US Expansion and Involvement in Wars: Key Notes

Manifest Destiny and Imperialism

  • Concept of Manifest Destiny: Belief that the expansion of the US across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
    • Economic motivations:
    • Desire for raw materials and trade opportunities.
    • Imperialism:
    • Accelerated by the Second Industrial Revolution.
    • The need for a strong navy was recognized as essential; leading to territorial expansion in the 1880s.

Expansion in the Pacific

  1. Alaska:

    • Acquired from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million.
    • Geopolitical interest targeted at British Columbia.

  2. Samoa and Hawaii:

    • Developed trade posts on various islands.
    • Samoan Islands:
      • 1878: The US negotiated a treaty for a naval base.
      • 1899: Samoa divided into German Samoa and American Samoa.
    • Hawaii:
      • Originally a kingdom since 1795.
      • 1875: Trade agreement allowed duty-free sugar exports to the US, leading to an economic boom and an increase in American settlers.
      • 1887: Forced the king to form a government under US control; a naval base was agreed upon at Pearl Harbor.
      • The 1891 ascendance of Queen Liliuokalani sought to restore independence.
      • 1893: American planters revolted, resulting in a treaty for annexation.
      • Hawaii was annexed in 1898 under President McKinley.

Spanish-American War

  1. Cuban Rebellion:

    • Cuba, Spain’s oldest colony, saw numerous revolts in the 19th century.
    • US investments in Cuban mining and sugar increased tensions.
    • 1895: Cuban rebels fought against Spanish rule; US public opinion leaned towards the rebels, though the government remained neutral initially.

  2. Splendid Little War:

    • 1897: McKinley presided over increasing pressures for war regarding Hawaiian annexation and Cuban independence.
    • 1898: US battleship Maine sent to protect American interests; it exploded in February, leading to public outcry and war declaration in April.
    • The war lasted 114 days, fought in Cuba and the Philippines, leading to a decisive American victory by August 1898.

  3. New US Acquisitions:

    • Treaty of Paris (1898) ceded Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the US for $20 million, sparking debates between anti-imperialists and expansionists within the US.
    • Filipinos opposed annexation; this led to conflict and the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
    • The Philippine Government Act formalized US governance over the islands.

The Caribbean and Cuba

  • Puerto Rico: Acquired through the Treaty of Paris in 1898, restructured as a civil government in 1900 and granted citizenship in 1917, but remained a territory, not a state.
  • In Cuba, US intervention emphasized the preservation of independence but allowed for US engagement to protect American interests.

World War I Overview

  1. Warring Alliances:

    • Triple Alliance (Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, and Russia).
    • Technological advancements such as tanks and poison gas reshaped warfare.
    • Trenches contributed to prolonged conflict; 61 million soldiers engaged, with millions suffering casualties.

  2. American Neutrality and Engagement:

    • Division existed within American society regarding support for either side.
    • The Lusitania Incident (1915): German U-boats sank the ship, killing 128 Americans, escalating tensions.
    • By March 1917, submarine warfare triggered American loss of merchant vessels, leading to war declaration in April 1917 against Germany.
    • Selective Service Act mandated registration of men aged 21-30; mobilization saw millions joining military services.

  3. Domestic Impact:

    • Women and minorities were encouraged to fill labor shortages generated by the war effort.
    • The 19th Amendment, allowing women's suffrage, was passed in 1920, which Wilson supported as vital to the war effort.
    • Enhanced government control and propaganda efforts: Food Administration and Espionage and Sedition Acts curbed dissent.

  4. Peace Negotiations:

    • By late 1918, Germany sought peace; an armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.