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
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