US Imperialism & Progressive Era: Key Events & Policies (1898-1919)
Spanish-American War (1898)
President McKinley, Commodore George Dewey – Caused by jingoism, Cuban revolt, yellow press, De Lome Letter, and the sinking of the Maine. McKinley intervened in the Cuban revolution. Fought in the Philippines and Cuba.
Significance: US victory led to Cuban independence, US acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Controversy over the Philippines led to the Anti-Imperialist League, led by William Jennings Bryan. Platt Amendment passed. McKinley re-elected. Southerners shared pride with the Union.
Roosevelt Corollary (1904)
President Theodore Roosevelt – The US would intervene in Latin American countries delinquent in paying debts. The US would occupy ports to manage customs taxes until European debts were satisfied.
Significance: Used in Haiti, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. Created poor US relations with Latin America.
Election of 1912
Taft (Republican), Roosevelt (Progressive “Bull Moose”), Wilson (Democrat), Debs (Socialist) – Split in the Republican party and inclusion of the Socialist party. Taft lacked popularity, Debs was too radical. Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” (government regulation, women’s suffrage, social welfare) vs. Wilson’s “New Freedom” (limit big business and government, end corruption, support small businesses).
Significance: Wilson won with less popular vote but a landslide in electoral votes. Ensured continued reform efforts. Failure of the Progressive party. “New Nationalism” influenced much of the century.
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
David Lloyd George (GB), Georges Clemenceau (France), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Woodrow Wilson (US)
- Germany lost colonies, admitted war guilt, accepted French occupation of the Rhineland, and paid reparations to Great Britain and France.
- Former territories of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia were taken by the Allies. Independence for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland. New nations of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia established.
- Signers joined the League of Nations.
Significance: Established the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations. Led to large debt in Germany.
Espionage Acts (1917-1918)
Congress – Imprisonment for inciting rebellion in the armed forces or obstructing the draft. Prohibited “disloyal” or “abusive” remarks about the US government.
Significance: 2,000 people prosecuted (including Debs). Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality.
Zimmermann Telegram (1917)
German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico – Proposed Mexico ally with Germany in exchange for help recovering lost territories (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona).
Significance: Aroused American anger and convinced Wilson that Germany expected war with the US.
Square Deal (1902)
President Theodore Roosevelt – Mediated the anthracite coal miners’ strike. Granted a 10% wage increase and a nine-hour workday to miners. Owners didn’t have to recognize the union.
Significance: Demonstrated Roosevelt’s neutrality towards business and labor.
Meat Inspection Act & Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Congress (passed), Upton Sinclair (inspired) – Meat Inspection Act: Federal inspectors ensured minimum sanitation standards in meatpacking plants. Pure Food and Drug Act: Forbade adulterated or mislabeled food and drugs.
Significance: Created federal consumer protection laws. Showed the impact of muckraking.
Other Key Influences:
- The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890) by Alfred Thayer Mahan argued for a strong navy.
- Jingoism fueled aggressive foreign policy.
- The De Lome Letter criticized President McKinley.
- The Elkins Act (1903) and Hepburn Act (1906) strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC) regulatory power over railroads.