20th Century History: The Big Four & More

The Big Four

• The Big Four comprised the Allied leaders at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference: Woodrow Wilson (US), David Lloyd George (UK), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy).
• These leaders significantly shaped the Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI and reshaping European politics.

Dr. William Gorgas

• Dr. William Gorgas, a US Army physician, was pivotal in eliminating yellow fever and malaria in Panama during canal construction.
• His work enabled the canal project and saved countless lives.

Japan Before and After 1854

• Pre-1854 Japan, under the Edo period, had limited foreign contact.
• The 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa forced Japan to open trade with the west, kicking off modernization and its rise as a global power.

Self-Determination

• Self-determination, championed by Woodrow Wilson, is the principle that nations/peoples have the right to determine their own sovereignty and political standing without external influence.
• This ideal gained prominence post-WWI, especially relating to decolonization.

White Man's Burden

• Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden" promoted the idea of Western powers' moral responsibility to civilize and rule non-white populations.
• This concept justified imperialism and colonialism.

Harlem Hellfighters

• The 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-Black US regiment in WWI, fought under French command.
• Known for exceptional bravery, they were among the most decorated American units.

President Wilson and His Significance

• Woodrow Wilson, the 28th US President, was a leading figure in WWI.
• He advocated for the League of Nations, promoted self-determination, and proposed the 14 Points peace plan.

Isolationism

• Isolationism, a dominant US foreign policy position before and after WWI, focused on avoiding involvement in international affairs, particularly European conflicts.

League of Nations

• The League of Nations, an international body founded after WWI, sought to prevent future wars under Wilson's 14 Points.
• The US did not join due to internal opposition.

Importance of Alaska

• Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.
• It became strategically vital for defense and resource extraction, especially oil.

Platt Amendment

• The 1901 Platt Amendment restricted Cuban sovereignty after the Spanish-American War.
• It allowed US intervention and leased land for bases, notably Guantanamo Bay.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination in 1914 triggered WWI by activating a complex web of European alliances and military escalations.

Labor Conditions During WWI

• WWI spurred improvements in labor conditions, due to war production demands.
• However, workers faced long hours, poor conditions, and low wages.
• Labor unions gained traction.

Influenza Epidemic

• The 1918 influenza pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, spread worldwide, killing millions, including many returning WWI soldiers.
• It profoundly impacted global health.

President Roosevelt and the Philippines

• Theodore Roosevelt presided over the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) after the US annexed the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.
• US control lasted until 1946, with Roosevelt promoting American influence in Asia.

President Cleveland and Hawaii

• Grover Cleveland opposed annexing Hawaii in 1893 after US settlers overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy.
• However, Hawaii was annexed in 1898 under McKinley's presidency.

German Emperor Abdicates

• Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated in 1918, ending the German Empire and ushering in the Weimar Republic after Germany's WWI defeat.

German Peace Offensive

• Germany launched offensives on the Western Front in 1918, hoping to break the stalemate before US forces fully arrived.
• These eventually failed, leading to surrender.

Buffalo Soldiers

• Buffalo Soldiers were African-American soldiers who served in the US Army after the Civil War.
• Known for bravery and skill particularly in the Western frontier.

U.S. and Mexico

• US-Mexico relations were strained by the 1846-48 Mexican-American War, US intervention during the Mexican Revolution, and General Pershing's 1916 Punitive Expedition pursuing Pancho Villa in Mexico.

Victoriano Huerta

• Victoriano Huerta seized power in Mexico in 1913 through a coup.
• His autocratic rule faced opposition from the US and Mexican revolutionary factions.

Spanish-American War

• The 1898 Spanish-American War pitted the US against Spain.
• The US gained control of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, enhancing its status as a world power.

General Pershing’s Strategy

• General John J. Pershing led American forces in WWI, emphasizing offensive strategies and coordinating with Allied forces.
• He favored independent US operations rather than integrating with British and French commands.

Selective Service Act

• The 1917 Selective Service Act allowed the US government to draft soldiers for WWI.

European Expectations of WWI

• Europe initially anticipated a brief, decisive war.
• They were unprepared for the prolonged trench warfare, substantial casualties, and the war's devastating impact.

Propaganda

• Governments employed propaganda during WWI to galvanize public support, cultivate nationalism, and demonize the enemy. Techniques included posters, films, and speeches.

Battleship Maine

• The USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, which indirectly triggered the Spanish-American War.
• Later investigations determined the explosion was likely accidental, not a Spanish attack.

WWI Battles

• WWI battles were characterized by horrific trench warfare, heavy casualties, and the use of new technologies like machine guns, poison gas, tanks, and planes.
• Combat deaths and disease were the leading causes of loss across the conflict.

Sussex Pledge

• Germany's 1916 Sussex Pledge pledged to halt unrestricted submarine warfare after sinking the French passenger ship, the Sussex.
• Subsequent violations led to US involvement in WWI.

Taft vs Roosevelt

• In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt challenged incumbent William Howard Taft for the presidency, splitting the Republican vote.
• This enabled Woodrow Wilson's Democratic victory.

General Weyler and Cuba

• Spanish General Valeriano Weyler was deployed to Cuba in the 1890s to suppress Cuban rebels.
• His harsh tactics, including concentration camps, attracted widespread international criticism, bolstering the Cuban independence movement.

Socialists Opposition to the War

• Socialists like Eugene Debs opposed WWI, arguing it was an imperialist conflict benefiting the wealthy elite at the expense of the working class.

U.S. Democracy

• The US's self-image of a democratic bastion was challenged by critics highlighting racial inequality, imperialism, and wartime violations of civil liberties, particularly the Espionage Act.

Disease in Panama

• Disease, particularly yellow fever and malaria, significantly impacted the Panama Canal construction workforce.
• Dr. William Gorgas implemented measures to control mosquito populations, drastically reducing disease transmission.

Russian Revolution

• The 1917 Russian Revolution led to the overthrow of the Romanov dynasty and the rise of a communist government under Lenin.
• Russia exited WWI, setting the stage for the Soviet Union.

The Panama Canal

• The Panama Canal connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was completed in 1914, revolutionizing global trade and military transport.

Boxer Rebellion

• The 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China was an anti-imperialist uprising against foreign influence.
• The US participated in the international military response that suppressed the rebellion.