World Conflict and Expansion of U.S. Power

Summer School 2014

Imperialism

• Europe leads the way– During the 1800s Europe competed for

colonies and influence around the world.– Asia and Africa had been carved up and

nearly totally possessed by 1885• U.S. decided they need to compete as well

– New markets for American business– New source of resources– Prevent European Domination

U.S. and Spain

• Desire to expand brings U.S. in conflict with European Countries interests.

• Cuba – Spanish possession• Cubans rebel in 1895• Spanish Army Sends 150,000 troops to put down

rebellion.• Many Cubans are imprisoned.

– Estimated 200,000 die

• Cuban exiles living in U.S. urge government to intervene

Media Turns Opinion

• The Spread of Newspapers and “Yellow Journalism” convince people that something needs to be done about the Spanish

• Sensationalized reports about butchering Cubans and the horrors of the Spanish make people believe we need to “liberate” Cuba.

Escalation

• 1898 – Riots break out in Havana• U.S. decided to move Battleship U.S.S. Maine into

the cities harbor to protect American citizens and property.

• February 15, 1898 a massive explosion of the Maine kills more than 250 American Soldiers.

• Media says Spain attacked U.S. Ship and Americans call for War.

• In reality an accidental fire causes explosion of ammunition inside ship!

Spanish-American War

• May 1st 1898 War breaks out between U.S. and Spain not in Cuba, but in Philippines.

• U.S. Destroys Spanish Pacific Fleet• Philippines were last Spanish possession in

Asia.– Secretary of Navy Roosevelt thought it would make

perfect American Naval base in Asia.

• U.S. Invades Cuba and War is over July 3rd 1898 with destruction of Spanish Fleet

• Cuba declares Independence

Treaty of Paris• Spain recognizes Cuba’s Independence• U.S. gives Spain 20 million • U.S. gets Philippines, Puerto Rico, and

Guam• These areas become “Unincorporated

Territories”• Ratification was challenging

– Many Senators believed Imperialism was wrong and we had no business doing it.

– Passes by 1 vote in Senate

The Great War

U.S. History Summer School 2014

Causes

• Imperialism– Most European countries were racing to expand all

over the world. This competition for land would lead to conflict

• Militarism– Using military strength as form of diplomacy. Militaries

gained more power over governments• Nationalism

– Belief your nation was best and most powerful and should be leader.

• Alliances– System of alliances between countries bring those not

involved in conflict into the war.

Assassination

• Archduke Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia by a Serbian Nationalist who believed Bosnia should be part of Serbia

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia– Serbia calls Russia and asks for help

• Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary• Then Germany declares war on Russia• France then declares war on Germany• England then declares war on Germany

Fighting

• War takes place literally all over the world– Western Front

• France, Belgium Germany

– Eastern Front• Russia

– Africa– Middle East– Asia

United States

• 92 million Americans 1/3 are immigrants• Many immigrants wanted the U.S. to enter

the war.• President Wilson proclaims the U.S. a

Neutral country• Business welcomes Neutrality• Other felt that we should be preparing for

war.– Slowly and quietly the Government began

increasing the armed forces and military preparedness.

1914-1916 U.S. Stay Out

• Jan. 31, 1917 Germany notifies U.S. it is ending the Sussex pledge and would be resuming unrestricted submarine warfare in the North Sea and Atlantic.

• Zimmermann Note– British intercept telegram from Germany to

Mexico• If Mexico declares War on U.S., then Germany

would reward Mexico with land in southwest.• Wilson does not take seriously• Turns public opinion against Germany and more

people want U.S. to Enter War

March 1917

• Germany sinks 3 U.S. ships and government patience runs out

• April 6th 1917, Congress passes War resolution and president signs it.

• May 1917 – Draft– This draft was accepted unlike the draft during

the Civil War.– Many believed we needed to be involved in

this “War To End All Wars”

U.S. in, Russia out

• Just as the U.S. was landing its troops in Europe, Russia was going through their own revolution

• Russian revolution ends their participation in the war and they pull out.

• Germany now can send more troops to France.

• U.S. arrives at perfect time to bolster the British and French and begin to help turn tide of the war.

Central Powers growing weaker

• Germany, Austro-Hungarians, and Ottomans by 1918 were growing very weak.

• Ottomans were destroyed• Austro-Hungarians were struggling• Germans had been providing the bulk of

Central power strength and they were now running out of supplies and man power.

• Everyone knew then end was near

January 1919, Paris Peace Conference

• Wilson’s goal at conference was to create an international agency where countries could bring their grievances and settle them peacefully

• League of Nations• U.S. Congress controlled by Republicans

does not Ratify treaty and U.S. never becomes member of League.

• Main reason for its demise

Treaty of Versailles• June 28, 1919

– Redraws map of Europe– Redraws map of Africa– Redraws map of Middle East– Redraws map of Southeast Asia

• Germany must take responsibility for brunt of War

• Must pay 33 Billion to Allies– Cripples German Economy

• Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires broken up

• Treaty Designed to Humiliate Germany• U.S. never ratifies treaty

World War II

U.S. History Summer School 2014

Germany and Adolf Hitler

• Germany was crushed by the Treaty of Versailles and the great Worldwide depression.

• Hitler was a WWI veteran, upset with the government, who attempted in 1923 to overthrow the German Government

• He was sentenced to 5 years in Prison, but served only 9 months

• While in Prison he wrote his book Mein Kampf outlining his philosophy for the Nazi party and the means by which Germany would return to power

Hitler comes to Power

• Germans were looking for anyone who could give them hope

• Hitler was good at telling people who to blame and how he could lead them all back to prosperity

• The more Hitler promised more and more people began to believe in him.

• The Nazi party won a majority in the German government in the 1932 elections and by 1933 Hitler was named Chancellor

Hitler and power

• Soon after becoming Chancellor he begins silencing, by many different means, any voice of opposition to his party and philosophies

• In 1933 the German parliament mysteriously burned to the ground

• Hitler blamed the communists and he convinces parliament to grant him dictatorial powers

• He gave himself the title of Der Fuhrer (The Leader)

Hitler takes first steps

• Hitler gradually began to take steps to break treaty of Versailles

• 1935 Hitler begins to rearm and reform military• 1936 Hitler sends troops to the Rhineland• 1936 Germany and Fascist Italy sign Axis treaty

allying with each other. Japan joins 1940 - Axis Powers

• Neither France nor Britain had any desire for conflict after WWI, so they did nothing as Hitler took these first steps.

Germany Expands

• March 1938, Hitler annexes Austria• Later in 1938 Hitler demanded the

Sudetenland, an ethnic German area of western Czechoslovakia.

• Munich Conference Sept. 1938– Trying to avoid war Britain and France follow

policy of appeasement– Hitler says he will take no more land or acts of

aggression if he can have the Sudetenland. – France and Britain ok it

War Begins• 6 months after Munich conference Hitler takes rest of

Czechoslovakia– England and France – OK don’t do it again!

• Sept. 1, 1939 – Germany invades Poland• Sept. 3, 1939 – Britain and France declare war on

Germany• Sept. 30 1939 Poland surrenders• Germany invades France May 1940• France Surrenders June 1940• Hitler looks like great hero to his people for conquering

the French who punished them after WWI • Germany Invades Soviet Union June 1941, Almost wins

by September. – Soviets hold on

Japan allies itself with Germany and Italy

• Japan had been completing its own acts of aggression in southeast Asia

• Japan occupies Manchuria in 1932• 1937 Japan invades greater China• 1940 Japan takes Indochina (Vietnam)• U.S. begins to worry about Japan and its

military buildup• U.S. begins restricting sales of raw

materials to Japan which they desperately needed

U.S. and view of Europe

• U.S. does not want to get into war in Europe

• Lend-Lease Act 1940– U.S. would not sell arms to Britain but instead

would lease them– This was done because Roosevelt said we

needed to ally ourselves with Britain because they were vital to our security

Pearl Harbor

• December 7th 1941• Japan launches sneak attack on U.S.

naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii• December 8th U.S. declares war on Japan• Germany, being allied with Japan,

declares war on U.S. on December 11th

• U.S. would now be forced into war in Europe and Pacific

Major Battles Pacific

• Battle of Coral Sea – May 1942– First Naval Battle where ships never see each

other – Draw• Battle of Midway – June 1942

– U.S. gets lucky and destroys most of Japanese carrier fleet

• Battle of Guadalcanal – Aug. 1942– U.S. goes on the Offensive– Battle lasts till Feb. 1943– First capture of Japanese held territory

Major Battles Pacific

• Battle of Leyte Gulf – Summer 1944– U.S. destroys last significant Japanese fleet

• Iwo Jima and Okinawa – Nov. ’44/ Feb. ‘45– Significant airfields for direct bomb raids on Japan– Bloody and difficult battles

• U.S. prepare for invasion of Japan – Risky – Lots of U.S. Casualties expected

• Drop Bomb instead– Aug. 6th 1945 Hiroshima– Aug. 9th 1945 Nagasaki

• Japan accepts U.S. terms of surrender August 14th 1945

• Formal surrender Sept. 2, 1945

Major Battles in Europe

• North Africa – 1943 U.S. helps beat back Germans from Africa

• Italy – U.S. invades Italy July ’43 and Italy surrenders Sept. ’43

• U.S. begins bombing Germany and German held France from Britain

• By 1944, U.S. has total air superiority over Germany and Russians are driving Germans back on Eastern Front

D-Day

• June 6th, 1944• Allied Invasion of France at Normandy• 150,000 troops in France by end of the day. • Germans begin retreat• By December, Germans are nearly pushed back

to Germany• Battle of the Bulge

– December 1944– Final German offensive– Germans literally run out of Gas

Fall of Germany

• Soviets surround Berlin by April 1945• Hitler refuses to surrender• Hitler commits suicide April 30, 1945• Germany surrenders May 8th 1945• U.S., Britain, and Soviet Union meet at

Yalta conference to divide up post war Germany

• Lay the seeds of the cold war