Dollar Diplomacy - 1909

• Foreign policy under Taft that stressed economic intervention rather than military intervention abroad, helping further the informal empire, specifically in Latin America. It was not successful because it didn’t take into account people’s reactions and created social unrest in the countries affected.

Missionary Diplomacy - 1913

• A policy that expanded the Monroe Doctrine under Wilson’s administration and claimed that the US shouldn’t have relations with non-democratic nations, it emphasized negotiating peaceful solutions and compromises. It led to Wilson’s Peace Without Victory speech where the victor in war creates further hatred and conflicts, laying foundations to the league of nations for moral diplomacy while preserving world peace.

Lusitania - 1915

• Germans sunk a British passenger ship with Americans on it going from New York to the UK. 128 Americans died and it led to Wilson wanting peace and making the Germans stop sinking passenger ships with the Sussex Pledge and restricted sub warfare. It increased anti-Germany sentiments, pushing Americans to join the war.

Election of 1916

• A presidential election between democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson and republican candidate Evan Hughes over the United States’ involvement in WWI. Wilson ran on a platform based on domestic reform through the Farm Loan act and the Keating Owen act and saying that they should stay out of the war. Hughes ran based on opposing new freedom and staying pro-war. Wilson wins because Americans don’t want to go to war but then later goes to war.

Sussex Pledge - 1916

• Germany agreed to not sink passenger ships without warning or else the US would go to war with them. This promise delayed Wilson’s involvement in the war and was used to increase his popularity and win the election of 1916. This promise was later broken.

Pancho Villa - 1916

• Pancho Villa revolted against the dictator Carranza towards the end of the Mexican Revolution by killing Americans to show that he didn’t control Northern Mexico and to evoke a reaction in the United States. Wilson sent troops but they were unable to capture Villa, demonstrating a blunder on Wilson’s part and a shortcoming of his “moral“ diplomacy.

Zimmermann Telegram - 1917

• A telegram sent from Germany to Mexico which claimed that if they attacked the US, they would regain states such as New Mexico and the other states they lost in the Mexican American war. It was intercepted by the British and redirected to the United States and Wilson. It increased anti-German sentiments and resulted in Wilson declaring war, playing a key role in the allied victory in the war.

Espionage & Sedition Act - 1917

• The Espionage and Sedition Acts were passed by Woodrow Wilson who was worried about dissension. Espionage Act claimed that there would be no obstruction of recruiting and banned treasonable mail. The Sedition Act claimed that people can’t speak against war bonds and can’t speak against the constitution. It took people’s civil liberties during the war and laid the foundation for the suppression of unpopular ideas, specifically any ideas that supported the system of communism.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - 1917

• Unrestricted submarine warfare was a tactic used by the Germans where they’d sink every ship they could find regardless of its arms to prevent supplies reaching the UK. It was stopped by the Sussex Pledge after the sinking of Lusitania. It was then broken and the US entered the war.

George Creel / Committee of Public Information - 1917 - 1919

• Woodrow Wilson created the CPI and put George Creen in charge in order to help increase support for the American war effort. The CPI created war propaganda that presented it as a crusade for freedom. It increased patriotism in America against Germany and increased anti-German sentiments. After the war, those sentiments were directed towards immigrants and socialists.

14 Points - 1918

• A plan proposed by Woodrow Wilson where 14 points would be met to end the war. There would be no secret treaties, no tariffs, disarmament, no colonies, new countries (Poland, Austria, Hungary, Serbia), League of Nations, freedom of the seas. It laid the foundations for the negotiations made at the Paris Peace Conference where everything was achieved except for the league of nations.

Treaty of Versailles - 1919

• The treaty signed in Versailles, Italy to end WWI. It forced Germany to pay a huge amount of reparations, admit total responsibility over the war, and disarm their military but it devastated their economy and humiliated them. Few of Wilson’s points were acknowledged in the treaty, it created the League of Nations but didn’t promote peace or seek an end to imperialism.

Schenck V. U.S. - 1919

• Schenck was the general secretary of the US Socialist Party. He sent pamphlets saying that the draft should be illegal due to it violating the 13th amendment. He was then arrested and the case was taken to the supreme court. The court ruled that if there is a clear and present danger then it is okay to prohibit free speech.

Henry Cabot Lodge - 1919

• A revisionist who led the Congressional struggle against the Treaty of Versailles. He led 37 senators to sign a manifesto against the ratification of the treaty since the League of Nations would limit the power of congress. Cabot would only accept the treaty if it was changed to preserve the authority of congress. Wilson’s refusal resulted in the failure of getting the 2/3 majority to ratify it.

Senate Irreconcilables - 1919

• A group of 14 senators led by William Borah who refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles because they didn’t want to join the League of Nations. Their opposition led to the treaty not being ratified.

Strong Reservationists - 1919

• A group of senators led by Henry Cabot who refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles unless if their proposed changes were achieved. Their opposition led to the treaty not being ratified.

Red Scare - 1919-1920

• An immense fear of Communism in American Society created by A. Mitchell Palmer. It promoted the growing xenophobia and shaped the development of culture in the 1920s. It also influenced the growing opposition towards laborers and labor unions since they were associated with Russian revolts. It was significant because xenophobia and racism grew and the military was sent to deal with labor strikes.

Lost Generation - 1920

• A group of writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald who were disenchanted with the U.S. so they left to Europe. They wrote about the U.S not living up to its expectations, especially those who were partying while others worked to death. They also criticized consumerism. They created a lot of literature and showed the impact of WWI on the world.

Margaret Sanger - 1920

• She advocated for women’s independence and control of their bodies through birth control and education about women’s healthcare. She was significant because the championed the legality of birth control and education about the body. She made huge leaps in this area and helped educate many women.

Marcus Garvey - 1920

• An African American nationalist from NY who encouraged people of color to visit Africa to find their heritage and encouraged economic independence. He ended up stealing from those who paid in advance to travel to Africa. Fostered the concept where people were proud of who they are and sought to oppose White discrimination.

Sacco & Vanzetti - 1920

• Italian anarchists who were arrested for killing 2 people during a robbery where both were sentenced to the death penalty. The judge was anti-immigrant and there was very little evidence. It was not a fair trials and the appeals were rejected, showing a prime example of the xenophobia present at the time where the outcome was influenced by anti-immigrant and anti-anarchist biases. It also birthed the idea of being innocent until proven guilty.

Harlem Renaissance - 1920

• It began in the largest African American community in NYC, Harlem, where new forms of culture and nationalism flourished with the rise of Jazz and musicians such as Louis Armstrong and poets like Langston Hughes. It was very influential and created many new art forms, solidified the idea that it represents cultural achievements of the 1920s, and the environmental factors that were impeding progress and increasing racial prejudice.

Immigration Quota Acts - 1921

• Two acts that were passed to limit European immigration to the United States. The Emergency Quota Act was passed in 1921 which restricted immigration to 6% of the immigration from the 1910 census. The Immigration Act of 1924 reduced it further to 2% of the 1890 census. It was another example of America’s growing xenophobia that grew with the modern culture of the 1920s.

Teapot Dome - 1922

• The secretary of the Interior Albert Fall took 500k in bribes to lease the Teapot Dome oil reserves in Wyoming to businessmen. It demonstrated the corruption that took place during Harding’s administration as a result of his corrupt cabinet, turning opinions of him and his administration to scorn after his death.

McNary-Haugen Bill - 1924

• A bill created by George Peek where the government would buy a surplus of wheat and crops at average prices from 1910-1914 and sell it abroad at market prices for a profit. It was similar to the sub treasury and the goal was to increase prices to motivate farmers to increase production and stimulate the economy. It was vetoed many times by Coolidge, allowing farmers to continue falling into an economic trend that would lead to the Great Depression.

Dawes Plan - 1924

• A plan proposed by senator Dawes where the U.S. lent $200 million to Germany to help rebuild their economy and repay the allies, who then used that money to build their economies and repay their loans to the U.S. It was significant because it laid the foundations for the negotiations made at the Paris Peace Conference and increase tensions between nations, specifically Germany.

Scopes Trial - 1925

• A trial where John Thomas Scopes taught evolution in a Tennessee state school. There was a law prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution and he was fined and challenged in court. It was a prime example of science versus religion and the changes to society after WWI. The Scopes conviction was overturned.

Kellogg-Briand Act - 1928

• An agreement between 62 nations created by the French foreign minister Briand where the goal was to outlaw war and protect each other. It was made in response to Germany’s building of economy and sought to protect France. It was seen as a joke by the French and became angry since the U.S just wanted to distance itself from war and wasn’t actually sticking with the French.

Washington Armament Conference - 1929

• A conference set up by the secretary of state Hughes after Japan was beginning to extend its control of the east. Three treaties were drafted among multiple foreign nations to determine the fate of China and the Open Door Policy. The 5 power treaty would halt battleship construction and reduce capital ships, 4 Power Treaty established an agreement to confer in the event that any nation attacked another in the Pacific. The 9-power treaty was signed by all and would respect China’s independence and uphold the Open Door Policy. It appeared to mark an important step towards achieving global peace and halting growing militarism but Japan violated the treaty and invaded Manchuria after realizing the U.S wouldn’t intervene.

Hawley Smoot Tariff - 1930

• A tariff passed by congress in attempt to protect industries and farmers from foreign competition by imposing a high tariff on imported goods. It worsened the depressions since the tariff reduced international trade and increased tensions between countries. It shows the dangers of protectionism and its impact on international trade underscores the importance of cooperation and free trade to promote economic growth and stability.

Bonus Army - 1932

• The gathering of WWI veterans who marched into Washington d.c. with their families, demanding immediate payouts because of the great depression. The house of representatives promised an immediate bonus for WWI veterans but was rejected by the senate, leaving some soldiers discouraged and others engaging in riots and protests. This became a political blow for Hoover.