Imperialism & WWI 1890-1920

•Why did the US become imperialistic?•What were the causes and effects of WWI?•What is the connection between imperialism

and the World Wars?

HW#16 P. 586-591 and fill in handout

Do Now: Answer the first bullet. (3 Reasons)

I. The Rise of the American Power

A. Why did the US become imperialistic?

1. Technological advancements made the US

strong

2. Belief that the US was SUPERIOR

3. Desire to increase our naval power

4. Desire for new markets and raw materials

Discussion Questions• 1. If you were a foreign policy expert for the

US at the turn of the twentieth-century would you advise US leaders to enter into an imperialistic policy based on these three reasons?

• 2. Would you stress all of these reasons or only some?

• 3. Are there any reasons given that you think would not justify an imperialistic policy?

• Think about current US foreign policy in regards to terrorism especially in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. What historic lessons if any could current US foreign policy experts use from the period of US Imperialism to execute their current war on terror?

B. Major Events of US Imperialism

1. Spanish American War Treaty of Paris

1898

2. Open Door Policy

3. Roosevelt Corollary “Big Stick”

Diplomacy

4. Dollar Diplomacy (Taft)

5. Moral Diplomacy (Wilson)

II. World War I 1914-1918

A. Causes (4)

1. Militarism

2. Alliances (Allies and Central Powers)

3. Imperialism

4. Nationalism

B. US and WW I 1914-1917

1. 1914 Proclamation of Neutrality issues and

“preparedness” begins

2. American businessmen make loans to the Allies

($ and supplies)

C. Why does the US enter WWI?

1. Cultural ties

2. Economic ties

3. Propaganda

4. Sub warfare

D. US brings FRESH manpower and NEW technology to

the war effort

E. The War at Home

1. Draft issue Selective Service Act

2. Espionage and Sedition Acts limit on civil

liberties

3. Schenck v. US establishes “clear and present danger” principle

4. Mobilizing the economy increase income

tax, sell war bonds

Test Friday!

Do Now: 1. Checking HW #24 2. What was the rationale for the decision in Schenck v. US? Use Document D to come up with an

answer.

III. Life After the War

A. Peace

1. Wilson proposed the 14 Points with a League of

Nations

2. Treaty of Versailles officially ends the war for Europe

3. US Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles (Lodge

Reservations)

4. US signs separate treaty with Germany

5. US becomes “world banker” for reparations and war

debts (Dawes Plan)

6. Steps taken toward international arms control (Washington Naval Conference, Kellogg-Briand Pact)

7. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom played a major role in the peace process

B. Impacts of the War

1. Russian Revolution causes a “red scare”

2. New roles for women

(19th Amendment passed)

3. African Americans, Native Americans,

immigrants remain second class citizens

4. Desire for a “return to normalcy”

Test - 25 Multiple Choice tomorrowDBQ due at the end of the

period tomorrow

Do Now:1. Why did the US become imperialistic?2. What were the causes and effects of WWI?3. What is the connection between imperialism and the World Wars?

Results & Reactions of the Treaty Russia: V. I. Lenin and the rest of the Bolsheviks were back home trying to stabilize their new Socialist government with the threat of another revolt. They did not participate in the conference, since they made peace in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Germany, and all of the major Allies except China and the United States, agreed to the treaty. Germany: In early May 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was shown to Germany. Germany was forced to agree to the treaty, or the Allies threatened to enforce the treaty by invading Germany. Many Germans were angry that the government agreed to the treaty, and they wanted revenge. German officials strongly disagreed with the treaty, but they were forced to accept it. German officials thought that the treaty would be much easier on them due to Wilson’s Fourteen Points. 

US: Citizens of the United States didn’t approve of President Wilson’s agreement to let Germany be treated the generous way that it was. They thought that Germany should be punished even more for causing so much devastation around the world. In March 1920, the U.S. Senate refused to accept the Treaty of Versailles. Even though President Wilson helped set it up, the United States never joined the League of Nations. However, in August 1921, Germany and the United States created a separate peace agreement called the Treaty of Berlin.