Safe for Democracy: The United States and World War I (1916-1920)

CHAPTER 19: SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY: THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD WAR I (1916-1920)

I. The Americanization of the World

• W. T. Stead published The Americanization of the World; or, the Trend of the Twentieth Century in 1902.

  • English editor known for sensational writings, including an exposé on London prostitution.

  • Predicted U.S. emergence as "the greatest of world-powers" due to its dynamic culture and economic strength.

  • Emphasized America’s power derived from its pursuit of wealth and cultural influence rather than military force.

  • Foretold U.S. involvement in world affairs promoting American interests and values, suggesting a transformation of global dynamics towards American ideals.

• Impact of the Spanish-American War (1898): Established the U.S. as an international empire.

  • U.S. territories included the Philippines and Puerto Rico, reflecting a change in foreign policy.

  • Compared to European empires (e.g. Britain’s 300 million subjects), America’s holdings were relatively small but marked a new era of American imperialism based on economic interests rather than territorial control.

  • The American empire characterized as economic, cultural, and intellectual rather than territorial, focusing on spreading American ideals rather than extensive colonization.

• Global Integration by 1914

  • The U.S. led the world in industrial output, producing one-third of all manufactured goods.

  • International movements for causes like Irish independence and Jewish rights showed that American residents remained deeply tied to global political shifts.

II. World Economy and American Influence

• By 1914, the U.S. was the leading industrial power, producing more than one-third of the world’s manufactured goods.

  • Significant production of U.S. products (steel, oil, agricultural materials) led to a perception of an "American invasion" in European markets, creating dependencies on American exports.

  • Cultural exports like movies and music gained substantial traction, influencing global entertainment and leisure, thus enhancing America's soft power.

• European Perception of America: Fear that American ingenuity and mass production would overwhelm local culture.

  • Questions were raised about innovation within London life, as American inventions (e.g. telephone, automobile) became essential to daily existence and changed societal behaviors, leading to hybrid cultures.

• American Engagement Overseas: As international engagement increased, racial and ethnic groups began to influence politics beyond U.S. borders (e.g. movements for Irish independence, Jewish rights advocacy).

  • These movements highlighted America's growing role as a promoter of democratic values and self-determination worldwide.

III. Focus Questions

• How did Progressive presidents promote U.S. expansion abroad? -p. 720

• How did the U.S. get involved in World War I? -p. 725

• How did the U.S. mobilize resources and public opinion for the war effort? -p. 730

• How did the war affect race relations in the U.S.? -p. 737

• Why was 1919 a watershed year? -p. 749

IV. Cultural Response to WWI

• John Singer Sargent's Gassed (1919): Painted soldiers suffering from mustard gas exposure post-war, reflecting the traumatic experiences of those involved and the futility of war.

  • Many artists and intellectuals viewed the war as a catastrophic mistake, sparking movements against militarism and exploring themes of loss, trauma, and disillusionment in their works, leading to a cultural shift in the perception of war.

V. Timeline of Key Events (1903-1921)

• 1903: Panama Canal Zone acquired, representing U.S. expansionism.

• 1904: Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine established, asserting U.S. intervention rights in the Americas to maintain stability.

• 1914: Beginning of World War I initiated a complex web of alliances and hostilities.

• 1915: Sinking of Lusitania caused public outrage and shifted American sentiment against Germany.

• 1916: U.S. involvement increases, particularly in response to German unrestricted submarine warfare.

• 1917: U.S. officially enters the war, joining the Allies and marking a pivotal turning point in the conflict.

• 1918: Worldwide flu epidemic exacerbated wartime conditions, with significant effects on military morale and civilian life.

• 1919: Treaty of Versailles signed, establishing peace terms; the Red Scare begins, signaling domestic unrest and fear of communism as returning soldiers faced economic hardship and social change.

VI. Expansion of American Power

• American involvement in international relations escalated, resulting in military and political actions guided by principles from the Monroe Doctrine.

  • Progressive Presidents: Utilized a blend of diplomacy and military intervention to expand U.S. influence, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Frequent U.S. Marines’ landings in Caribbean nations aimed to secure favorable economic environments for American investments, illustrating interventionist policies and a belief in American exceptionalism.

  • Theodore Roosevelt promoted intervention by asserting that civilized nations had a moral obligation to impose order on uncivilized ones, reflecting a paternalistic view of foreign affairs and justifying American actions abroad.

VII. The Panama Canal

• Roosevelt pushed for the canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, believing it vital for naval movement and trade.

  • Facilitated through support of revolutionaries in Panama against Colombia, showcasing American influence in regional politics.

  • Completed in 1914, the canal reduced travel time drastically and significantly improved American trade routes, symbolizing U.S. engineering prowess and geopolitical strategy.

VIII. Moral Imperialism

• Woodrow Wilson emphasized a moral duty to promote democracy and moral principles in international relations, viewing U.S. intervention as a means to foster peace and order worldwide.

• This ideology often clashed with realpolitik approaches and faced criticism for its naivety in the realities of international conflicts.

• Wilson's vision for a League of Nations post-war embodied his belief in collective security and diplomacy, although it ultimately faced significant opposition domestically, leading to America’s retreat from global leadership after the war.

Section 1: The Emergence of American Globalism

• The Rise of American Influence (Stead's Predictions)

  • In 1902, W. T. Stead's The Americanization of the World forecasted the U.S. as the "greatest of world powers."

  • Stead argued that America’s strength was not primarily military but rooted in its economic productivity and the global export of its culture and democratic values.

  • This marked a shift in global consciousness regarding America's potential role as an international leader.

• The New American Empire

  • Following the Spanish-American War (1898), the U.S. acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

  • Unlike European colonial models based on vast land acquisition, the American empire focused on strategic points: the Panama Canal Zone (1903) and the Virgin Islands (1917).

  • The "Open Door" policy emphasized the free flow of trade and investment rather than direct political rule over foreign populations.

• Global Integration by 1914

  • The U.S. led the world in industrial output, producing one-third of all manufactured goods.

  • International movements for causes like Irish independence and Jewish rights showed that American residents remained deeply tied to global political shifts.

Section 2: Progressive Foreign Policy (Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson)

• Theodore Roosevelt: The "Big Stick" and International Police Power

  • Roosevelt distinguished between "civilized" nations (industrialized, orderly) and "uncivilized" nations (unstable, suppliers of raw materials).

  • The Panama Canal: Roosevelt orchestrated the separation of Panama from Colombia in 1903 after Colombia rejected a land lease. This $400 million project was a feat of engineering but relied on segregated Caribbean labor.

  • Roosevelt Corollary: An addition to the Monroe Doctrine stating the U.S. had the right to exercise an "international police power" in the Western Hemisphere to prevent European intervention.

• William Howard Taft: Dollar Diplomacy

  • Taft emphasized economic investment and bank loans as a means of spreading American influence, particularly in Honduras and Nicaragua, rather than direct military force.

• Woodrow Wilson: Moral Imperialism

  • Wilson appointed William Jennings Bryan (an anti-imperialist) as Secretary of State.

  • Despite promising a new moral direction, Wilson presided over more military interventions in Latin America (Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico) than any predecessor, believing it was America's duty to teach others "to elect good men."

Section 3: The Great War and American Neutrality

• Outbreak of World War I (1914)

  • Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; involved the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, Italy) vs. the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).

  • The war introduced mechanized slaughter: submarines, airplanes, tanks, and poison gas (depicted in Sargent's Gassed).

• The Road to Intervention

  • Neutrality: Wilson initially claimed the U.S. was "neutral in thought as well as action."

  • Lusitania (1915): German submarine (U-boat) sank the British liner, killing 124 Americans. This shifted public opinion toward preparedness.

  • Zimmermann Telegram (1917): A secret German message to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S. in exchange for recovering lost territory (TX, NM, AZ).

  • Declaration of War: April 1917, Wilson asked Congress for war to make the world "safe for democracy."

Section 4: The War at Home: Mobilization and Civil Liberties

• Government Expansion

  • War Industries Board: Oversaw all elements of war production, from raw materials to prices.

  • Committee on Public Information (CPI): Led by George Creel, used 75 million pamphlets and "Four-Minute Men" to flood the U.S. with pro-war propaganda.

• The Suppression of Dissent

  • Espionage Act (1917): Prohibited spying and interfering with the draft.

  • Sedition Act (1918): Made it a crime to speak or print statements critical of the government or the war effort.

  • Eugene V. Debs: Sentenced to 10 years in prison for an anti-war speech; he ran for president from his jail cell in 1920.

• The Great Migration and Racial Conflict

  • Half a million African Americans moved from the South to Northern cities seeking industrial jobs.

  • This led to violent backlashes, including the East St. Louis riots (1917) and the Chicago Race Riot (1919).

Section 5: 1919: A Watershed Year

• Wilson’s Fourteen Points: His blueprint for a new world order, including a "League of Nations" to mediate disputes.

• Treaty of Versailles: Officially ended the war but forced Germany to pay $33 billion in reparations and accept "war guilt," creating lasting resentment.

• The Red Scare: Post-war strike waves and the Russian Revolution led to a fear of communism, resulting in the Palmer Raids (deportation of radical immigrants).

• The Failure of the League: The U.S. Senate, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, fearing the League of Nations would limit American sovereignty. The U.S. retreated into isolationism.

Cornell Notes Synthesis

Summary:
Between 1916 and 1920, the United States transitioned from a neutral observer to a decisive global power. Under Progressive leadership, the federal government expanded its reach both domestically (through war mobilization and suppression of dissent) and internationally (through the Panama Canal and intervention in Europe). Although Wilson’s Fourteen Points sought a moral world order, the harsh Treaty of Versailles and the U.S. Senate's rejection of the League of Nations led to a period of disillusionment, racial tension, and a return to isolationism in the 1920s.