough to attract foreign investors – 90% of mines, railroads and industry controlled by Americans, British and Germans • Peasants and middle-class overthrew Diaz
Mexican Revolution cont. • Replacement: Francisco Madero • Foreign investors and US government feared that foreign-owned property would be taken by new Mexican government • US wanted to help Victoriano Huerto perform a coup • Coup: the act of seizing power and overthrowing the government • Huerto did it himself
US in Mexico • Wilson decides to recognize Huerto and stay out of Mexico…then changes his mind • April 1914: several US sailors arrested in port of Tampico • Mexico apologized – US demanded a 21 -gun salute to the American flag – Mexico wanted the same to theirs • US uses incident to send in Marines
US in Mexico cont. • US Marines occupy Veracruz for six months – Anti-American riots broke out – European press spoke out against US • Wilson, surprised at criticism, pulls out • 1915: new Mexican leader Venustiano Carranza • Wilson backs new President, causing rebel leader Pancho Villa to kill 18 US miners in Mexico and 17 Americans in New Mexico • 15, 000 US troops went into Mexico, looking for Villa until 1917
Entangling Alliances • Alliance: a pact or association of nations joined in a common cause Triple Entente: Great Britain France Russia Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Aligned nations promised to defend each other in case of war
Assassination June 28, 1914: Austrian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalist • Serbian government played no part, and actually attempted to arrest the assassin before he could kill the heir to the Austrian throne
Assassination: Aftermath • Late July: Austria-Hungary demands to enter Serbia to apprehend killers, expecting Serbia to deny them access, leading to the war Austria wanted. – Gives ultimatum: final demand implying a threat of serious penalties if not met • Surprisingly, Serbia allows most of the Austrian demands… • Austria-Hungary decides to attack anyway
Alliances • Austria wants to attack Serbia… • Russia obligated to defend Serbia… • Germany obligated to defend Austria… • France obligated to defend Russia… • Britain obligated to defend…Belgium? ! The alliance system forced nations into a small, local war they had nothing to do with
War Plans • Germany, lying between France and Russia, faces a war on two fronts • Russian Army: huge, hard to mobilize – Mobilization: preparation for war, including military and civilian efforts • Germany plans to attack (and defeat) France before Russians can reach Germany • The plan: go through Belgium
War Begins • Germany’s “Schlieffen Plan” wanted to surround French troops, bypassing line of soldiers on French/German border by going north --- through Belgium – Line along border heavily guarded by French forts and troops • Belgium allied with Great Britain for defense back in 1839. Germany thought Britain would ignore old alliance… they didn’t • When German troops entered neutral Belgium, Great Britain declared war on Germany – Neutral: not taking sides in a dispute
War Timeline • • June 28: Ferdinand Assassinated July 28: Austria declares war on Serbia July 29: Austria invades Serbia August 1: Germany declares war on Russia August 3: Germany declares war on France August 4: Germany invades neutral Belgium August 4: Britain declares war on Germany August 4: USA wants nothing to do with the whole affair
Great War • Small war between Serbia and Austria had escalated to all of Europe: called the “Great War. ” • Many believed this would be the war to end all wars. Early belief: war would be over by Christmas 1914 (about five months)
Early War: East • Eastern Front (Germany/Austria vs Russia): Central Powers had little trouble entering economically troubled Russia, demoralizing Russians and calling into question the leadership of the czar (Russian word for “king”. ) • By 1917, Russian Czar overthrown by revolution – First democracy, then Communism – Communists pull Russia out of war
Early War: West • Western Front (Germany vs France/Britain): trench warfare gave neither side an advantage. Troops dug in and faced machine gun fire that mowed down advancing lines. Little ground was gained by either side.
Early War cont. • After five months of fighting… – 315, 000 French had died – 280, 000 Germans had died – British lost 60, 000 in one day • Battle of the Somme • One million total dead by the end of 1914
Life on the Front • Trench warfare, with old war strategies meeting newly invented equipment, resulted in a virtual standstill – Advancing soldiers met with machine gun fire – Cold, damp trenches filled with mud, rats, and lice --- lots of disease – No Man’s Land: stretch of land between opposing trenches, filled with barbed wire and the bodies of gunned-down troops
Life on the Front: Weapons Inventions used for the first time in WWI: • Machine guns – Just one soldier could man the nest • • • Flamethrowers Barbed wire Airplanes Submarines Poison gas – Gas mask
Life on the Front: Gas • Poison gas used widely for the first time in World War I, first by Germany, then by Britain and France as well • Types – Chlorine gas killed almost immediately, suffocating the soldier – Mustard gas took longer to produce symptoms, but was more easily distributed and thus more deadly • Delivery – Cylinders fired would release giant clouds of gas – Gas also included on regular artillery shells
Life on the Front: Gas cont. • Protection: gas masks were the only line of defense against enemy gas attacks • Misfires: wind direction and speed often changed or was initially misjudged, causing attacks to backfire • Germany’s first gas attack on Russian troops was first blown back onto the German soldiers, then changed course AGAIN, landing on the Russians • Britain’s first gas strike killed more of their troops than Germany’s
Battle of Verdun • Began in late February 1916, and lasted until late December • Fort at Verdun: more a psychological target than a tactical one, meant to hurt French morale and kill as many troops as possible
Battle of Verdun cont. • Germany attacked and gained ground, only to lose it back to France • By December losses were too huge and Germany stopped the attack • Over a half-million fatalities between the two sides
United States Struggle for Neutrality
Myth of Neutrality • US President Woodrow Wilson desired to stay out of the war • Immigrants often supported the country they came to the US from, but didn’t want to enter the war – Emigrate: leave one country to live and work in another • US businesses traded with both sides, primarily with France and Britain, and tried to convince Americans to side with the Allies • Britain provided all war news, resulting in coverage biased towards the Allies – Slanted toward one side or against something
Submarine Warfare • Germany developed the submarine to fight British blockade of Germany, sinking both enemy ships and merchant ships carrying trade goods between countries
The Lusitania • May 7, 1915: German submarines attacked the Lusitania, a British passenger ship. More than 1000 passengers died, including 128 Americans.
Closer to War • Despite US protests to Germany, President Wilson vows to keep the United States out of the war – Re-elected in 1916 – Slogan: “He kept us out of war!” • Wilson actually wanted an Allied victory – $2. 25 billion loaned to Allies – Post-war settlement could prevent future wars
Zimmerman Telegram • In January 1917, Great Britain turned over an intercepted telegram: Arthur Zimmerman, a German official, sent Mexico a message asking that nation to invade the US from the south in exchange for land that Mexico had lost in the 1840 s (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona. )
More Submarine Attacks • At the end of January 1917, Germany announced it would not cease unannounced submarine attacks • British blockade was starving the German people • More US ships were sank between February and April • March 15: Russian Czar falls, all Allied powers are now democracies • April 2, 1917: President Wilson asks for, and receives, declaration of war against Germany
- Slides: 53
