I.

The Big Stick America and the World

A. Imperialism: When powerful nations created empires by donating other
lands.
B. Manifest Destiny: the idea (prevalent especially in the 1840s and 50s)
that it was Americas obvious (manifest) and inevitable fate to occupy the
entire continent.
C. Monroe Doctrine: Declaration by President Monroe in 1823 that the United
States would oppose efforts by an opposite power to control a nation in
the Western Hemisphere.

II.

Reasons for Imperialism

1. Public Support
a. Future prosperity depended on access to world markets.
b. Territorial expansion and expansion of trade.
2. Military Strength
a. Naval bases and coaling stations throughout the world.
b. This helped the United States with expansion.
3. Economic Pressure
a. World trade would lessen the threat of economic depressions.

III.

IV.

The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Speak softly and carry a big stick
The United States would police areas of the Caribbean and Central
America.
United States did not want Europe interfering with the Americas.
Under this policy, the US would intervene in many of these
countries.

Causes for the Spanish-American War

A. Spanish Misrule in Cuba
1895 - Cuban Revolt Fueled by Spanish rule and falling sugar prices.
Spain- Sent General Valeriano Weyler-ruthless governor.
Reconcentration Spanish Policy Cuban villagers in concentration
camps.
Many died from hunger and neglect.
B. Yellow Journalism
A style of newspaper writing in the late 1890s that featured
sensational headlines and stories.
Newspapers fed the Anti-Spanish hysteria, and downplayed brutal
deeds of the rebels.
C. Remember the Maine
U.S.S. Maine -1898- Sent to Havanas harbor to protect U.S. citizens
and property.
February 15, 1898Explosion destroyed U.S.S. Maine266 sailors
died.
Many U.S. citizens now favored war.
D. Spanish Concessions
President McKinley- Supported Cuban independence.

Presented Spain with demands, including withdraw of Spain from

Cuba.
DeLome Letter- Spanish Ambassador to the US whose letter described
McKinley as weak.
Printed in the NY Journal & Infuriated the American public.
Spain refused- McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war.
Granted- April 25, 1898.

Military Operations of the Spanish-American War

V.

A. Dewey at Manila Bay:

First fighting took place in the Philippines.
Commodore George Dewey- Commander of U.S. fleet based in Hong
Kong.
Deweys fleet sunk or captured the entire Spanish fleet at Manila Bay.
U.S. troops took Manila.
B. Land Warfare in Cuba
Poor Preparation: Army- Not equipped to launch an invasion of Cuba.
Rough Riders- Mixed crew of cowboys, college students, adventurers.
Theodore Rooseveltpromoted to leader of the group.
The Rough Riders charged and took San Juan Hill.
The black soldiers of the 9th and 10th regiments assisted the Rough
Riders.
Most deaths were a result of Yellow Fever and Food Poisoning, not
battle.
Battle deaths- 385
YF & FP- 2061

VI.

Aftermath of the War

A. Treaty of Paris- December 10, 1898

Peace treaty that ended the Spanish-American War.
This committed the United States to the responsibility of being a
world power.
B. Territorial Gains of the United States
1. Puerto Rico- Territory closest to the United States.
2. Guam- South Pacific.
3. Philippines
American occupation of the Philippines met bitter opposition
from the Filipinos.
Philippine insurrection lasted longer than the Spanish-American
War.
C. Divided Public Opinion
Most Americans agreed with McKinleyGovernor of Philippines.
Some felt the colonialism was wrong.
Violated Americans belief in liberty, and might drag the United
States into foreign wars.
D. Platt Amendment

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

Stipulated that the Cuban government couldnt enter any foreign

agreements, must allow the United States to establish naval bases
as needed on the island, and must give the US the right to
intervene whenever necessary.
Far East Foreign Policy
1. Open Door Policy
a. USopen china (to trading) to all nations on an equal bias.
b. Secretary of State John Hay-sent open door notes to nations
involved in china.
Boxer Rebellion
1900-secret Chinese society, known as the Boxers, rose up to expel
the foreign devils
Uprising lasted two months-Europe and US broke the siege.
US believed in maintaining an independent China-sent another
open door note.
Panama Canal- The Big Ditch
Roosevelt wanted to move the military quickly between the Atlantic
and Pacific.
1902US bought the canal rights for $40 million from a French
company.
The US still had to lease the canal route; Panama was a province of
Columbia.
1903Panama RevolutionThe Rep. of Panama was created, and
they leased the Canal Zone to the US.
1904Work began, but was halted the next year due to yellow
fever.
Dr. William Gorgashelped destroy mosquitos and yellow fever.
This allowed work to resumeships were passing through by 1914.
Peacemaker in the RussoJapanese War (1905)
Russia and Japan fought for control over Manchuria.
Roosevelt helped bring peace; awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
US wanted to maintain the Open Door Policy in China.
Battleship Diplomacy, 1907-1909
1907- Sent the USs Great White Fleet of 16 battleships around
the world.
Mainly done to impress Japan.

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VII. World War I

A. The United States Enters the First World War
1. Background for War
Competing Alliances
Triple Alliance: Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy Began in
1882.

Triple Entente: France, Great Britain, Russia (1907) the system

of alliances played an important part in turning the assassination
into war.
a. Nationalism in Europe was strong.
o Imperialist rivals threatened peace in Europe.
2. Assassination
June 28, 1914Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of
Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo.
Killer: Gavrilo PrincipA Serbian Nationalist.
3. Mobilization and Invasion of Belgium
a. Central Powers: Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Anticipated a swift victory.
Marched through Belgium to France; August 3 rd invasion.
200,000 Belgium troops could not stop Germany, but did slow them
as the other allies mobilized.
Eastern and Western battlefronts- Opposing armies dug trenches
from which to fire on the enemies lines.
Most extensive trench warfare took place in France.
4. American Neutrality
a. Proclamation of Neutrality
Wilson- Thought the Allies could win without U.S. involvement.
The U.S. adopted a Neutral position.
Americans had a tough time remaining uninvolved.
5. Propaganda
a. Both sides used propaganda to try to influence public opinion.
b. Most major American papers backed the Allies.
Immigrant papers- Supported Central Powers.
c. Allied Propaganda- Had greatest impact.
d. Germans were portrayed as the aggressors.
e. New German Weapons: Submarine and Poison gas.
B. Weapons of the War
1. Tank
a. Plowed through open areas.
Tractor= Armored Cab.
British developed them.
Tracks instead of wheels: goes over terrain unlike cars.
Light pounds per inch.
Travel 3 miles per hour.
Very dangerous inside very hot.
6 miles per hour- French tanks.
Rotating gun
Increased mobility on the Western Front and eventually broke
the standstill of trench warfare.
Intimidating look.
Tear up the barbed wire and the other barricades so the soldiers
could get to the enemy trenches.
2. American machine gun

 Most effective.
Sold to all of Europe.
Shooting range= 1000 yards.
Automatically reloads bullets.
Could pivot.
3. Tear gas
Worst one.
Had to saturate air.
Blurred vision.
4. Gas masks
Kept people from dying.
C. Economic Ties
a. Economic ties to the Allies made strict neutrality impossible.
b. Military orders from the Allies created an economic boom.
c. Trade with Allies grew: $500 million in 1914, $3.5 billion in 1917.
d. British set up a naval blockade to keep military contraband from
reaching Germany.
1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
1914-1915- German submarines began attacking Allied ships.
International Law- Required ships to warn that it was about to
sink an empty vessel.
a. Subs could not do this.
1915-Germans- Ships risked attack in war zone around Britain.
May 1915-Lusitania-British passenger ship; torpedoed and sunk
1200 dead, 128 Americans.
2. Pressures for Preparedness
Sussex Pledge-Germany promised, with certain conditions, to
sink no more merchant ships without warning.
Roosevelt criticized Wilson for not preparing for war.
a. Resisted building up military.
1916-Could not ignore the possibility if warDoubled army, built
a larger navy.
D. Election of 1916
a. Nation favored peace.
b. Republican nominee: Charles Evans Hughes.
c. Labeled as a war candidate by democrats.
d. Democrat nominee: Woodrow Wilson.
e. Democrats portrayed Wilson as the man who would keep the U.S. out
of war.
f. Wilson won the close election.
1. Renewed Effort at Mediation
1917- Germany unleashed its submarines to sink ALL ships in
the war zone.
Wilson then broke odd relations with Germany.
Zimmerman Telegram- Germany was trying to lure Mexico and
Japan to its side.
a. Mexico may gain land back from the U.S.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

April 6, 1917- U.S. declared war on Germany.

American Participation
By June 5, 1917, almost 10 million men between the ages of 2131 had registered for the war.
American Mobilization:
a. America was caught short on supplies.
b. Needed to make adjustments to prepare.
2 million soldiers were sent to France.
Slow mobilization: fewer than 300,000 fighting troops within a
year.
The U.S. used convoy (a grouping of ships) to get ships safely to
Europe.
Wartime Agencies:
a. War Industries Board (WIB)
Spur production and coordinate war industries.
Similar efforts brought order to the shipping and railroad
industries.
Led by Bernard Baruch- Prepared industry.
b. Food Administration
Increasing American food production became a top
priority.
The country came together to raise the food.
Victory Gardens- promoted by Hoover.
Wheat, Pork, and Sugar were top priorities.
c. Committee on Public Information (CPI)
150,000 citizen lectures.
Said the war was fought for freedom and democracy.
Helped spur the scale of Liberty Bonds.
The American Expeditionary Force
a. American Expeditionary Force (AEF) - American troops involved
in WWI- Led by General John J. Perishing.
Wanted to keep U.S. troops together.
Russia- Drops out of the war- 1917.
b. Battle of Baillieu Woods- US troops distinguished themselves.
Stopped the Germans, drove them back, broke through
the line.
c. Battle of the Argonne Forest- Massive American counterattack.
d. Allies pressed on to victory- November 11, 1918.
e. American troops and supplies helped turn the tide of battle.
Wilsons proposal for peace in World War I.
a. First Five Points: Open treaties, freedom of the seas, free trade,
arms reduction, and important adjustment of colonial claims.
b. Point six-thirteen: National self-determination and realignment of
borders.
c. Point fourteen: An establishment of an international organization
to settle disputes between nations and prevent future wars.
Peace Making Big Four

a. Leaders of United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy.

Dominated the peace negotiations at Versailles.
7. The Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
a. European leaders- Wanted the treaty to be more selfish and
vengeful.
b. Wilson wanted the treaty to be more just and noble.
c. Victors- received land in secret treaties.
8. The U.S. Senate and the Treaty
a. The U.S. did not accept the Versailles Treaty.
The U.S. Senate most strongly opposed setting up the
League of Nations.
b. U.S. Never joined the League of Nations.