The Progressive Era
Wilsonian Foreign Policy
U.S. Interventions
Cuba (Troops - 1898-1902, 1906-09, 1912, 1917-22; Platt
Amendment - 1903-34; Guantanamo - 1903-present)
Puerto Rico (U.S. possession since 1898)
Venezuela (debt crisis – 1903-04)
Panama (helped create – 1903; canal 1903 – 1979)
Dominican Republic (Fin. Sup – 1905-41; Troops – 1916-24)
Honduras (Troops – 1907, 1924-25)
Nicaragua (Troops – 1909-10, 1912-25, 1926-33; Fin. Sup.
1911- 24)
Mexico (seized Vera Cruz, 1914, expeditionary force, 1916-17)
Haiti (Troops -1915-34; Financial Support 1916-41)
US Interests in the Caribbean
The World’s Constable
The Roosevelt Corollary
To the Monroe Doctrine
1904
Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which
results in a general loosening of the ties of
civilized society justifies the exercise of an
international police power.
International Interventions: Roosevelt
Panama: 1903
Venezuela: 1903 – (Roosevelt Corollary issued)
Dominican Republic: 1905
Negotiated end to Russo-Japanese War: 1905
Cuba: 1906 - 1909
Honduras: 1907 ( also 1924-25)
International Interventions: Taft
Nicaragua: 1909
Troops 1909, 1912-25, 1926-33
Financial supervision 1911 -24
China: ongoing
International Interventions: Wilson
Mexico
Vera Cruz: 1914
Pershing Expedition: 1916-1917
Haiti: 1915-1934
Dominican Republic: 1916 -1924
Legacy of US Interventions
 “Great Powers” of Europe
 Acknowledged U.S. as a world power
 Acknowledged Caribbean & Central America as U.S.
“sphere of influence”
 Created an enduring legacy of mistrust in Latin
America
 Note that these interventions:
 Were initiated by both Democrat and Republican
administrations
 Continued across administration changes
Sources of “Great Power” Conflict
Imperialism
 Nationalism
 Military Expansion (arms race)
 Military Alliances
“Great Game of Empire”
Buildup to War
General Joffre to the French Government
31 July, 1914
“It is absolutely necessary for the government
to understand that, starting with this evening,
any delay of twenty-four hours in calling up
our reservists and issuing orders… will have
as its result the withdrawal of… from fifteen to
twenty-five kilometers for each day of delay;
in other words, the abandonment of just that
much of our territory. The Commander-inChief must decline to accept the
responsibility.”
Buildup to War
Kaiser Whilhelm II
Ruler of the newly unified
Germany
Wanted to make Germany a great
naval power
Grandson of England’s Queen
Victoria
Buildup to War
First Sea Lord
Admiral Sir John Fisher
(Great Britain)
 Countered German
naval expansion
 Directed rebuilding of
British fleet
 Formed a naval
alliance with Japan
Naval Buildup to War
H.M.S. Dreadnought - Commissioned 1906
Length - 526”
Displacement - 17,900 tons
Speed - 21 knots
Armament – 10 ea. 12” guns
Military Buildup to War
Military Alliances
“The net of interlocking and opposed understandings
and mutual assistance treaties - France to go to war on
Russia’s side and vice versa if either was attacked by
Germany, Britain to lend assistance to France if the vital
interests of both were judged threatened, Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy to go war together if any one
were attacked by two other states - is generally
considered to be the mechanism that brought the
“Allies” into conflict in 1914 with the “Central Powers.”
- John Keegan, The First World War
Military Buildup to War
Military Alliances
The Triple Alliance a.k.a. “The Central Powers”
Germany,
Austria-Hungary
Italy
The Triple Entente a.k.a. “The Allies”
Great Britain
France
Russia
Buildup to War: Assassination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
and Dutchess Sophie
at Sarajevo on 28th June, 1914
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria
Gavrilo Princip
in prison cell at Terezín
Buildup to War
28 June, 1914
Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand
The fatal four weeks
25 July, 1914
Austria-Hungary issues “note” to Serbia
28 July, 1914
Austria- Hungary declares war on Serbia
30 July, 1914
Russia mobilizes against Austria- Hungary
31 July, 1914
Germany issues ultimatum to Russia (stop mobilizing/
mobilization means war)
31 July, 1914
Germany issues ultimatum to France (declare neutrality
within 18 hours)
1 Aug, 1914
Germany declares war on Russia, begins mobilizing
2 Aug., 1914
France begins mobilizing
3 Aug., 1914
Germany declares war on France
4 Aug., 1914
Germany declares war on Belgium and invades
4 Aug., 1914
Great Britain declares war on Germany
Wilson’s Official Policy
“Neutral in thought as well as in action.”
What did neutrality mean?
 Cut off all trade with all belligerents?
 Cut off trade in munitions and raw materials used to
make arms?
 Who defines contraband/war-related materiel?
 Can credit be extended to belligerents?
RMS Lusitania
 Torpedoed May 1915
 1,201 passengers die
 128 Americans
Opposition to Preparedness
 Many leading progressives spoke out against it
(opposed militarism in general)
 Midwest, w/ large German populations, opposed
support of Allies
 South, not as economically dependent on sales to
Europe, was suspicious of military power centered in
Washington
War Triggers
Submarine Warfare
Germany announced resumption of unrestricted
submarine warfare (31 January 1917)
 Recognized that this would mean war w/ U.S.
 Didn’t think U.S. could mount a military response for
two years
 U.S. severed diplomatic relations on 3 Feb., 1917
 16 March, U-boats sink 3 U.S. merchant vessels
War Triggers
The Zimmerman Telegram
 From German foreign minister to Mexican foreign
minister
 Urged Mexico to join Central Powers and attack U.S.
 Mexico would be rewarded after war (regain
territories lost in Mex.-Am war)
 Br. Intelligence intercepted the telegram
 Wilson released telegram to press on 28 Feb., 1917 solidified anti-German feeling
The Zimmerman Telegram
Plan of San Diego
Plan of San Diego
PROVISIONAL DIRECTORATE OF THE PLAN (PLOT) OF SAN DIEGO, TEX.,
JANUARY 6, 1915
We, who in turn sign our names, assembled in the revolutionary plot of San Diego,
Tex., solemnly promise each other, on our word of honor that we will fulfill and
cause to be fulfilled and compiled with, all the clauses and provisions stipulated
in this document, and execute the orders and the wishes emanating from the
provisional directorate of this movement and recognize as military chief of the
same Mr. Agustin S. Garza guaranteeing with our lives the faithful
accomplishment of what is here agreed upon.
1. On the 20th day of February 1915 at 2 o'clock in the morning we will rise in arms
against the government and the country of the United States of North America,
one as all and all as one, proclaiming the liberty of the individuals of the black
race and its independence of Yankee tyranny which has held us in iniquitous
slavery since the remote times: and at the same time and in the same manner we
will proclaim the independence and segregation the States bordering on the
Mexican Nation, which are: Texas, New Mexico. Arizona, Colorado, Upper
California, of which States the Republic of Mexico was robbed in a most
perfidious manner by North American imperialism.
Plan of San Diego
5.
6.
7.
12.
It is strictly forbidden to hold prisoners, either special prisoners (civilians) or
soldiers: and the only time that should be spent in dealing with them is that
which is absolutely necessary to demand funds (loans) of them; and whether
these demands are successful or not, they shall be shot immediately without
any pretext.
Every stranger who shall be found armed and who can not prove his right to
carry arms shall be summarily executed, regardless of his race or nationality.
Every North American over 16 years of age shall be put to death, and only the
aged men, the women, and children shall be respected; and on no account shall
the traitors to our race be spared or respected.
None of the leaders shall have power to make terms with the enemy, without
first communicating with the superior officers of the army, bearing in mind
that this is a war without quarter: nor shall any leader enroll in his ranks any
stranger, unless said stranger belong to the Latin, the Negro, or the Japanese
race.
Secondary War Triggers
Economic ties between France, Britain & US
 US (private banks) had loaned tremendous amounts
 Allied defeat would be economic disaster for US
Wilson’s 14 Points
 Visionary Plan to create a new world order
 Wilson concluded that to have a role in the peace process,
had to play an active role in the war
US Countdown to War
1917
31 Jan. - Germany announces resumption of unrestricted submarine
warfare
3 Feb. - U.S. severs diplomatic relations with Germany
28 Feb. - Wilson releases Zimmerman telegram to public
16 March - U-boats sink three U.S. merchant vessels
20 March - Wilson submits war message to Congress
6 April - Congress declares war
Wilson’s War Message
“The world must be made safe for democracy.”
 A bid to give the US a new role in international
diplomacy
 A call for change in basic international structure