America’s interest in territorial expansion could be traced down to the purchase of Alaska which was purchased and annexed in 1867. The purchase was considered as a “magnificent bargain” (591.000 sq miles for 7 million dollars) by the US government of the time but the territory was scoffed at as a worthless “icebox” by the critics of Secretary of State William Seward who cut the deal. By the end of the century, American elites came to consider territorial expansion as part and parcel of America’s its historic role of civilizing the “primitive” peoples around the world. After all, the United States was, by now, a vast country with a history of confrontations (the Civil War) and a potentially powerful navy.
Table of Contents
1. American early expansionist prospects
2. The Spanish war (1898)
3. The “Big Stick” policy and the building of the Panama Canal
4. World War I (or the Great War): 1914-18
4.1 The Great War: The immediate causes
4.2 Origins of American involvement in the war
Research Objectives and Themes
This text explores the transformation of United States foreign policy during the Progressive Era, tracing the transition from early territorial expansion and regional interventionism in Latin America to the nation's eventual entry into the First World War as a global power.
- The evolution of American expansionism and the acquisition of overseas territories.
- The implementation of the "Big Stick" policy and regional hegemony in the Americas.
- The geopolitical and economic catalysts leading to U.S. intervention in World War I.
- The role of international conflicts in shaping the American military and political status on the global stage.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Origins of American involvement in the war
From the outset, the American government announced its position inimical to any involvement in the European War, even though the American public, which was ethnically diverse, was taking sides with one camp or the other. Yet the majority supported the Triple Entente. But very few really advocated involvement in the war. To prevent the Americans from trading arms with the Central Powers, the British started a blockade of the European ports. By the early 20th century , Britain was a major sea power, and Americans accepted the British rule that the United States had to stop selling weapons to the Central powers. By 1916, the United States had sold to the Allied Powers $3.2 billion worth of weapons. The German U-boats (submarines) started sinking ships navigating in the waters around Britain and on May 17, 1915, a German U-boat sank the Lusitania. About 1200 passengers died, 128 among whom were Americans.
According to international law, neutral countries can sell weapons to the belligerents without restrictions but despite the potential profits that the United States could gain from selling weapons to the Central powers, and given the historic ties with France and Britain, and the fear that Germany would one day dominate Europe, encouraged her to exclusively trade weapons wit the Allied Powers. After Germany promised Mexico to help her regain possession of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona (The Zimmerman Note which proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico) and the sinking of other ships where many Americans were injured (the French ship: The Sussex in March, 1916), American involvement in the Great War became eminent. Further, there was a widely-shared belief that America had to protect democracy and fend off the expansionist ambitions of the totalitarian regimes around the world. On February 3, the United States broke diplomatic ties with Germany.
Summary of Chapters
1. American early expansionist prospects: This chapter covers the foundational steps of American imperialism, beginning with the acquisition of Alaska and the ideological shifts regarding territorial expansion.
2. The Spanish war (1898): This section details the conflict with Spain over Cuban independence and the subsequent emergence of the United States as a significant global power with holdings in the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. The “Big Stick” policy and the building of the Panama Canal: This chapter examines Theodore Roosevelt’s interventionist foreign policy and the strategic construction of the Panama Canal to secure American naval supremacy.
4. World War I (or the Great War): 1914-18: This section outlines the complex causes of the First World War and the factors that transitioned the United States from neutrality to active participation.
Keywords
Foreign policy, Progressive Era, Spanish-American War, Big Stick policy, Panama Canal, Monroe Doctrine, World War I, Triple Entente, Triple Alliance, Imperialism, Territorial expansion, Woodrow Wilson, Neutrality, Lusitania, Zimmerman Note
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this text?
The text analyzes the development of United States foreign policy from the late 19th century through the end of the First World War, highlighting the shift toward global activism.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
Key themes include territorial expansion, the use of naval power, the application of the "Big Stick" policy in Latin America, and the geopolitical pressures that led the U.S. into the European conflict.
What is the central research objective?
The text seeks to explain how the United States transitioned from an isolationist stance to becoming a decisive, active world power by the early 20th century.
Which methodologies are employed to structure the history?
The author employs a chronological historical analysis, focusing on key events, policy doctrines, and military engagements to interpret the evolution of American statecraft.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines the Spanish-American War, the creation of the Panama Canal, Roosevelt's "police power" doctrine, and the internal and external pressures leading to American entry into WWI.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as imperialism, foreign policy, interventionism, geopolitical strategy, and global conflict.
How did the Zimmerman Note influence U.S. participation in WWI?
The Zimmerman Note, which proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., served as a critical tipping point that made American involvement in the war appear inevitable.
What role did the "Big Stick" policy play in the Caribbean?
The "Big Stick" policy provided a rationale for the U.S. to exert effective control over regional nations like Cuba, Panama, and the Dominican Republic to protect American interests and regional stability.
- Quote paper
- Sami Nighaoui (Author), 2015, US Foreign Policy during the Progressive Era and WWI, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/302904
