a survey of usa: ----- world war i prof. niangen huang

A Survey of USA: A Survey of USA: ----- World War I----- World War I

Prof. Niangen HuangProf. Niangen Huang

World War IWorld War I

With the emergence of industrial America came With the emergence of industrial America came the emergence of imperial America and the the emergence of imperial America and the United States as a world power. The growing United States as a world power. The growing industrial might of the nation was reflected industrial might of the nation was reflected clearly in United States mad policy of clearly in United States mad policy of aggression and expansion abroad. aggression and expansion abroad. In 1898, the first imperialist war, the U. S. Spanish War, broke In 1898, the first imperialist war, the U. S. Spanish War, broke

out. The war was quickly fought and won by the United States.out. The war was quickly fought and won by the United States. The peace treaty gave Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines The peace treaty gave Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

to the U. S. and Cuba became independent, but remained to the U. S. and Cuba became independent, but remained subject to close American control. subject to close American control.


The U. S. Spanish War was but a beginning in The U. S. Spanish War was but a beginning in world- wide U. S aggression. world- wide U. S aggression.

By the early years of the twentieth century, By the early years of the twentieth century, Theodore Roosevelt who became President in Theodore Roosevelt who became President in 1900 carried out the aggressive policy in most 1900 carried out the aggressive policy in most faithful and open manner.faithful and open manner.

Wielding the “Big Stick" in the name of the Wielding the “Big Stick" in the name of the "Monroe Doctrine", he carried out the policy of "Monroe Doctrine", he carried out the policy of aggression in Latin America and brought most aggression in Latin America and brought most of the Caribbean countries under U. S. control. of the Caribbean countries under U. S. control.


World War I broke out in July 1914. It World War I broke out in July 1914. It came as an inevitable explosion of the came as an inevitable explosion of the major contradictions racking the capitalist major contradictions racking the capitalist world. The war was waged between two world. The war was waged between two groups of imperialist powers, Allies and groups of imperialist powers, Allies and the Central European Powers. the Central European Powers.


The Allies or the Entente consisted of The Allies or the Entente consisted of Britain, France, Russia, U. S. A. and other Britain, France, Russia, U. S. A. and other countries. The Central European Powers countries. The Central European Powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and later Turkey and Bulgaria. The basic and later Turkey and Bulgaria. The basic causes of the war lay in the political, causes of the war lay in the political, economic and colonial rivalries of the economic and colonial rivalries of the great powers, stretching back into the late great powers, stretching back into the late 19th century. 19th century.


In the years before 1914 several crises almost In the years before 1914 several crises almost started war; and the final crisis was the started war; and the final crisis was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria at Sarajevo, Serbia on June 28, 1914. Austria at Sarajevo, Serbia on June 28, 1914. Austria used this as an excuse for declaring war Austria used this as an excuse for declaring war on Serbia; Russia supported Serbia, and on Serbia; Russia supported Serbia, and Germany declared war on Russia and on Germany declared war on Russia and on France. When Germany invaded Belgium, which France. When Germany invaded Belgium, which was neutral, Britain declared war on Germany. was neutral, Britain declared war on Germany. Then the war was really spread in a large scale.Then the war was really spread in a large scale.


When the Great War began, President When the Great War began, President Wilson immediately called upon his fellow Wilson immediately called upon his fellow countrymen to observe strict neutrality. countrymen to observe strict neutrality. This appeal met with general approval, for This appeal met with general approval, for the great majority of Americans wished to the great majority of Americans wished to avoid involvement in the war. And yet, by avoid involvement in the war. And yet, by 1917, Wilson himself was leading the 1917, Wilson himself was leading the country into war. country into war.


There were several reasons for the United There were several reasons for the United States to join the War so late.States to join the War so late. The United States was lack of military preparedness The United States was lack of military preparedness

when the war began. when the war began. Another factor for the U.S. to join the war was the Another factor for the U.S. to join the war was the

American financial and industrial commitment to the American financial and industrial commitment to the Allied cause. Allied cause.

Finally the important factor was Germany's submarine Finally the important factor was Germany's submarine campaign against merchant ships. That was to attack campaign against merchant ships. That was to attack every ship that approached the British Isles. This every ship that approached the British Isles. This Germany's action helped turning American and other Germany's action helped turning American and other neutral opinion against Germany. neutral opinion against Germany.


When the German government announced that unrestricWhen the German government announced that unrestricted submarine warfare would resume on February 1, 191ted submarine warfare would resume on February 1, 1917, President Wilson cut diplomatic relations with German7, President Wilson cut diplomatic relations with Germany. y. Soon after British intelligence officers made public a startSoon after British intelligence officers made public a startling secret, Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermling secret, Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, had promised the Mexicans a chance "to reconquer ann, had promised the Mexicans a chance "to reconquer lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona," if they lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona," if they declared war on the United States. the Negroes and the declared war on the United States. the Negroes and the whites in the South.whites in the South. A stunned, angry American public now eagerly followed A stunned, angry American public now eagerly followed where Wilson led. where Wilson led.


On April 6, 1917, the United States On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany.declared war on Germany.

The intervention of the United States gave The intervention of the United States gave the Allies decisive superiority in manpower the Allies decisive superiority in manpower as well as in war supplies. as well as in war supplies.


Soon after the declaring of the war, Soon after the declaring of the war, American Congress passed the Selective American Congress passed the Selective Service Act which required all men Service Act which required all men between the ages of 18 and 45 to register between the ages of 18 and 45 to register for the draft. for the draft.

Out of the 24 million men who registered, 2.8 Out of the 24 million men who registered, 2.8 million were selected through a nationwide million were selected through a nationwide lottery to serve in the army. lottery to serve in the army.

An additional 2 million volunteered for service.An additional 2 million volunteered for service.


World War I saw the first use of the World War I saw the first use of the airplane as a war-making machine. At the airplane as a war-making machine. At the beginning of the war the American army beginning of the war the American army had 55 planes, but at the end, the number had 55 planes, but at the end, the number had increased to 3227. had increased to 3227.


As American troops entered the war the As American troops entered the war the Allies began to act on the offensive. In the Allies began to act on the offensive. In the face of combined attacks, the German face of combined attacks, the German government appealed to Wilson for a government appealed to Wilson for a negotiated peace settlement to which negotiated peace settlement to which Wilson agreed. Wilson agreed. An armistice was concluded in November An armistice was concluded in November 1918.1918.


No wonder the peace conference had its difficultiNo wonder the peace conference had its difficulties, for every victorious power was motivated by es, for every victorious power was motivated by self-interest. The inclusion of the League of Natiself-interest. The inclusion of the League of Nations in the peace treaty was Wilson's major triumons in the peace treaty was Wilson's major triumph. In other treaty matters Wilsonian idealism waph. In other treaty matters Wilsonian idealism was largely ignored by the Allies. In the end Wilson s largely ignored by the Allies. In the end Wilson accepted the treaty terms which imposed a strict accepted the treaty terms which imposed a strict reduction of Germany's army and navy, stripped reduction of Germany's army and navy, stripped her of all her colonies, and forced her to admit gher of all her colonies, and forced her to admit guilt for the war and to pay for its cost. uilt for the war and to pay for its cost.


When the Treaty of Versailles was sent to When the Treaty of Versailles was sent to the Senate for ratification, the United the Senate for ratification, the United States Senate refused to approve it. Thus States Senate refused to approve it. Thus the United States did not join the League the United States did not join the League of Nations at last.of Nations at last.


America's setback in the rivalry with the America's setback in the rivalry with the old European powers nourished a new old European powers nourished a new tendency towards isolationism in American tendency towards isolationism in American diplomacy, but the country never again diplomacy, but the country never again follow its old isolationist line, for it had follow its old isolationist line, for it had become the strongest world power and the become the strongest world power and the largest creditor. largest creditor.


The American government would certainly The American government would certainly seek to speak with a stronger voice in seek to speak with a stronger voice in world affairs. world affairs. In 1921, the American 'President invited In 1921, the American 'President invited Britain, Japan, France and some other Britain, Japan, France and some other countries to the Washington Conference. countries to the Washington Conference.


Three major treaties were concluded at Three major treaties were concluded at the Washington Conference: the Washington Conference: the Four-Power Treaty, respecting the status the Four-Power Treaty, respecting the status

quo in the Pacific; quo in the Pacific; the Five-Power Treaty, on naval arms the Five-Power Treaty, on naval arms

apportionment;apportionment; the Nine-power Treaty, guaranteeing the the Nine-power Treaty, guaranteeing the

independence and integrity of China in independence and integrity of China in appearance, but actually a public international appearance, but actually a public international affirmation of the Open Door policy. affirmation of the Open Door policy.


During and immediately after the First During and immediately after the First World War, America enjoyed a period of World War, America enjoyed a period of prosperity and fast development in prosperity and fast development in economy. The ten years between 1919 economy. The ten years between 1919 and 1929, usually called the "roaring and 1929, usually called the "roaring Twenties" or the "Jazz Age", were a time Twenties" or the "Jazz Age", were a time of carefree prosperity, isolation from the of carefree prosperity, isolation from the world's problems, bewildering social world's problems, bewildering social change and a feverish pursuit of pleasure. change and a feverish pursuit of pleasure.


The Twenties brought a rush of new inventions and manufacturing tThe Twenties brought a rush of new inventions and manufacturing techniques which changed the way people lived.echniques which changed the way people lived.

People moved away from the countryside in such numbers that by People moved away from the countryside in such numbers that by 1925 half the population of America lived in cities and suburbs. 1925 half the population of America lived in cities and suburbs.

Women won the right to vote and many started to earn their own moWomen won the right to vote and many started to earn their own money. ney.

Cars became commonplace and people began to move about amonCars became commonplace and people began to move about among all regions of the country.g all regions of the country.

Radio, movies, an abundance of standardized national products anRadio, movies, an abundance of standardized national products and national advertizing all helped to turn America into a greedily consd national advertizing all helped to turn America into a greedily consuming society. uming society.


At such a prosperous time Herbert Hoover At such a prosperous time Herbert Hoover was elected President in 1928. In his 1929 was elected President in 1928. In his 1929 Inaugural Address, Hoover declared "in no Inaugural Address, Hoover declared "in no nation are the fruits of accomplishment nation are the fruits of accomplishment more secure.” His statement reflected the more secure.” His statement reflected the mood of optimism in the country. mood of optimism in the country.


The growth of monopoly capital in the The growth of monopoly capital in the United States was accompanied by a United States was accompanied by a rising working-class movement.rising working-class movement. In this new industrial age, the employer became a big In this new industrial age, the employer became a big

impersonal corporation, which could fire or hire impersonal corporation, which could fire or hire workers at will. workers at will.

Jobs were insecure and the Workday was long. Jobs were insecure and the Workday was long. The working conditions in the factories were often The working conditions in the factories were often

disagreeable and dangerous. There were, as yet, no disagreeable and dangerous. There were, as yet, no laws to require safe working conditions or to provide laws to require safe working conditions or to provide compensation in case of injury or death on the job.compensation in case of injury or death on the job.


The workers began to realize that the only The workers began to realize that the only way to protect themselves and their way to protect themselves and their families was to organize. families was to organize.


The first labor organization came into being in the 1870"s. The first labor organization came into being in the 1870"s.

The Pennsylvania railway workers" strike of 1877 was the The Pennsylvania railway workers" strike of 1877 was the first large-scale workers' struggle in the history of the first large-scale workers' struggle in the history of the United States. United States.

On May 1, 1886 a national strike occurred in support of the On May 1, 1886 a national strike occurred in support of the eight-hour workday. eight-hour workday.

On March 8, 1909, women workers in Chicago launched a On March 8, 1909, women workers in Chicago launched a big struggle for freedom and equal rights with men. Their big struggle for freedom and equal rights with men. Their efforts won the recognition of the Second International efforts won the recognition of the Second International Congress of women socialists which decided in 1910 that Congress of women socialists which decided in 1910 that March 8 each year was to be observed as International March 8 each year was to be observed as International Working Women's Day. Working Women's Day.

a survey of usa: ----- world war i prof. niangen huang

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