Chapter 22 Notes

I. US Foreign Policy (1902-1914)

A. Asia-Pacific
1. Involvement began with a treaty to share control of Samoa in the 1880’s the annexation of Hawaii, Spanish-American War and occupation of the Philippines.
2. In the late 1890’s the US focused its efforts on gaining access to the Chinese market
3. Russia, Germany, Great Britain and Japan pressured the weakened Manchu Chi’ing Empire of China for “spheres of influence”
4. The US grew concerned that imperial powers would use their “spheres of influence” to block US commercial opportunities in China
5. Secretary of State John Hay devised the “Open Door” policy, an informal agreement that imperial powers would allow other countries to use ports within their spheres of influence in order to trade with China.
6. The US military’s role in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion in Beijing (1900) bolstered US bargaining power vis-à-vis European occupants. The Open Door policy was in effect until the 1930’s.
7. TR also played a major diplomatic role as Russia and Japan went to war for control of Manchuria and Korea in 1904. TR hosted a peace conference in Portsmouth NH, which ended the conflict. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in diffusing this crisis (as well as crises in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic)
8. To intimidate the Japanese, TR sent the “Great White Fleet” on a training mission to Japan in 1907

B. Latin America
1. Gunboat Diplomacy and the Panama Canal
a. Under TR, the US purchased a French company’s canal concession for $40 million
b. However, Colombia refused a US offer of $10 million for a 99 year lease to operate the proposed canal (Hay Herran Treaty)
c. Working with Philippe Bunau-Varill (an official of the French company who feared losing the $40 million deal), the US helped people in the Panama region of Colombia and declare independence from Colombia.
d. With a US warship nearby, Panamanians declared independence in 1903; TR immediately recognized the new nation.
e. A treaty with new Panamanian government granted the US control of the Canal Zone in perpetuity (Hay Bunau-Varilla Treaty)
f. The Panama Canal was built between 1906 and 1914
2. Big Stick and Dollar Diplomacy in the Caribbean

a. Venezuela 1902- European creditors blocked and bombed Venezuelan ports when the country defaulted on its debts. TR stepped in and offered to mediated.
b. Roosevelt Corollary (1904)- addendum to the Monroe Doctrine of 1923; the US has the right to intervene in the affairs of any Latin American nation perpetrating “chronic wrongdoing”
c. US takes on “financial supervision” of Dominican Republic (1905) and Haiti in 1916 until 1941. Also stations troops in both countries for most of that time to protect US commercial interests and foster “democratic” reform.
d. Under Taft’s administration, the US blocked growing British influence in Nicaragua by blocking a revolution (1917) US station troops there in 1933 to protect this revolution

3. Wilson and the Mexican Revolution

a. US businesses had invested $2billion in Mexico and as many as 40000 Americans were living there when revolution broke out in 1911
b. Wilson refused to recognize the government of General Huerta in Mexico ostensibly because of the bloody manner in which it gained power in 1913
c. Wilson authorized the sale of weapons to General Carranza (Huerta’s rival), blockaded the port of Veracruz and sent 7000 troops to help Carranza take power. Huerta left office
d. To stop Pancho Villa’s raids on US border town in 1916, Wilson overreacted by sending General Pershing into Mexican territory and 150000 National Guardsmen to the border. These action led to strained US-Mexican relation for years to follow.
e. Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson’s policies in Latin America established a tradition of American Paternalism and Imperialism in that area. This has led to a distrust of the US that is still present


II. World War I

A. Causes
1. Retreat of Ottoman Empire from Balkan region led to instability- creation of new nations (Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, and Bulgaria) and expansionary interest by Austria-Hungary.
2. Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina's in 1908, raising Serb concern.
3. Serbian nationalists wanted to take Bosnia as many Serbs lived there
4. Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in June 1914 while touring the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
5. Austia-Hungary declared war on Serbia setting of a chain reaction
6. Linked by secret alliances, Russia, France and Great Britain came in on the side of Serbia (Allies) Germany and Italy (the latter switched sides in 1915) joined Austria Hungary (Central Powers)

B. A Difficult Neutrality
1. Antiwar public sentiment and Wilson’s ideals led to US attempting neutrality
2. Most Americans supported England due to cultural and commercial ties
3. German-Americans and many Irish-Americans were sympathetic to Germany.
4. British interference with trade irritated Americans but German U-Boat response raised widespread fury
5. Sinking of British Liner Lusitania with 128 Americans aboard led Wilson to take a firmer stance with Germany- demanding the end of unrestricted submarine warfare
6. Germans acquiesced at first by not sinking passenger ships
7. Sussex- Germany sank this French liner, injuring Americans in 1916. Germany issued the Sussex Pledge in responses to US ultimatum
8. Meanwhile, American public sentiment against Germany began to rise, stoked by yellow press, TR and other war hawks.
9. Bankers, who had lent the Allies $2.3 Billion (with Wilson’s encouragement) by 1917, wanted US to enter so as to protect their investments
10. Wilson stuck to neutrality in his 1916 reelection campaign by closeness of the election showed there was much public support for entering the Great War

C. The US Steps in
1. Desperate to breach the British naval blockade, Germany volated the Sussexz pledge by declaring unrestricted sub warfare in Jan 1917
2. U boats sing 5 American ships
3. Zimmerman Telegram intercepted by British intelligence- Germany asked mexico to declare war on us and promised support
4. Bolshevik revolution turned Russia into a ‘democracy' allowing Wilson into perceive the war as one of democratic vs monarchic powers.
5. On April 2, Wilson asked congress for a declaration of war to make the world “safe for democracy”

D. Preparing the Army
1. In 1917, us army was 120000 soldiers backed by 89000 national guardsmen
2. Underfunded army suffered from corruption and lack of resources
3. Secretary of war Baker focused on raising an army with Selective Service Act of 1917. It required men 21-30 later 18-45 to register for draft
4. 24 million men registered, 3 million served plus 1.3 million National Guards
5. Seeking to organize more effectively, army began to focus on morality of soldiers, testing and psychological profiling for leaderships positions
6. African Americans followed WEB Dubois’ advice and volunteered in large numbers- 260000 served- serving in segregated units
7. Native Americans as well as recent immigrants also volunteered in large numbers.