World War I, US Foreign Policy, and the Interwar Period

World War I

A global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918.

Scramble for Africa

The rapid transformation of Africa into nearly 90% colonized by European powers by 1914, excluding Ethiopia and Liberia.

Berlin Conference of 1885

A meeting where major European powers formalized the process of claiming territories in Africa for natural resources and strategic interests.

Triple Alliance

An alliance consisting of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (which later withdrew).

Triple Entente

An alliance consisting of Great Britain, France, and Russia.

Submarines (U-boats)

German submarines that targeted American ships, contributing to the US joining the war.

The Great War

Another name for World War I, reflecting its scale and impact.

Lost Generation

A term used to describe the disillusioned youth who experienced the horrors of WW1.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

A German naval policy that targeted all ships, contributing to US entry into WW1.

Lusitania

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat, resulting in 1,200 deaths, including 128 Americans.

Anglo Saxon Heritage

The shared cultural and historical ties between the US and the British Empire.

Financial/Economic Interests for US

The motivation for the US to join the war due to loans made to France and Britain that were at risk if Germany won.

Balkanized

A term describing a region divided by ethnicity or religion, particularly in the context of pre-WW1 Europe.

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The event that triggered the outbreak of World War I, carried out by Serbian terrorists.

Domino Effect

The chain reaction of countries arming themselves in response to others, leading to widespread conflict.

Zimmerman telegram

Germany sent this to Mexico in code, intercepted by British intelligence, shared with the US. Germany promised Mexico that if they joined them then Mexico would regain territory that it had lost from Americans (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas).

Woodrow Wilson's idealism

Wilson wants to help shape peace process as an idealist; US can't have influence on peace process unless troops are committed.

Liberal Internationalism

Liberal internationalism is a foreign policy doctrine that supports international institutions, open markets, cooperative security, and liberal democracy.

Major provisions of Wilson's plan

Included arbitration of disputes, general disarmament, self-determination, free trade, and a League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

The US failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and never joined the League of Nations.

Economic nationalism

High tariffs can lead to military warfare.

Wilson's challenges with legislature

Wilson wanted peace, French wanted revenge; Republicans have Congress, Wilson is democrat, and Congress doesn't want to give Wilson a victory.

Wilson's health issues

Wilson suffers severe strokes and ends up in a wheelchair, undermining his abilities to negotiate.

Collapse of empires

The collapse of the German empire, Austria Hungary, Russian empire, and Ottoman Empire led to the creation of new nations.

Ethnic conflicts

France, Great Britain, and the United States arbitrarily redrew political boundaries, establishing the roots of today's ethnic conflicts.

Treaty of Versailles conditions (4)

Four effects: (1) French troops occupy region of Germany, (2) Germany has to pay reparations, (3) Germany loses colonies in Africa, (4) Germany has to accept guilt for starting WW1.

T.E. Lawrence

Known as Lawrence of Arabia; one of the causes of the Iraq war due to boundaries drawn reflecting imperial interests.

Smoot-Hawley tariff

An example of economic nationalism leading to trade wars.

Monetary policy

Refers to interest rates and the money supply; fiscal policy relates to taxes and budgets.

US Federal Reserve actions in 1930

Raised interest rates when it should have lowered them, leading to a flawed monetary policy.

Dawes Plan

U.S. invested in Germany (2.5 billion), allowing Germans to pay back Allies (2 billion in reparations).

Consequences of crippling Germany

Crippling Germany cripples the rest of the world, providing Hitler opportunity to come to power.

Price Deflation prevention

FED uses open market operations to buy treasury bonds to lower interest rates and inject money into the economy.

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a government owned corporation which guarantees customer deposits with the power of the federal government.

The International Gold Standard

Made the Depression worse.

FDR elected when

Elected president in 1932.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt legacy

The only president to be elected 4 times and is widely considered to be one of the top five most successful presidents in U.S. history.

Agricultural Adjustment Administration

AAA was a key New Deal program that aimed to boost agricultural prices by reducing surpluses and paying farmers to cut back on production.

Works Progress Administration

WPA; a federal program for the unemployed providing funding for parks, buildings, bridges, schools, and public spaces.

Civilian Conservation Corps

CCC was a New Deal program established in 1933 during the Great Depression in the United States. It employed young, unmarried men to work on conservation projects, such as reforestation, soil conservation, and the construction of parks and recreational areas.

Social Security Act

1935; provided old age pensions, unemployment insurance, disability, and welfare.

National Labor Relations Act

Wagner Act; created NLRB and recognizes worker's rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining for the first time in U.S. history.

World Relief Programs

WPA, PWA, CCC.

Federal assistance programs

Includes AAA, NRA, SEC, FDIC.

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission.

New Deal

Did not work because it was WWII that ended the depression; WWII is an extension of the New Deal.

Soldiers' experiences in trenches

Had to stay in trenches for long periods of time sitting down; Rain+mud= flesh comes off with boots; Horrible to be there for long periods of time overall.

Major causes of WWI

Colonial Expansion, excessive nationalism; The Alliance System.

Alliance system backfire

These were supposed to provide a balance of power, but it backfired as an attack on one small country ended up involving the whole world; Egos and nationalistic desires create conflict; Betrayal obviously we're talking about Europe here.

Central Powers alongside Germany

German Empire (kaisers/not democracy), Austria-Hungary (empire, Hapsburg dynasty, lots of Ethnic minorities), Italy (withdrew eventually and joined Allies).

Allied powers alongside Great Britain

Alongside Great Britain in the Allied powers were France, the United States, and the Soviet Union.

New weapons and technologies used in WWI

Machine Guns; Shifting Tactics; Trench Warfare; Poison Gas; Submarines (U-boats); Planes and Tanks.

Effect of technologies on military strategy

WW1=destructive! 10 million deaths; 'The Great War'; 'Lost Generation'.

Reasons the US did not initially get involved in WWI

1. Voting blocks/coalitions influenced by Irish Americans who hated the British; 2. Anti-imperialistic/peace activists in the Democratic party; 3. Isolationism: a European conflict, not the U.S. job.

Reasons the US eventually joined WWI

1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany's policy of targeting all ships, including American merchant and passenger vessels (like the sinking of the Lusitania with 128 American deaths), violated international law and prompted outrage.

2. Economic Interests: The US had significant financial investments and loans with Allied powers (France and Britain), which were at risk if Germany won the war.

3. Anglo-Saxon Heritage: Shared cultural and historical ties between the US and the British Empire fostered sympathy for the Allied cause.

4. Zimmermann Telegram: Germany's secret proposal to Mexico, intercepted by British intelligence, offered Mexico territories lost to the US if they allied against the US, intensifying anti-German sentiment.

5. Woodrow Wilson's Idealism: President Wilson believed the US needed to commit troops to have influence in shaping the post-war peace process and promote democratic ideals through 'liberal internationalism'.

Fourteen Points

Wilson's proposal for peace that included arbitration of disputes, general disarmament, self-determination, free trade, and a League of Nations.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Republican leader in the Senate who opposed the Treaty of Versailles, fearing it would infringe on US sovereignty.

New nations post-WWI

New countries formed after WWI, including Czechoslovakia, Finland, and the Baltic states.

Arbitrary political boundaries

Political borders drawn by imperial powers that do not reflect ethnic or religious realities, often leading to instability.

Balkans conflict

The ongoing ethnic and sectarian conflicts in the Balkans, exacerbated by arbitrary political boundaries.

Sunni and Shia conflicts

Religious conflicts in the Middle East that have roots in the arbitrary drawing of political boundaries by imperial powers.

Self-determination

The principle that nations have the right to govern themselves and make their own decisions.

League of Nations

An international organization proposed by Wilson to promote peace and cooperation among countries, similar to the UN.

General disarmament

The reduction or elimination of a country's military forces and weapons as part of peace negotiations.

Arbitration of disputes

The process of resolving disputes through impartial third parties rather than through conflict.

Colonial-era divisions

Artificial borders imposed to serve colonizer's interests, creating societies prone to internal divisions and manipulation.

Sunni-Shia divide

A historical conflict in the Middle East stemming from a disagreement over the succession of Prophet Muhammad, influenced by modern political and economic factors.

Iraq war causes

The war was influenced by boundaries drawn in 1920 that grouped three different ethnic communities for imperial interests.

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Great Depression

Year 1929

Agricultural problems

Farmers faced overproduction and falling prices, leading to debt and foreclosures.

Stock market crash

Occurred in 1929, wiping out the life savings of millions of Americans.

Psychological impact of the crash

The crash led to a reluctance to spend among Americans, worsening the economic situation.

Fiscal policy

Relates to government spending and taxation decisions.

Effects of price deflation

Encourages saving rather than spending, making debts harder to pay off.

Preventing price deflation

The Federal Reserve can buy treasury bonds to lower interest rates and inject money into the economy.

Dual mandate of the FED

The Federal Reserve aims to maintain price stability and full employment.

US foreign investment in Germany

US investment of 2.5 billion allowed Germany to pay back Allies, creating a cycle of international investment.

Consequences of decreased US investment

If US stops investing in Germany, it cripples Germany and the rest of the world, facilitating Hitler's rise to power.

Paradox of farmers overproducing

Farmers produce excess crops to pay debts, which drives prices down and worsens their financial situation.

Agriculture's role in US economy

Agriculture occupied 20% of the US economy during the Great Depression.

Interest rates in 1930

The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates when it should have lowered them to combat economic downturn.

Open market operations

FED uses open market operations to manage the economy.

Recession response by FED

When a recession begins, the FED can buy treasury bonds to lower interest rates and inject money into the economy.

Problems with gold standard

The gold standard was rigid and inflexible, preventing countries from using fiscal and monetary tools to address economic crises.

Fiat money systems

When countries left the gold standard, they switched to fiat money systems, allowing governments to manage money supply and reduce inflation and unemployment.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's impact on liberalism

FDR transformed liberalism to mean that government has a responsibility to provide economic security to Americans during tough times.

19th century liberalism

In the 19th century, liberalism emphasized individual liberty, minimal government intervention, and a free-market economy.

FDR's strengths

FDR is ranked as one of the top five best presidents due to his good people skills, being elected four times, pragmatism, effective media use, and optimism during the Great Depression.

New Deal highlights

Key highlights of the New Deal include the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and Social Security Act (1935).

Great Recession vs. Great Depression

During the Great Recession (December 2007—June 2009), unemployment never reached half of the levels seen in the Great Depression (1930s).

Percentage of Japanese in California

About 1-2% of California's population (110k-120k people)

Pearl Harbor Attack Date

12/7/1941, Japanese forces bomb American naval port in Hawaii

West Coast Defense Command Leader

Lt. General John DeWitt

Initiation of Internment Process

Legislation through Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942

Purpose of Executive Order 9066

Authorized the forced removal and incarceration of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans

Preparation Time for Internment

Given only 7-10 days to prepare

Items Allowed During Preparation

Take only what you can carry in two hands - bedding, linen

Assembly Centers

Often racetracks and horse stalls

Justifications for Internment

Protective custody, assimilation, and military necessity (racism)