HIGHLIGHTS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY TO WORLD WAR I

Throughout our history the United States has had contact and involvement with foreign nations. Our interest in South America stems from the founding of the nation. Our interest in the Pacific was officially acknowledged as early as 1785 when we began trading with China, and, of course, we were the nation that introduced Japan to modern times with the "opening" of Japan by Perry in 1853. We have always had relations with Europe, but we attempted to follow a policy of isolation from Europe during most of the 19th century. The War of 1812, our concern to keep England and France out of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War are three among many possible indications that our isolation from Europe was not a fact but a theory.

The following acts and pronouncements are highlights of our policy prior to WWI:

Proclamation of Neutrality: President Washington stated that the U.S. would be neutral in the war between England and France. 1793

Washington's Farewell Address: Washington urged America not to become an ally of any country in Europe. 1796

Jefferson's Inaugural Address: Promised that United States would seek peace, commerce, and friendship with all nations but would enter into entangling alliances with none. 1801

Monroe Doctrine: President Monroe promised that America would stay out of European affairs, and demanded that European countries stay out of the affairs of North and South America. Later presidents added their own interpretations to this basic policy as it applied to South America. 1823

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After the Civil War with the rapid industrial growth, the U.S. became deeply involved in the Pacific area. The Spanish-American War marks the emergence of the U.S. as a great power on the international scene. Our particular interest in Asia is seen by our acquisition of the Philippines at the end of that war, our involvement in the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, our proclaiming of the Open Door Policy in China in 1899, and the fact President T. Roosevelt arbitrated the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Our interest in South America is seen in our building of the Panama Canal (completed in 1914) and our involvement in the Mexican Civil War from 1911 on into the 1920's. We were forced to turn our attention openly to Europe with the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

WORLD WAR I

Causes: sparked by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, World War I was really caused by imperialistic and economic rivalry.

Why America Joined: Although President Wilson urged a policy of neutrality, Americans sold arms to the Allies, and in 1917 abandoned her neutral position. The following events caused us to enter the war:

á Sinking of Lusitania by German submarines aroused public opinion.

á Announcement of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans.

á Discovery of the Zimmerman Note (which demonstrated that Germany planned to urge Mexico to attack the United States).

On April 5, 1917, after Germany continued to sink our ships despite a note of warning, Congress declared war.

America during the war: An army of 4 million men was raised by a draft or Selective Service. Many volunteered. Bond drives helped to pay the huge expense of financing the war. These bonds were called Liberty Bonds.

á American naval power broke Germany's blockade of England and helped destroy her fleet of submarines.

á 2 million American soldiers in Europe, added to the force of the Allies, crushed Germany on land. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) under General John J. Pershing participated in battles at Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne Forest.

á An armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.

Wilson's 14 Points: Wilson's plan for a peace treaty included 14 points which he hoped would prevent future wars. Some important points were:

á Reduction of armaments.

á An end to secret treaties.

á Freedom of the seas.

á An equitable solution to the colonial problem.

á Self-determination of peoples.

á Establishment of a League of Nations to arbitrate problems among nations peacefully.

The Treaty of Versailles: Largely ignoring the Fourteen Points and intending to make Germany powerless to wage war forever, the Allies formulated a treaty which was signed June 28, 1919. Some of its important provisions were:

á Surrender of German Territory: Cession of Alsace-Lorraine on the border of France and Germany to France; cession of other territories and colonies to other European allies and Japan. The colonies were to be administered by the various victorious nations under mandates of the League of Nations.

á A promise by Germany, to compensate the allies for war damages. This compensation was called reparations.

á Germany allowed Allied occupation of the Rhineland (between the Rhine River and the French and Belgian borders.

á Germany admitted her guilt for starting the war.

The League of Nations: Although the League was Wilson's idea, the U.S. Senate voted not to accept the treaty. The failure of the United States to join and the failure of the League to act effectively in subsequent disputes caused the League to be ineffective in preventing the outbreak of World War II.