US Emerges as a World Power

Imperialism and World War I

What led the Americans into War• YELLOW JOURNALISM• The De Lome Letter: Spanish

minister to the US called President McKinley “weak” and Cuban rebels leaked it to the media

• USS Maine explodes in the port of Havana, killing 260 American sailors

SPAM Facts• By April of 1898, Pres. McKinley asked Congress to

declare war on Spain• War on 2 fronts: Philippines and Caribbean• Philippines: US navy destroyed Spanish navy• Caribbean: US sealed Spanish fleet in ports; army

was made up of professionals– Rough Riders: cavalry unit led by TR– Battle of San Juan Hill: Cavalry units aided in the US

victory

Outcome of SPAM• Treaty of Paris: ended the war by August 1898• Spain freed Cuba and turned over Guam and

Puerto Rico to US• Spain sold the Philippines for $20 million

Taft versus Taft

TR TaftLatin America Roosevelt

Corollary, “Big Stick” Policy

Dollar Diplomacy: inserted US $

into Latin America

Accomplishments Panama Canal; Trustbuster

Continues trustbusting

Misc. Avid hunter Got stuck in tub

Wilson as President:

• Latin America: Moral Diplomacyspread peace and democracy into the region

• Triple Wall of Privilege: tariff, the banks, trusts• 16th Amendment: income tax• Federal Reserve Act (1913)regulated the

nations’ banks to prevent an economic depression

U.S. IN INTERNATIONAL TURMOILIsolation or Intervention…what’s a country to do?

4 M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI

• Militarism• Alliances– Triple Entente (Allies): GB, France, Russia– Triple Alliance (Central): Germany, Austria-

Hungary and Ottoman Empire, **ITALY**• Imperialism• Nationalism

Meanwhile in the World

• Trigger Event: Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and wife in Sarjev, Bosnia in June 1914– Austria issued a warning to Serbia to allow in Austrian

investigators– Serbia was backed by Russia; Austria was backed by

Germany– Eventually Austria declared war on Serbia, Germany

declared war on Russia and France– Once Belgium was invaded by Germany, GB declared

war on Germany

Wilson’s Views…

• Wilson called for US neutrality in both thought and deed (isolationism)– Both sides tried to gain US support– Immigrants in the US were torn as they watched

their home countries torn apart in war– US Economy boomed via GB & French war orders

Causes that led to US entering WWI:

• US merchant ships were being sunk by German u-boats

• Sinking of the Lusitania• British blockade of European ports, but

American investors and business traded with the Allies

• Russian Revolution• Zimmerman note (last straw)

Wilson’s Re-election

• Wilson was re-elected in 1916 with a campaign slogan of “He kept us out of war”

• Wilson asked for a declaration war on April 2, 1917 ending American policy of ISOLATIONISM

The Big Four @ Versailles

• France—George Clemenceau• GB—David Lloyd Garrison• Italy—Vittorio Orlando• USA—Woodrow Wilson

Wilson’s Plan (14 Points)

• no secret alliances• freedom of the seas• free trade or little restrictions among the nations• Arms should be reduced• Self-determination for colonies• LAST POINT: called for a body of nations to

discuss and handle disputes (LEAGUE OF NATIONS)

Results of the Treaty of Versailles

• new nations were formed• $33 BILLION in war reparations were to be

paid by Germany• Germany had to admit sole responsibility for

starting WWI

• US Senate refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles b/c of League of Nations