The
doctrine proclaims the United States opinion that Europe should not continue
colonizing Americas or interfere in affairs of sovereign sovereign nations located in America.
The authors of
the doctrine, aspesually John Quilcy Adams, wanted the doctrine to be a
proclomation of the United States dissapprooval of colonialism. Since the UK
was an imperial power and had colonies all around the world this wasn’t very
appreciated on their behalf.
Also the Americans had around 1850 acquired areas like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines that earlier had been Spanish colonies, in exchange for US $2 000 000 000. This of course wasn’t very popular amongst the big European powers since USA has a history and consideration of itself as a land of liberty also stated in the constitution.
The
Allied powers were seen as the decent and democratic nations defending Europe
from the unprovoked aggression of militaristic Germans. President Wilson felt,
like the majority of the people the war was a European affair and that the USA
should stay out of it.
Early on
in the war Britain had used its naval strength to blockade the German coast and
to stop the ships which they believed were taking goods to the Central Powers.
Some shipping lanes were also mined and many vessels fell victim for these,
included American ships, but for Britain this was an effective weapon. The
Germans responded with submarine warfare.
During
the forthcoming months numerous of American passengers were killed by German
attacks.
Another
World War and this time the Allied forces in Europe were in big trouble in the
beginning of the war. But still it took 2 years for the Americans to react and
join forces, during that time many Britain suffered heavy loses.
The Monroe-doctrine
In 1815 Spain distracted by the Napoleon Wars,
and braking up of the Spanish Empire. Meanwhile, Spanish colonies using that
distraction started struggling for independence. But in early 20-s Spain
started restoring it’s power and the colonies started to worry about Spain
taking control over them again. The United Stated disliked it as well, they
resented European involvement in their backyard, it was also disapproved of
Britain, because they got rich benefits from the Latin Americas trade. The UK
even proposed for them and the US to join to warn off Spain and France from
intervention. Monroe, who was the president of the United States at that time
considered the offer, but then chose John Quincy Adams’ counsel that
America craft an independent statement.
The Monroe-doctrine was expressed in 1823,
during the presidents Monroe government of the USA. He was the one that
suggested the concept to the Congress, who met it first negatively, but later
with enthusiasm. The doctrine proclaims the United States opinion that Europe
should not continue colonizing Americas or interfere in affairs of sovereign sovereign nations located in the Americas
(such as the United States, Mexico). Any effort of the europeans to extend
their political powers on the Americas would be considered by the United States
as a hostile action towards themselves. In returd the Us would not interfear in
European wars and the wars between the europeans and it’s colonies.
The authors of the doctrine, aspesually John Quilcy Adams, wanted the
doctrine to be a proclomation of the United States dissapprooval of
colonialism, but it has been interpreted in so many ways, that for instance
president Theodore Rooswelt used it as a licence for the United States to start
colonies of their own.
At first the Monroe-doctrine didn’t really have a name, it was first
referred to as doctrine in 1867, after it was used when Napoleon the III
invaded Mexico. That was proclamed a violation of the Monroe-doctrine.
- The Spanish – American
War
One of the main reasons that U.S. joined the Spanish – American War was an explosion in Havana Harbour in February 1898, killing 260 American sailors, which was blamed on the Spanish.
Meanwhile, Cuba was claiming independence from the Spanish rule with the support of the Americans. U.S. had a policy to support the weaker against the stronger and therefore supported the South American colonies in their struggle for independence. Since U.S. had been interested in buying Cuba 30 years earlier, Spain claimed that this was just another attempt to seize Cuba and at the end of the war, they were proven right. The Americans had acquired areas like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines that earlier had been Spanish colonies, in exchange for US$2 000 000 000.
- The Anti-imperialist
League
This was when the American anti-imperialist league was formed to oppose U.S. annexation of the different areas. Since U.S. has a history as a land of liberty, some influential people worked to stop changes in foreign policy, basing it on American values of individuality. Other imperialists were mostly concerned that the annexation would lead to a higher immigration of non-whites.
- The Philippine –
American War
The U.S. occupation of the Philippines finally resulted in the Philippine – American War that lasted from 1899 to 1913, but it wasn’t until after the Japanese invasion and occupation during World War II, that they finally gained independence in 1946.
Summary - The
tension between USA and UK
Event: British blockade against Germany
Short term consequences: Germans suffered hardship, Americans were killed by mines
Long term consequences: America joined the war against Germany, American families lost their relatives, the American economy very strong, The American government learned to handle a war situation without actually “being in war”.
Introduction:
In August 1914 war broke out in Europe between Britain, France and Russia on one side, and Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other. In America the sympathy for the suffering people was as spread over Europe as the roots of the population. But ties of language, culture and history meant that the majority of the Americans supported Britain. The Allied powers were seen as the decent and democratic nations defending Europe from the unprovoked aggression of militaristic Germans. President Wilson felt, like the majority of the people the war was a European affair and that the USA should stay out of it.
Event:
Early on in the war Britain had used its naval strength to blockade the Garman coast and to stop the ships which they believed were taking goods to the Central Powers. Some shipping lanes were also mined and many vessels fell victim for these, included American ships, but for Britain this was an effective weapon. The Germans responded with submarine warfare to try and sink British ships and starve Britain into surrender. And when they announced that they were going to sink ships without warning, The American government protested as this went against the rules of warfare. During the forthcoming months numerous of American passengers were killed by German attacks. The president made it clear to Germany that if more Americans were killed there would be serious consequences. President Wilson proposed a peace conference to the British foreign secretary, indicating that if the Allies accepted the conference and Germany did not, America might join the war against Germany, but he knew the public still did not want war.
Short term consequences
The Germans were suffering hardship and hunger caused by the British blockade. They knew they were risking bringing the United States into the conflict when they announced the resumption of unrestricted U-boat warfare, but they had to take that risk.
The further loss of American lives at sea finally turned the public opinion. In 1917 President Wilson promised to make the world safe for democracy and declared war against Germany.
Then What?
America’s primary contribution to the war was expected to be economic, but by 1917, when America joined the war, the allied forces were exhausted, so American soldiers were flown in a large number into Europe and fought under British flag. Germany was defeated and the war ended in November.
When the Germans asked for peace it was to the Americans they went, not to Britain or France. Believing the Americans would be more lenient because they had not been fighting for so long and not on their own territory, as the French had.
Arguments between “The big Four” ; representatives from France, Italy, Britain and America occurred when the Allies would not let President Wilson and America dictate terms to them as they fought the war for four years. President Wilson believed if the causes of the war were identified and removed it would guarantee peace in the future. The treaty is generally considered to have been a failure, given that war broke out again between its signatories just 20 years later.
Long term consequences
The fact that USA learned how to handle a war situation politically and how to provide the forces with supplies without actually being in war, was a huge advantage for the American government 20 years later when the USA attended World War II.
The majority of the population did most of the time not want to be in the war and when all men aged 18-45 had to participate, the public opinion wanted the war even less. Which later lead to the isolation.