U.S. History: Spanish-American War to World War II

  • Teddy Roosevelt and the Spanish American War

    • Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in the successful Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba.
    • Resulted in the U.S. defeating Spain, leading to American imperialism, particularly control over the Philippines.
    • The Philippines had previously been under Spanish control, but U.S. victory transferred governance to the U.S. for over a century.

  • Grandfather's Historical Context

    • The speaker's grandfather was born in 1900 and experienced significant historical events.
    • Lived through innovations like telephones, airplanes, and the Great Depression.
    • Fought in both World Wars, providing a personal connection to history.

  • Teddy Roosevelt as President

    • After President McKinley’s assassination in 1901, Roosevelt became president.
    • He intervened in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) using diplomacy and military threat, showcasing the use of the "bully pulpit."
    • Imposed a blockade to prevent further conflict between Japan and Russia.

  • World War I Developments

    • War started in 1914; the U.S. joined in 1917.
    • Introduction of chemical warfare and technologies like the Gatling gun, leading to trench warfare.
    • The Treaty of Versailles (1919) ended WWI and imposed harsh reparations on Germany.

  • The Roaring Twenties

    • 1920s marked economic prosperity and cultural changes in the U.S.
    • Preceded by the Russian Revolution (1917) which led to the fall of the czar and rise of communism under leaders like Lenin and Stalin.

  • Great Depression

    • The stock market crash in 1928 propelled the onset of the Great Depression lasting until the late 1930s.

  • World War II Prelude

    • Rising tensions with Japan around 1937-1938, coinciding with Hitler's actions in Europe, leading to the onset of WWII.
    • WWII spanned from 1939 to 1945, with Major Theaters in both Europe and the Pacific.

  • Victory in World War II

    • Victory in Europe (V-E Day) and Victory over Japan (V-J Day) followed the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945.

  • Post-War Period

    • The end of WWII led to the onset of the Cold War (1945) between capitalist U.S. and communist USSR, characterized by political and ideological conflict.
    • Emergence of global tensions and rivalries that would dominate international relations for decades.