SOL 9aEssential Questions
Why did the United States abandon its traditional isolationist foreign policy?
How did the United States expand its influence in the world?
Creation of international markets
Open Door Policy– Secretary of State
John Hay proposed a policy that would give all nations equal trading rights in China.
Imperialism
A country tries to become dominant over the world economically, militarily, or politically.
Open Door Policy
Creation of international markets
Dollar Diplomacy– President Taft urged
American banks and businesses to invest in Latin America.
– He promised that the United States would step in if unrest threatened their investments.
Creation of international markets
Growth in international trade occurred from the late 1800s to World War I – The first era of a true
“global economy”
Causes of the Spanish American War
1. yellow journalism 2. De’Lome letter 3. explosion of the USS Maine 4. US imperialism
Latin America Spanish American War
– Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States.– The United States asserted the right to
intervene in Cuban affairs.
Spanish American War
Latin America
Panama Canal and the role of Theodore Roosevelt– United States
encouraged Panama’s independence from Colombia.
– Parties negotiated a treaty to build the canal.
Asia and the Pacific
Hawaii – U.S. efforts to depose
Hawaii’s monarchy.– U.S. annexation of
Hawaii.
Asia and the Pacific
Philippines– Annexed after Spanish
American War
Open Door Policy– Urged all foreigners in
China to obey Chinese law, observe fair competition.
SOL 9bEssential Questions
Why did the U.S. become involved in World War I?
How did visions of the postwar world differ?
4 MAIN Causes of World War I
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Militarism
The 1800s saw a rise in militarism – the glorification of the military
The great powers expanded their armies and navies, creating an arms race that further increased suspicions and made war more likely.
Alliances Distrust led the great powers to sign treaties
pledging to defend one another
These alliances were intended to create powerful combinations that no one would dare attack
However, the growth of rival alliance systems increased international tensions
Imperialism
Imperial rivalries divided European nations In 1906 and again in 1911, competition for colonies
brought France and Germany to the brink of war • This united Great Britain & France against Germany
Nationalism
Nationalism = a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country
Nationalist feelings were strong in both Germany and France
In Eastern Europe, Pan-Slavism held that all Slavic peoples shared a common nationality– Russia felt that it had a duty to lead and defend
all Slavs
2 Major Alliances
Allied Powers: France, Great Britain & Russia
Central Powers: Germany & Austria-Hungary
Assassination in Sarajevo In 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of
Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.
At the time, Bosnia was under the rule of Austria-Hungary. But it was also the home of many Serbs and other Slavs.
News of the royal visit angered many Serbian nationalists because they viewed Austrians as foreign oppressors.
Members of a Serbian terrorist group assassinated Archduke Ferdinand and his wife.
Conflict Widens
After the assassination of the archduke, Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum, or final set of demands.
Serbia agreed to most, but not all, of the terms of Austria’s ultimatum. As a result, Austria declared war on Serbia.
Germany offered full support to Austria-Hungary. Instead of urging restraint, the Kaiser gave Austria a “blank check”
Conflict Widens Serbia sought help from Russia, the champion of Slavic
nations.
When Austria refused to soften its demands, Russia began to mobilize.
Germany responded by declaring war on Russia.
Russia appealed to its ally France. – France offered full support to Russia, prompting
Germany to declare war on France.
Influence of the Colonies European colonies were drawn into the struggle
The Allies overran German colonies in Africa and Asia
They also looked to their colonies for troops, laborers, and supplies
Colonies’ participation in the war increased demands for independence
German forces swept through Belgium toward Paris
Russia mobilized more quickly than expected
Germany shifted some troops to the east to confront Russia, weakening German forces in the
west
British and French troops defeat Germany in the Battle of the Marne. This destroyed Germany’s hopes for a quick victory on the Western Front
The result was a long, deadly stalemate, a deadlock in which neither side is able to defeat the
other
Europe at War, 1914-1918
Western Front Animated Map
Realities of War Video
Trench Warfare Trench warfare is a form of war in which both
opposing armies have static lines of fortifications dug into the ground, facing each other.
Trench warfare arose when there was a revolution in firepower without similar advances in mobility and communications.
3-D Tour of TrenchesTrench Game
TechnologyModern weapons added greatly to the destructiveness of
the war: Airplane: A one- or two-seat propeller plane was equipped
with a machine gun. At first the planes were used for observation – Later, they engaged in individual combat.
Automatic Machine Gun: A mounted gun that fired a rapid stream of bullets made it possible for a few gunners to mow down waves of soldiers – helped create a stalemate.
Submarines: Underwater ships, or U-boats, could launch torpedoes, or guided underwater bombs. Used by Germany to destroy Allied shipping, U-boat attacks helped bring the United States into the war.
War Video
U.S. Involvement in World War I The war began in Europe in 1914 when
Germany and Austria-Hungary went to war with Britain, France, and Russia.
U.S. Involvement in World War I
For three years, America remained neutral, and there was strong sentiment not to get involved in a European war.
Reasons we go to WAR
Zimmermann Note- note from Germany to Mexico to attack the US
U-boats sunk Lusitania- 127 people are killed
Election of 1916
Wilson wins on the slogan, “ He KEPT US OUT OF WAR”
U.S. Involvement in World War I
The decision to enter the war was the result of continuing German submarine warfare (freedom of the seas) and the American ties to Great Britain.
U.S. Involvement in World War I
Americans wanted to “make the world safe for democracy”(Wilson)
America’s military resources of soldiers and war materials tipped the balance of the war and led to Germany’s defeat.
Impact of the War at Home
Selective Service Act- draft Liberty Bonds and Income Tax Espionage and Sedition Acts Campaign to Portray Germans as Barbaric
Huns
Posters of the WAR
Fourteen Points
Wilson’s plan to eliminate the causes of warKey Ideas– Self-determination– Freedom of the sea– League of Nations– Mandate system
Treaty of Versailles The French and
English insisted on punishment of Germany.
A League of Nations was created.
National boundaries were redrawn, creating many new nations.
Wilson addressing Congress for approval of League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles World War I ends with the Treaty of Versailles which:
• forced Germany to assume full blame for causing the war
• imposed huge reparations upon Germany• limited the size of the German military• returned Alsace and Lorraine to France• stripped Germany of its overseas colonies
The Germans signed the treaty because they had no choice
However, German resentment of the Treaty of Versailles would lead to an even deadlier world war (WWII)
League Debate in United States
Objections to U.S. foreign policy decisions made by an international organization, not by U.S. leaders.
Senate’s failure to approve Treaty of Versailles
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