Introduction

Through a combination of Progressive moralism and economic need, the United States aggressively entered the forum of international politics at the beginning of the twentieth century. From Roosevelt's intervention in Panama through Wilson's efforts in Mexico and his reluctant involvement in World War I, the United States became a major player in the development of alliances and spheres of influence around the world. These forays seemed to make many Americans uncomfortable, particularly in contrast with the open imperialist ambitions of European powers. Yet the belief in their racial superiority and the economic necessity of opening markets to American products, combined with the strong leadership of Roosevelt and Wilson, caused most Americans to acquiesce to this newly assertive role for the United States within the world community. This change in policy transformed the United States, as war ultimately doused many of the reformist impulses in the nation and sparked a wave of intolerance and fear at home. In the long run, the American retreat from international leadership may also have created a vacuum of power that led to terrible consequences in the decades to come.

The Web activities for this chapter will examine the philosophies that led the United States into the international arena and the hesitancies that ultimately caused it to pull out at the end of World War I. The additional links examine some of the other events that shaped American foreign policies over the first two decades of the twentieth century.

Web Activities 

1.  Documents from the Roosevelt administration can help us understand how the United States explained its more aggressive policies in foreign relations. First read the Platt Amendment), the 1901 document in which the United States granted conditional independence to Cuba. What conditions did the U.S. place on Cuba before granting it independence? Why was the U.S. determined to include these provisions despite Cuban resistance? Now read the section of Roosevelt's 1904 Annual Message to Congress that dealt with foreign relations. In this speech, he introduced the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (although he did not give it that name). What did the Corollary state? Why did Roosevelt feel the need to make such a proclamation? How did William Howard Taft's Dollar Diplomacy differ from the policies of Roosevelt? Why did Roosevelt oppose these policies of his hand-picked successor?

2.  The Great War. Click on 1914 to examine the causes of the war; now click on Archduke Franz Ferdinand. What are the arguments as to why the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand caused all of Europe to erupt into war? For an assessment of the long range causes of the war, go to The Great War, 1914-1918. Now go to Tragedy on the Somme and read the article about one of the bloodiest battles of the war. What does this author argue caused the "tragedy" and gruesome destruction of this campaign? Then go to Gallipoli Wars and read this description of another of the epic campaigns of this war. Why did this campaign last so long? Do these sites explain why World War I was so different from all preceding wars?

3.  Read Floyd Gibbons' article "The Sinking of the Laconia", which played a significant role in changing U.S. isolationist sentiment. Why do you think this article convinced many Americans that the U.S. needed to enter the war? Now read President Wilson's 'War Message' to Congress from April, 1917. Why does he say the U.S. entered the war? Does the textbook suggest any other reasons?

4.  Read President Wilson's Fourteen Points. What goals did he have for the peace treaty? What role did he see the U.S. playing in the postwar world? Read the opinion of one historian (scroll down to Woodrow Wilson and click on the historian commentaries) as to why Wilson failed to make his vision a reality? Why do you think he could not achieve the peace he wanted? To get a sense of the mood of the country, browse through the photos and cartoons on the Red Scare website. What do these images tell you about the attitudes of Americans toward the war and the peace?

Additional Research Links

Progressive Diplomacy

• The Panama Canal. Read the history of the canal. What problems did the U.S. face in building this feat of engineering?
• The Great White Fleet. Check out the photographs of the fleet and read the explanations. Then go to The Great White Fleet: San Francisco to Hawaii to see the postcards from a sailor who participated in the fleet's trip around the world. Why did Roosevelt send the Fleet on such a trip? Why did he name it the Great White Fleet?

Woodrow Wilson and Moral Diplomacy

• Pancho Villa and the U.S.. Read this introductory explanation of the rising animosity between Villa and President Wilson. Then click on Organizing the Punitive Expedition to read an article that gives more detail on the U.S. reaction to Villa's raids on New Mexico. Finally, click on the Punitive Expedition to view photos from Villa's raids and General Pershing's expedition into Mexico. Why do you think Villa chose to antagonize the U.S.? Why did Wilson react as he did?

War and Society

• Posters from the Great War. This site offers dozens of propaganda images like the poster above. Browse through these sets of posters. What messages did they send to the American people? What themes did they emphasize? What actions did they promote?

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Influenza 1918. Read the three essays under events to trace the development of the worldwide flu epidemic that killed millions as World War I ended. How do you think this epidemic may have affected Wilson's campaign for a postwar peace settlement?