Dec. 4th - Dec. 8th - Blogs

Monday

The Spanish America War
- By the late 1800, Spain was a dwindling empire
  - Philippines, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico and a few colonies in Africa (Morocco and Western Sahara)
The US had been interested in Cuba for a long time
- US tried to buy Cuba in 1854
Cubans had been revolting against Spain frequently (1868, 1878, 1886, 1895) wanting independence
Many felt sorry for the Cuban people
Causes
- The USS Maine sinking
- The Yellow Press
- Butcher Weyler and his treatment of Cubans in the concentration camps
- The DE Lome Letter
- Jose Marti’s destruction of US property in Cuba- making it look as thought Spain did it
- Help the Cubans get independence
- Declaration of War and the Teller Amendment
  - On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain
  - Imperialist vs. Anti-Imperialist
  - Teller Amendment was added to the declaration of war against Spain
  - Guaranteed Cuban independence after the war was over
  - Fronts in the Spanish-American War
    - Philippines
    - Cuba
    - Puerto Rico
    - Rough Riders
    - Treaty of Paris- 1898
      - Brought an official end to the war
      - Spain gave Cuba independence (kind of)
      - Cartoon
      - Misc
        The US Army was not prepared to fight this war- The Navy was excellent

Tuesday

Puerto Rico
- Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917
- In 2012, the majority of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood-It is now up to Congress
- The US retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability with the Platt Amendment
- The US got control of Guantanamo Bay as well, a naval base we still have control of today
- In 1914, the Platt Amendment was repealed
- Emilio Aguinalso
- Philippine-American War
  - The Philippine-American War broke out after the Filipinos realized that the US would not give them independence
  - It ended with American control over the islands
  - 12,000-20,000 Filipinos soldiers dead
  - 200,000- 250,000 Filipino civilians died-Some contend US committed genocide
  - 4,165 US soldiers dead
  - In 1935, the Philippines was granted Commonwealth status
  - Plans for independence over the next decade were interrupted by World War || when the Japanese invaded and took them over
  - Allied troops defeated the Japanese in 1945
  - On July 1946, the Philippines attained its independence
  - China
    - By late 1800’s, it was looking as if China would be carved up like Africa had been
    - China wanted to prevent this from happening
    - The Boxer Rebellion
    - John Hay - Open Door Policy
      - Said that all country should have equal trading rates with China and …
      - Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency
        Assumed presidency after McKinley was killed
        Roosevelt the Peacemaker
        Ended the Russo-Japanese war in 1905
        Won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts
        Panama Canal
        Roosevelt Corollary
        Panama

Wednesday

Cartoon of the Panama Canal
The Roosevelt Corollary
- It was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine
- Said that the US would be the police officer between Latin America and Europe
- The US would use force to protect interests in Latin America
- Big Stick Diplomacy
  - “Speak softly and carry a big stick” or “Big Stick” diplomacy
  - The Great White Fleet
  - Cartoons about this diplomacy
  - Dollar Diplomacy- President Taft
    - Economic imperialism
    - US banks were in control of many businesses in Latin America
    - US said it was needed to keep European powers out of Latin America
    - President Woodrow Wilson
      - Wilson’s ethical and religious beliefs also influenced his foreign policy
      - Practiced “missionary diplomacy”
      - US would not recognize any government that was oppressive, undemocratic and hostile toward the US
      - Used extensively in Latin America
      - Mexican Revolution 1910-1920
      - Pancho Villa-Mexican Expedition 1916-1917
        Villa was pro-American at first but soon changed after President Carranza asked US to control Mexican mines
        Killed dozens of US citizens on two different occasions (once on US soil)
        President Wilson ordered general John Pershing (and 15,000 troops) to go into Mexico and capture Villa
        Eventually, the Mexican American clashed with Pershing’s forces
        By 1917, both sides backed down (WW1)
        Talking about the WW1 assignment
        The Great War-World War1 1914-1918

Thursday

Russia dropped out of the WW1 in1917 (because they had a civil war and became communists)
Causes of WW1
- Militarism
- Imperialism
- Nationalism
- Economic competition
- System of Alliances
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
  - (link on the daily summary)
  - Powderkeg-Balkan peninsula
  - Chain of Events-Leading to Outbreak of War
    - Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
    - Austria-Hungary sends ultimatum to Serbia
    - Serbia refuses to accept ultimatum
    - Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia after Germany gives them carte blanche
    - Russia mobilizes to support Serbia
    - Germany declares war on Russia
      - 1. Hoped to knock Russia out of war quickly to avoid a two-fronted war
France enters war to help Russia
Great Britain enters war to help France after Germany attacks France through neutral Belgium
Weapons that where used in WW1

Friday

Finish WW1 weapons PowerPoint
3 Types of Trenches
- Front Line
- Support
- Reserve
- “No Man’s Land”
- Bayonets

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