Safe for DemocracyChapter 19

New American Diplomacy

• The Panama Canal Canal through Central America seen

as vital to American power 1901 Hay–Pauncefote Treaty –treaty

with Britain giving US exclusive right to build canal

Two possible sites: Panama and Nicaragua

French company already began dig and failed

US attempted to buy land from Colombia to build canal – Colombia refused

New American Diplomacy

Deal made with Panamanians, French, and US for a revolt against Colombia with US backing

Panamanian revolt succeeded – US got land for canal

• Roosevelt Corollary Changed Monroe Doctrine to

include right of US to intervene in Latin American affairs

“Speak softly and carry a big stick” US intervened numerous times

beginning with Dominican Republic

New American Diplomacy

• Latin America resented US intrusion and influence

• President William Howard Taft instituted new policy

• Dollar Diplomacy – policy in which US helped Latin American industry with intent on increasing trade between US and Latin America

• US continued intervention and Latin America continued to resent US

Wilson & Mexico

• Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy Emphasis on idealism (missionary

diplomacy) situational Mexican Revolution 1911

• Mexican Revolution – moderate Madero

• General Huerta overthrew Madero – angered Wilson

• US invasion of Vera Cruz, Mexico• Carranza and Pancho Villa• General Pershing and Mexican

expedition 1916-1917

Pancho Villa

• Europe at WarOutbreak of war

• Bosnia – Serbia/Black Hand• Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand• Mobilization• Schlieffen Plan

American neutrality• Sympathies of American public

Allied propaganda

World War I

• Triple Alliance = Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy switched sides and was replaced by the Ottoman Empire)

• Triple Entente = Allies (Great Britain, France, and Russia)

• German Plan Fails German attack on France had to go

through neutral Belgium Britain enters war on side of France Germany narrowly fails to take Paris War becomes locked in stalemate Stalemate = Trench Warfare

World War I

World War I

• Freedom of the SeasEconomic interests trumped

propagandaTrade and loans to Allies tied US

closer to themGermany initially unconcerned

about trade – later turned to submarine warfare

Restricted versus unrestricted warfare

The Lusitania and Sussex incidents

World War I

• The Election of 1916Wilson went into election weak

• Won in 1912 due to split in Republican Party

• Needed Progressive supportWooed the ProgressivesTR did not runKey issue was US policy towards

war in Europe• Wilson stressed preparedness• “He kept us out of war”

World War I

• The Road to WarWilson attempted to end the war

through negotiations in 1915 and 1916

Germans lifted ban against unrestricted submarine warfare – America began arming merchant ships

Zimmerman telegramCongress declared war

World War I

• Mobilizing the EconomyMuch of big industry disorganized and slow to respond – most

large weapon systems failed to enter system in time to be usedMost large weapon systems used by US were European madeConscription hot issue – first draftees hit training camps almost 6

months after declaration of warWar Industries Board (WIB) established to coordinate American

war effort

World War I

Process of building the “home front” long w/ many problems

Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover as food administrator

• Able to conserve food without rationing

• “Wheatless Mondays, Meatless Fridays”

• Victory Gardens - backyard vegetable gardens

• Making use of leftoversFarmers profits surged – increase

in income 30%

• Workers in WartimeEmployment and wages

increasedMigrations dramatically

increased – especially blacksNational War Labor Board

established to settle labor disputes – resulted in increase of unionization

World War I

World War I

• Propaganda and Civil LibertiesWilson excelled at mobilizing

public opinionEstablished Committee on Public

Information (CPI) under George Creel – dramatic increase in US war propaganda for home consumption

Those against war: Irish and German Americans, pacifists, and isolationists became targets for abuse by CIP and patriotic public

World War I

Espionage Act and Sedition Act targeted anyone who expressed opinion against war or government

Eugene V. Debs sentenced to prison for making anti-war speech

Espionage Act upheld in Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States – man mailing circulars urging draftees not to report for duty

Repression exceeded anything in both Britain and France

• Wartime ReformsWar seemed to confirm beliefs of Progressives as government

entered into all aspects of societyPartly due to war and progressive push, 18th (prohibition of

alcohol) and 19th (women’s vote) amendments passed after the end of the war

Efforts to eliminate prostitution (versus European view)

World War I

World War I

• Women in the Military Served in non-combat positions Navy enlisted women as radio

operators, clerks, etc. Army did NOT enlist women

except for Army Nursing Corps “Hello Girls” – women with French

language training sent overseas to man phone system for US military

Women served in Red Cross, YMCA, and Salvation Army in France

World War I

• The Great Migration Massive migration of blacks from

South into Northern states Better jobs, pay, conditions Discrimination but mostly not as

severe

• Mexican Migration Large migration of Mexicans into US

for agricultural/ranching jobs in the West

Also took factory jobs in many major cities

Barrios – Mexican neighborhoods

World War IBlacks initially not drafted but

afterwards conscripted in greater numbers in South than whites

Blacks served in two regular army regiments and numerous national guard units

Military units were segregated and most blacks served in labor battalions

Blacks units serving under French control served valiantly and were highly decorated

World War I

• America in the TrenchesAmerican participation in the convoy system

drastically reduced losses to submarinesThe American Expeditionary Force (AEF),

commanded by Pershing, did not take the field until late 1917 – fought on Western Front

Pershing refused to allow US troops to augment Allied forces – US troops remained an independent force (except black regiments)

US forces suffered 262,725 casualties, fought with increasing skills and helped lead Germany to sue for peace

General John “Blackjack” Pershing

A Bloody Conflict

• 1917 Russian Revolution Russian Czar forced to abdicate to

Socialists Socialists continued war – caused

second revolution led by Bolsheviks (Communists)

Bolshevik leader, Lenin, became head of Russia

Russia ended war with Germany – signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Germany could now concentrate on the Western Front

A Bloody Conflict

• Trench Warfare Troops dug in for protection – stalemate

• Machine-guns• High-explosive artillery shells• Airplanes

New weapon technology changed warfare – tried to break stalemate

• Chemical warfare (gas)• Tanks• Flamethrowers

Series of trenches stretched from Switzerland to Atlantic Ocean

No-Man’s Land – area between the opposing trenches

A Bloody Conflict• March 1918 – Germany launched

great offensive hoping to defeat Allies before America could change the war

• American troops deployed against Germans – battled at Chateau-Thierry and Saint-Mihiel

• Americans attacked Argonne Forest – US suffered heavy casualties but took position

• Hero Alvin York – won medals from US, Britain, and France

War’s End

• Preparing for PeaceThe armistice ending hostilities

commenced November 11, 1918Germany – blame & reparationsEurope was in a shambles with

enormous numbers of dead, many wanting revenge, and ideologies like communism enticing

Wilson wanted peace based on his “Fourteen Points” plan

World War I Casualties

Each flag represents 100,000 dead

Each skull represents 100,000 civilian dead

Large # of civilian deaths in Germany due to British

blockade of German ports

Large # of civilian deaths in Russia due to Russian

Revolution in 1917

Large # of civilian deaths in Ottoman Empire due to

genocide of Christian Armenian population in 1915

More people killed by Spanish Flu in 1918 than entire war

Aftermath Wilson made unprecedented appearance

at Versailles Appealed to Americans for Democratic

congress – Republicans won both housesOpposition among Senate Republicans

led by Henry Cabot Lodge – did not want America’s sovereignty threatened

Wilson’s arrogance and stubbornness caused US to reject treaty and League of Nations

Wilson’s behavior may be attributable to a stroke - collapsed campaigning for the treaty

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R)

President Woodrow Wilson (D)

• Demobilization No planEconomic chaos ensued as millions of veterans re-entered the

work forceMilitary contracts worth billions were cancelledAll controls established by the War Industries Board droppedBusiness boomed as consumers bought up products formerly in

short supply – resulting in inflation

Aftermath

Cost of living doubledInflation = labor troubles /

strikes for wage increasesWork stoppages aggravated

shortages / inflation / more strikes

Agricultural prices plummeted

Unemployment soared

Aftermath

The Red ScareRadical elements in unions caused

populace to equate unions with threat of communism

People viewed violent strikes as precursors to revolution

Volatile labor situation exacerbated by anarchist bombings and attempted murders of Rockefeller, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Attorney General Mitchell Palmer United States Attorney General Mitchell Palmer

Most radicals not American citizens – WWI enemy Germany replaced by the immigrant (Italian, Jew, Slav), usually an industrial worker

Americans felt American way of life in danger – demanded that radicals be suppressed

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer central figure in “Red Scare”1919 established the General Intelligence Division (D of J) headed by J. Edgar

HooverArrests of radicals by Hoover brought widespread public acclaim – many

deported

Palmer, with presidential ambitions, planned thousands of arrestsCivil liberties abused by arrests – public gradually turned against

Palmer’s methodsPalmer announced huge terrorist demonstration on May Day,

1920 – no show made Palmer appear ridiculous and Red Scare subsided

The Election of 1920

• Election of 1920Idealism of Wilson – League of

NationsCox versus HardingPublic disillusioned by war and

tired of progressivismHarding called for “Normalcy”The idea of the League defeated