Ch21 Slides PDF: US History from the Spanish-American War Era Through WWI

 “All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political...

 “All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power.” -President Theodore Roosevelt Overall items to know from the Spanish American War Era 1898ish American Exceptionalism: The concept that America has a unique role and destiny to spread democracy and civilization. Is it relevant back then? Now? USS Maine: What is it? Why is it important? What is it doing in Havana Harbor? Platt Amendment: As a condition of withdrawing US troops from Cuba, the US forces Cuba to adopt this amendment to the Cuban Constitution. It says they may only make treaties with the US, and that the US has the right to intervene in Cuban affairs as it saw fit. Do you see any potential issues with this? Or does it sound like standard operating procedure?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXG3U_I7r0 Spanish-American War Era Important Stuff Understand what territory the US acquired in the War (we also take Hawaii in an unrelated outburst of expansionism on the behalf of the Dole Pineapple Corporation in the middle of this war) Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, kind of Cuba Understand the Racial element of Imperialism. “The Whiteman’s Burden” Roosevelt Corollary 1904 (to the Monroe Doctrine):Roosevelt announces that the US will police the Caribbean. From 1895-1934, the US will send troops, overthrow leaders, and intervene all over the region. Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, the D.R. WWI When “The Great War” breaks out in Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson encourages Americans to remain neutral Major business interests like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford initially oppose the War as do most influential politicians. The American public is heavily divided. We have tons of diverse European immigrants by 1914, and many of them have personal allegiances still with their countries of origin. Overall, the majority of Americans express no desire to get involved in the conflict for the first years of the war. WWI Despite being technically neutral, the US shows a favor for the allies (Great Britain, France, and Russia) continues to trade with them. They also provide cash money support and weapons. Great Britain has a superior navy, so Germany goes underwater with Submarines. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. Know the term. The submarines (Uboats) attack merchant ships that are providing the enemies of Germany with supplies and the tools for waging war One such merchant ship is the Lusitania. 1200 people are killed including 128 Americans in an attack by Uboats in 1915. We know the ship was loaded with both normal supplies and weapons, and that the US Gov lied about its cargo. Zimmerman Telegram WWI Sinking of the Lusitania + Unrestricted Submarine Warfare + Zimmerman Telegram = US declaration of War The US will mobilize for Total War. Know the concept. War Industries Board: Government agency created to organize military production and rationing. Highly involved in economic production and organization. Will force some business to totally convert what they do into something related to the war effort. Prices and quotas are set. Our economy will experience huge gains from War related production by the end of the War. WWI Committee on Public Information: Government propaganda agency. Their goal was to provide information about democracy, assimilation of immigrants, and to inspire patriotic support for the war. It distributed countless pieces of literature and sponsored speeches by famous actors and public figures. Involved in War Bond drives. Actions by this agency inspired vigilante activity among Americans such as spying on your immigrant neighbors, intimidation of immigrants, and demanding people buy war bonds or risk some harm coming to them. Sedition Act of 1918: Prohibits words or behavior that might “Incite, provoke, or encourage resistance to the US or promote the cause of it’s enemies.” More than 1000 Americans will be tried and convicted. Eugene Debs (Socialist Party Leader) is sentenced to ten years in prison. Schenck v. US: This is the Supreme Court case that finds the Sedition Act to be Constitutional. Use of the phrase “Clear and present danger”. Like yelling “fire or shooter” in a crowded theater and causing a stampede. Great Migration During the era of WWI, over 400,000 African Americans leave the south and migrate to northern cities like Chicago and Detroit to get decent jobs working in various War Industries and to flee the Jim Crow South Between 1917 and 1920 100,000 Mexicans also enter the US.