BELLWORK: Wilson Declares War

1. BELLWORK: Wilson Declares War • According to Wilson’s speech, explain three reasons why the US declared war on Germany. • According to Wilson, why is neutrality no longer possible? • How will the US prepare for war? What makes it a total war? • How does Wilson view autocratic governments? How will US involvement in WWI influence European politics? • THINKER: In Wilson’s previous speech (Jan.1917) he argued that peace can only exist between equals and there cannot be a permanent peace with a victor….. Based on this second speech, do you think his views have changed? Why or why not?

2. Review: The American Homefront

3. WWI in the Americas Is the U.S. a trendsetter?

4. Involvement in the Americas • Bolivia: Severed relations with Germany - April 13, 1917 • Brazil: Severed relations with Germany - April 11, 1917 & Declared war on Germany - Oct 26, 1917 • Costa Rica: Severed relations with Germany - Sept 21, 1917 & Declared war on Germany - May 23, 1918 • Cuba: Declared war on Germany - April 7, 1917 • Ecuador: Severed relations with Germany - Dec 8, 1917 • Guatemala: Declared war on Germany - April 23, 1918 • Haiti: Declared war on Germany - July 12, 1918 • Honduras: Declared war on Germany - July 19, 1918 • Nicaragua: Declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary - May 8, 1918 • Panama: Declared war on Germany - April 7, 1917 & Declared war on Austria-Hungary - Dec 10, 1917 • Peru: Severed relations with Germany - Oct 6, 1917 • Uruguay: Severed relations with Germany - Oct 7, 1917

5. ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS NEUTRAL COUNTRIES

6. Reasons for Involvement: WWI disrupted the markets for Latin America’s goods and made it difficult to import necessary manufactured products Threat of submarine warfare As a result, local labor and capital shifted from agriculture to manufacturing in order to produce these necessary goods Declines in prince levels of Latin America’s exports encouraged a further growth in manufacturing Encouraged by U.S. Although manufacturing increased, industrialization was almost completely limited to light consumer good industries Remained high poverty rates Impact of Involvement: The U.S. will emerge from WWI as the world’s principal industrial and financial power, and replaced England as the major source of foreign investments in Latin America Continuing the “big stick” and “dollar diplomacy” policies of their predecessors, Democratic and Republican administrations used armed intervention and economic pressure to expand U.S. control over the Caribbean area. By the end of the period, there was deep Latin American resentment of these strong-arm tactics Countries push for total economic and political independence Involvement in the Americas

7. WWI in the Americas Case Study: Cuba • After their victory in the Spanish-American War, the U.S. occupied Cuba from January 1899 - May 1902. The occupation had three goals: • Make Cuba into a self-governing colony with secure economic policies and political stability (better than full colonial occupation) • Created a huge opposition movement, but the U.S. bought off the opposition army by offering to purchase its arms…… an offer that hungry, unemployed soldiers could not refuse. • Repair war destruction and promote economic recovery to provide services necessary for U.S. occupation • Launched public works programs, sanitation (led to major yellow fever outbreak), created a national education system (designed to instill U.S. principles, even the textbooks were translated American texts), established military bases (Guantanamo Bay) all paid for by the Cuban Treasury.

8. WWI in the Americas Case Study: Cuba 3. Absorb Cuba into the United States’ economic sphere of influence • American government protected U.S. business interests, so they poured capital into sugar and railroad construction. 1903 trade agreement cut the tariff on Cuban sugar exported to the U.S. and in return, Cuba reduced the duties on imported U.S. goods. • In 1902, the U.S. transferred power to the Cuban government. As a condition of the transfer, the new constitution implemented the requirements of the Platt Amendment, which among other things gave the United States the right to intervene militarily in Cuba. This will cause more U.S. occupations!!!

9. WWI in the Americas Case Study: Cuba • Effects of U.S. occupation: • Yellow Fever • Dependence on U.S. • The rapid and huge influx of U.S. investment into sugar enabled the larger mills to buy surrounding land and create monopolies • Impoverished rural areas and peasants • Slave-like conditions • Mills imported cheap labor from other Caribbean islands (Jamaica & Haiti) • Unemployment in agriculture created massive growth of cities (poor living conditions) • Sugar monopolies controlled the railroads and used them for their own benefit • By 1913, U.S. companies invested $200 million into sugar, which accounted for 1/5 of total U.S. investments in all of L.A.

10. WWI in the Americas Case Study: Cuba • Directions: • You are now going to read about the end of U.S. occupation and Cuba’s involvement in WWI. • Start with “Dependent Development and Popular Struggle” in the Latin American textbook pgs. 393-397 • As you read, complete the top portion of the corresponding worksheet (flip over!) • After you read, you will complete a jigsaw activity on the American homefront during WWI