Historiography about how the U.S. and Germany went from allies to enemies from 1871-1918
Introduction
Today, the German and the US diplomatic relations are becoming more solid that it was initially in the entire of Europe. The USis beginning to have confidence that they can establish a lasting diplomatic relationship with Germany after their long separation since the World War II. It has not been an easy journey for both countries as historical scholars have studied. The two countries share the same level of enthusiasm and western civilization despite the difference in geographic location. It is also interesting to note over fifty million Americans have German ancestry. During pre-1871, the relations between German states and the United States were not formal, but in 1875, they signed various trade agreements with the Prussian kingdom. They sent their representatives to each of the countries to oversee these trade relations. The long history of the German empire that saw some of the great reformists such as Otto von Bismarck emerged to lead one of the strongest and most powerful empires in Europe, but requires extra resources to run the empire from American the late 19th century. The plans to find resources such as coal to run their warships. Though Bismarck disapproved their advances to look for coal in America, Germans continued their quest. In this paper, we shall analyze in details the histography of how the Americans and Germans went from being allies to enemies from 1871 to 1918.
Historiographical Analysis
Scholars agree that before the beginning of 20th century, the German-US relations highly focused on immigration and commerce but apparently in 1871, Germany became the dominating political power in Europe after it unified its kingdoms. According to Ekovich, its relationship with the US during that period encountered major friction due to naval and economic rivalries though the economic ties were largely driven by the thriving economy that was experienced during the second industrial revolution. However, Ekovichnote that the period of 19873-1985 marked the era of economic depression though scholars still question its appropriateness to the context. During these years, the European countries were undergoing economic struggles especially France and Britain. After the depression in the 1880s, Germany and the US recovered from the depression in the 1870s.
Haftendorn asserts that the ill feeling between and the U S andGermany began in 1870, and several factors accelerated the rivalry. Some of the driving forces towards it include the economic prosperity and the power Germany had over its neighbors. Historical documents reveal that Germany went through the great industrial revolution rapidly, it created rooms for markets, and it helped in the stimulating movement towards colonization. These activities raised suspicions and concerns over Bismarck’s rule in Prussian zing the empire and converting it to a militaristic entity hence taking foreign policies into his hands. According to American German relations, the emperor who rules Germany after Bismarck took matters into his hands and he became an agent of the new Germanic tendencies that were unhealthy especially his hasty utterances that were inappropriate. Ekovichalso notes that the aggressiveness Germany had grown worse, and it aroused more suspicions that would have remained rather dormant. The Kaiser, international revolution and the resulting nationalism and imperialism created a pattern in the German and international reputation that resulted in loss of its reputation from countries, for example, the United States. EkovichAlso adds that in 1890, the United States entered enthusiastically into the fashionable expansionist policy and it came into the conflict with German’s counter ambitions naturally.
Historical documents reveal that the Samoan controversy was a very petty issue though it resulted in a very serious conflict between Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. According to history scholars, the Samoan highlands are very insignificant, and it was devastated by a storm that destroyed the war ships. In 1872, the Samoan island residents petitioned the United States for annexation but was rejected. A treaty was signed in 1878 in exchange with a Samoan port, a naval base and a coaling station in agreement with Samoans and other countries. Germany and Britain got a similar agreement, and it leads to conflicting claims and pretensions that swathe three countries exchange acts and statements that were indiscreet and unwise.
According to American-German Relations,the conference that was held in July 1987 failed due to Germany’s persistence on ascendency to the Samoan Islands. They even violated the existing agreements and advanced her interests by force, and the war seemed imminent. A speech was given by the US secretary of state that time termed German actions as inappropriate and that the ancient friendship they had with Germany had been compromised due to the brutality the Germans showed to the Samoan natives. When the typhoon that swept the Highland and destroyed ships were going on Bismarck took advantage and called for a conference in April 1889 in Berlin and a treaty that satisfied the United States was signed. However, the next decade saw the growing friction between the two countries because Germany was accused of failing to abide by the agreements it made though the treaty was later readjusted end of 1889.
American-German Relationsalso reveal that the German participation in the partition of China also saw the rise of rivalry between Germany and the United States. 1n 1897, two German missionaries were killed in China by exasperated Chinese nationals. Though Kaiser had a reputation for showing significant love for the German Catholics in China, he beaded them and utilized the incident to obtain a title as one of the most enviable concessions in China. Germans, on the other hand, were impatient over the incident, and they could not let China be persuaded over the matter. Instead, they asked China to strike a 99-year-old deal of leasing them the port of Kiao-Chau and be granted permission to exploit the rich and populous Shantung peninsula. American-German Relations show thatalthoughthe Chinese were very bitter about this there was nothing they could do, and instead, they murdered a German minister, and the Germans retaliated severely. They even sent troops to the Orient, and Kaiser made a speech directing them to emulate Huns. This aggressiveness in leading the allied forces of reprisal and their large indemnity made them be disrepute with Americans who valued modesty.
The Admiral Dewey and the Germans in the Philippines- though the cause of the German activity in the Philippines is unknown: during spring, the German officials had the confidence that they would build a great Pacific empire. They seemed to have excellent prospects until the United States and Japan appeared in on the sight as also possible contenders. It was not possible for Germans to control the territory from the United States without was and they decided to plot against the US by saying that the Americans did not desire the Philippines.
Hough reveals the Germans even helped the Spaniards using cruiser Irene but were surprised in the process. The Germans disapproved the issue, but they seemed guilty of the act. The attitude the German press had towards the US was critical but not as much as that presented in French and Italian papers.Transformation of American Sentiment Towards Germany also reveals that that France, Austria and Germany were plotting against the US interventions in Cuba. The opinions of the American leaders create distrust of the German diplomacy and the world politics endangered in Samoa, and it further stimulated the German’s previous actions.
Germany in Latin America and the Caribbean-Hough notes that the Germans were not content with venturing the eastern lands. In 1901, they ventured the western lands including Latin America and the Caribbean. That was not pleasant it irritated the United States because they had predominant economic interests in the region and in fact it was a foreign intrusion to the US foreign policy. In essence,Haftendorn notes that the German protective tariffs that were introduced between 1979 to 1905 aroused the jealousy of American interests in the economy especially the embargo on American meat. Other irritations were due to diplomatic disputes that limited American business activities in Germany.
Haftendornreveals that in 1914, a study was carried out in the US to find out the attitudes the Americans had towards the Germans. The study showed that majority of the Americans feared and were even suspicious of Germany long before the opening of the war. The suspicions were mainly due to the growing military advances that Germany had towards the United States. Later from 1914 to 1916, several propagandas went on about German, but the Germans migrants ensured that they hold their sentiments, and somehow the Americans had started having pity on the Germans.
Primary source analysis
Schieberargues that Germany was a very ambitious state, and this could be contributed to the powerful leaders it had. It is also contributed by the alliances and the joined powers it had. Its extensive empire played a very significant role especially in controlling trade, and markets. Their military ambitions also made them advance their ambitions to other countries, for instance, the Caribbean and the Latin America. However, according to Ekovich, although the diplomatic relations that the US has with Germany touched in the areas of trade and immigration, it was very critical in ensuring the economic stability of Germany in general. Their quest for power outside Germany created friction between them and the Americans simply because they could not get enough. They explored the eastern and western parts of the world searching for new markets, natural resources such as coal, a naval base and also in search of colonies.
Historical documents reveal that the interrelations between Germany and the United States did not just begin in the 1870s. It is evident that there were earlier trade relations between the two countries and also the immigration of German people to the United States during the black death. Throughout readings, it is evident that Germany were the ones who provoked most of the frictions because they did not take foreign policies seriously and that, they did not even adhere to the agreements they signed with the foreign nations. Of particular concern is mainly the failure for them to respect the agreement they had over the Samoan island which they went ahead and invaded even after signing an agreement with the United States.
History Scholars also agree that even though both countries had become competitors and partners in trade, the political parties and interests saw their trade relations develop protective measures. For some time, Spielvogel argues that the United States became patient with the system, and when it could not take it anymore, it decided to seek markets in the Far East. Europe and particular Germany also limited export of industrial products to the United States hence forcing them to seek alternatives. The protective tariffs were used initially in Germany to protect the agrarian interests and the misunderstanding and lack of agreement in among trading partners on issues of tariffs made resulted in protected conflicts. The United States complained that the Germans protected their agrarian markets while the German Empire was unhappy that the Americans shielded the industrial markets thus the two states became imperialists and by 1914.
Beisner note that t both country’s’ navy existed as a pressure group that was supported by vociferous lobbies of the Navy. During specific conflicts such as the those experienced in the Philippines, Venezuela and Samoa had the American media press is known as the “yellow press” was ready up to speed with information about either Germany or England. The news published opinions intensified images of the enemy. Stereotyping of either American or German peril was dominant in these countries. England was also a common problem between the two countries and it evidently became the contributing factor of the America’s changing image of Germany. England won for America due to the rich relations they had regarding economic and political developmental ideas compared to Germany.
Historical documents also reveal that after England’s withdrawal from the Caribbean, it accepted Monroe Doctrine, but the German empire refused and instead decided to leave the approach that entails reconciliation adopted by Bismarck. Thus,in 1914 during this great transformation period, the “little America” of Europe Germany was known to be was lost and the Germans admiration for German culture was lost. These primary readings help us to understand better the origins of rivalry and the motive each nation had over its political and economic growth. It is evident that both countries had same interests, a common enemy and very vocal press that accelerated their political and economic friction until the end of World War I and beginning of World War II.
Conclusion and Areas for Further Research
It is evident that Germany and the United States held common philosophies and believed concerning the type of economies that they had planned for its future and also their political ambitions and positions. It is hard to rule out that these could have been the driving forces of rivalries that began in the 1870s. They both had powerful leaders and also shared a common enemy that had already recognized their weaknesses. After the WW 1, their rivalries subsided but re-emerged after that. The presence of the German migrants in the US helped the Germans tremendously in recovering their lost reputation and image in America however; the efforts were not long lasting. Various areas, however, need further research touching on the political and economic ambitions had with the US because they contributed significantly to the conflicts that era experienced between Germany and the US.
Bibliography
Primary Sources
"Germany". 2016. U.S. Department Of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3997.htm.
"World War I -- American-German Relations". 2016. Histclo.Com.
Ekovich, Steven R. 2016. "Relations Between The United States And Germany." Strategicsinternational.Com. http://www.strategicsinternational.com/2enusgermany.htm.
Books
Beisner, Robert L. 2003. American Foreign Relations Since 1600. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO.
Haftendorn, Helga. 2006. The Strategic Triangle. Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.
Hough, Jerry F. 2006. Changing Party Coalitions. New York: Agathon.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. 2012. Western Civilization. Boston: Wadsworth Pub Co.
Epkenhans, Michael. 2003. "Military–Industrial Relations In Imperial Germany, 1870–1914". War InHist 10 (1): 1-26. doi:10.1191/0968344503wh270oa.
Articles
Occasional Paper No. 12,. 1995. THE MANICHAEAN TRAP: American Perceptions Of The German Empire, 1871–1945. Washington, D.C.: GERMAN HISTORICAL INSTITUTE.
"Relations Between The United States And Germany". 2016. Strategicsinternational.Com. http://www.strategicsinternational.com/2enusgermany.htm.
Schieber, Clara Eve. 1921. “The Transformation of American Sentiment Towards Germany, 1870-1914”. The Journal of International Relations 12 (1): 50–74. doi:10.2307/29738451.
