Unit 3 Outline

History 2223    US History II 

 Imperialism  

-- Manifest Destiny had in the 1840s-50s carried the US from sea to shining sea.
a. With the close of the frontier (US Census in 1890), a new Manifest Destiny emerged

-- Fit into the American ideal of imperialism and sought overseas expansion.
b. The American type of empire, however, differed from the British type.
(1) US imperialism was an informal empire
(2) The British system required vast territorial holdings, with costly administrations and a large military presence to maintain.
(3) Americans sought to spread the gospel of the American system,

--Our Democratic institutions and

--Use the US dollar to obtain economic allies without large military and administrative establishments.

The End of Isolation

As colonial expansion concluded and with the “official” end of the frontier in America, US foreign relations focused on 4 points

1.  A sympathy for republican and constitutional institutions--and a growing commitment to see those institutions put in place around the world.

2.  Monroe Doctrine that said that the US was in charge of the Western Hemisphere--We should expand our interests

3.  Series of Clashes with England (usually ended with the British apologizing to maintain good trade relationship).

4.  Desire to Expand foreign trade, especially in the Far East. --Led to negotiations with China, Japan, and Korea, and the acquisition of a few pacific islands.

Reasons for Imperial push.

1.Economic Considerations.  The American economy had reached maturity—

--Needed new raw materials and markets. 

--Industrial overproduction and recurrent panics required secure overseas markets and sources of natural supply.

2.  Externalized Manifest Destiny applied to Anglo-Saxonism--Racial expansionism. 

--Racially superior Americans (white) had a civilizing mission outside of North America.

3.  Divine Obligation-- to Christianize the unredeemed races. 

Josiah Strong- -Our Country (best seller 1885)-- Urged the US with it's Anglo Saxon “genius for colonizing” to spread the blessings of 

Protestantism and democracy.  

          --“Commerce follows the missionary.”

4.  Overseas Markets (necessary) demanded a strong Navy. 

--Captain Alfred T. Mahan, pres.  Of the Naval War College reasoned that a modern nation needed overseas trade, therefore needed foreign harbors,

--Necessarily need a strong navy to protect them. 

--An extension of the desire (by the foreign policy elite) for a war of any kind.  Theodore Roosevelt believed that a war--any “righteous” war-- would unite the country, divert it from the ‘sordid’ issues, and promote manly virtues in its youth.

5.  Competition--European powers had already begun dividing up weaker international territories,

--The US correctly perceived that they were lagging behind their European competitors.

The Splendid Little War (Spanish-American War)

Background:

Cuban Revolution against Spain (Last European Colony in L.A.)

--Guerilla warfare implemented for the first time against a traditional military force.

--Spanish Leader Weiler (Butcher Weiler) set up camps to weed out revolutionaries. 

--Said everyone who comes to camp is on the right side, anyone found outside the camps must be a revolutionary and will be killed on sight. 

American Press gets involved and starts publicizing accounts sympathetic to Cubans. 

--Circulation war between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst --led them to sensationalism or “Yellow Journalism” that excited the public and led them to call for war against Spain.

--President McKinley concerned about economic ramifications of rebellion. (Remember:  Monroe Doctrine—1823)

Causes:

Then Two things happened. 

1. De Lome Letter-- Spanish minister in DC sent letter home that was intercepted

-Said that McKinley didn’t want to go to war, but probably would because he is weak. 

-De Lome Letter was Intercepted and published.

2.            Sinking of the USS Maine.  February 15, 1898. 

--Anchored on a “courtesy visit”, the Maine blew up and killed all 260 men aboard. 

       --The Spanish claimed they had no part in the explosion

       --They most likely were not responsible

       --Spanish began backing out of the Cuban civil war.

But sentiment for war had gotten too strong and McKinley (under incredible pressure from Congress and the press) declared war.  “Remember the Maine” was the rallying cry. 

April 1898, McKinley declares war on Spain

With Cuba however, the Americans also took the opportunity to intervene in another Spanish territorial civil war in the Philippines. --Roosevelt, now Secretary Of the Navy sent ships to the Philippines in case war started with Spain in Cuba. 

--May 1, 1898 US ships destroyed 10 Spanish ships and wiped the Spanish out of the Philippines--no US casualties. 

--But they couldn’t occupy for over a month (they had no ground troops).

“War” lasted from April to August, was rather comical. 

--US forces unorganized, and not prepared.  Luckily, the Spanish were worse. 

--Theodore Roosevelt, tired of hearing about Civil War heroes decided he would get in on the action. 

--“Rough Riders” a horseless regiment made up of TR’s Ivy League polo buddies and western cowboys. 

--Commanded by “Fighting Joe” Wheeler, aged former Confederate officer who reportedly said at one time “We’ve got the damn Yankees on the run!” --The conditions were horrible, Blue Wool Winter uniforms, retched food, and disease (of the 5,462 US dead, only 379 died in combat.

1898 Treaty of Paris ended the war.

--Cuba is now free.

--US gets some Pacific islands, Puerto Rico.

--US demands Philippines--Spain resists.

The US takes the Philippines and isn’t sure what to do with them. 

--Aquinaldo, the Philippine leader who had helped the US take the territory in the first place argued that conditions were just as bad under American occupation and starts another revolution. 

--American forces try to capture Aquinaldo, but can’t

--He uses the same guerilla tactics against the US and they respond with the same methods Butcher Weiler used. 

--Aquinaldo finally captured 1890.  US rules Philippines until 1946.

Spanish-American War of 1898 seen as a turning point in US internal and foreign affairs.

--From this point on, both the US and Europe assumed that America had some interest in world affairs.

--Americans began to see advantages of Empire (and war, as long as you won and it was a “splendid little” one).

U.S. Foreign Relations.

Open Door Policy, 1899-- Secretary. Of State John Hay.

1.  Urged all countries to keep trade open.

2.  Russia said no, others ambivalent.

3.  Hay said "everyone agrees".

Under Theodore Roosevelt

Latin America: LA owed debts to European nations that they couldn’t pay. 

--European nations wanted to invade and collect money. 

--Roosevelt believed that the Europeans should get their money

--But because of the Monroe Doctrine, he didn’t think they were entitled to invade so....

The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

The US will intervene and run countries until the debts are paid.  US sent troops several times on behalf of the Roosevelt Corollary.

Latin American Nations Angry.

William Howard Taft elected in 1908

“Dollar Diplomacy”. --Everyone should be salesman for US business. 

--To promote US trade abroad--especially in China and Latin America

Taft intervenes with military several times on behalf of American business interests.

1912 Wilson Elected-- Anti-Big Business.

Intended to Kill Dollar Diplomacy--US won’t protect Big Business abroad with military strength. 

BUT-- Wilson does intervene on a larger scale than Roosevelt and Taft.

Latin America--Mexico Series of Revolutions and wilson favors one leader over another.  Huerta wins and Wilson decides to :

Refused to recognize Huerta Govt.--Up to this point all governments recognized--established precedent of Diplomatic Nonrecognition

As other countries become involved in the Mexican Revolution, Wilson determines to keep them out.  Occupies Vera Cruz in 1917 to stop the arrival of German munitions.

--Huerta overthrown by US backed Carranza whom the US recognizes.

--Pancho Villa mad at Carranza and the US crosses the border robbing and killing and escapes back across.

US sends army led by Pershing--12,000 troops and gives army permission to cross River and Kill Villa (never did)

Pershing Crosses Rio Grande and gets 300 miles into Mexico before the Carranza Govt.  Orders US troops to withdraw--US does to avoid war (we were beginning to realize that the European struggle would necessitate a solid Western Hemisphere).

The First Overseas War--1914-1920  

Began 1914

1.  Brought end to century of relative peace (internationally) and democratic progress.

2.  End to European domination

3.  Helped bring in the Communist Revolution

4.  Ushered in New period of economic dominance and political isolation.

Assassination of Austrian leader by Serb brought major European powers to blows.  But, only the catalyst backed by decades of competition and friction in the age of empire.

--All heavily armed and just waiting for the right opportunity to play with new toys.

Lined up on two sides.

Central European alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary (and sometimes Italy).

Allies--Britain, France, and Russia

Chain reaction

Austria-Hungary demanded satisfaction from Serbia,

--Germany came to the defense of its ally,

--Russia backed Serbia,

--France Backed Russia.

--Germany invades France through Belgium (who was supposed to be neutral and untouchable),

--Brings England into the war to support Belgium’s neutrality.

--Central powers joined by Turkey, Bulgaria

--Allies joined by Italy, Japan, Greece and Rumania among others.

Neutrality

Most Americans felt that we had no place in the Foreign war.

Wilson advocated neutrality--he felt we had no direct reason to fight and realized that without a unified public, going to war would be foolish.

--But some felt that our own economic security was tied up with England and their continued success.  An allied defeat would harm our chances to become and international economic player.

--But neutrality wasn’t really possible, especially in light of our already growing international trade and our own imperial designs.

--US economy down in 1914 and we needed the business that a foreign war would generate.  We traded primarily with the allies and began extending credit for their purchases (we became entangled because of business and credit)

But most progressives were against getting involved.

Most citizens wanted to stay out, but also wanted the allies to win.

Wilson still determined to remain neutral

Challenge to Neutrality

Great Land power versus great Sea Power

British blockaded the Germans cutting off their supplies.  Germans couldn’t outgun British so the responded with a new weapon-- The U-Boat

--The U-Boat was wildly successful, surprised the British who didn’t have an immediate counter.

--The U-Boat was wildly successful, surprised the British who didn’t have an immediate counter. 

--BUT the U-Boat violated acceptable

Under international agreements, ships were required to warn other vessels and allow them to remove passengers before destroying them. 

But if the U-Boats surfaced, they would be easily destroyed. 

But if Germany didn’t use the U-Boats, they would most likely lose the war.

But if they did use the U-Boats they would possibly bring the US into the war on the side of the Allies.

That is a bunch of buts!  But you get the point that this was complex.

Wilson had three choices

1.  Strict neutrality-- and forbid American travelers from being on armed ships that might come under attack.-- Rejected on grounds of national honor.

2.  Early and decisive intervention--proposed by Teddy Roosevelt and dismissed without much consideration by Wilson.

3.  American mediation to end the war.  Wilson felt a moral imperative to try and mediate a peace.

1.  Try to induce Britain to modify blockade and quit arming merchant vessels in return for Germany abandoning the U-boat.

2.  Try to convince both sides to state negotiable war aims.

Both types of mediation failed by 1916.  Neither side willing to give or admit that it would not be victorious regardless of tactics and weapons.

From Neutrality to War.

Four Stages

I.   1914- Feb. 1915. At first Americans were willing to put up with British searching of vessels as long as trade remained good--and as long as there were no American casualties--we stayed neutral.

II.  Feb 1915 to May 1916--German Sub warfare.  Germany proclaims a submarine war zone around the British Isles, cutting off all trade--says that any ship is target.  US govt warned Germany that they would be held accountable for any loss of property or life.

May 7, 1915 ocean liner Lusitania--unarmed, but carrying war cargo sunk off the Irish coast--1,198 passengers killed--128 Americans.

Wilson told Germany that they must take responsibility and immediately cease sub warfare.  Implied war otherwise.  Germany grudgingly agreed to begin warning victims before hand.  America now committed to war on behalf of the Allies if Germany went back to u-boat tactics.  Began to tool up for war.  Wilson backed increased army and navy spending paid for with new taxes.

III.  May 1916 to Feb 1917.  Tensions turned toward Britain who stepped up their blockade.  American mail was searched and firms believed to be dealing with Germany were blacklisted in England. 

--Wilson narrowly reelected amidst criticism from both sides of the war debate.  Tried one last time to mediate peace.  But failed again and Wilson disillusioned with Allies, said in Speech on January 22, 1917 that only solution was A “Peace Without Victory”.

IV.  One week after Peace Without Victory speech, Germany announced the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. Wilson broke relations, but hesitated to ask for war declaration.

Zimmerman telegram--German ambassador who proposed to Mexico that in case of American entrance into war, an alliance that would allow Germany and Mexico to split up the US.  Published by US press.  Wilson begins arming and shipping navy. 

--April 1917, Germany begins sinking US ships and Wilson finally asks Congress for declaration of war.