foreign affairs: imperialism to post-world war i, 1898-1930
WILLIAM MCKINLEY AND AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM
By the turn of the twentieth century, many Americans believed that new frontiers—including global markets and overseas colonies—were critical to national greatness. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Paris Peace Treaty granted the United States control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine Islands, making the United States one of the world's colonial powers.
President William McKinley did not want the Philippines to go back to Spain or to a third power. Americans were divided over whether or not to annex the Philippines. One explanation of McKinley's support for annexation comes from a report of a delegation of Methodist church leaders, where McKinley states: "there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died."
Having joined the church as a youth during a revival meeting, McKinley was lifelong devout Methodist. During his term as Governor of Ohio (1892-1996), McKinley attended the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus.
President William McKinley did not want the Philippines to go back to Spain or to a third power. Americans were divided over whether or not to annex the Philippines. One explanation of McKinley's support for annexation comes from a report of a delegation of Methodist church leaders, where McKinley states: "there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died."
Having joined the church as a youth during a revival meeting, McKinley was lifelong devout Methodist. During his term as Governor of Ohio (1892-1996), McKinley attended the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus.
COLUMBUS BARRACKS IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND WORLD WAR I
In 1875, the War Department transferred the seventy acre Columbus Arsenal (established during the Civil War) to the General Recruiting Service and the site became the Columbus Barracks, a training base for recruits.
In 1898, the Spanish-American War led to construction of new buildings to accommodate more recruits in residence. The Store House/Arsenal (Main Building), was remodeled to house 500 new recruits. A new barracks, officers' houses, reception center, mess building, drill hall, new guardhouse and bandstand were added. By 1900, two infantry companies, six recruiting companies and a band were stationed at the site, then known as the Columbus Recruiting Depot.
During World War I, the number recruits swelled after the Selective Military Conscription Act was signed into law in by President Woodrow Wilson, 18 May 1917. Barns and stables were converted to garages and repair shops as the Army increased the number of Regular Army recruits who passed through the post during the war.
In 1922, the name of the post was changed to Fort Hayes in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes, an Ohio Governor and later President of the United States.
In 1898, the Spanish-American War led to construction of new buildings to accommodate more recruits in residence. The Store House/Arsenal (Main Building), was remodeled to house 500 new recruits. A new barracks, officers' houses, reception center, mess building, drill hall, new guardhouse and bandstand were added. By 1900, two infantry companies, six recruiting companies and a band were stationed at the site, then known as the Columbus Recruiting Depot.
During World War I, the number recruits swelled after the Selective Military Conscription Act was signed into law in by President Woodrow Wilson, 18 May 1917. Barns and stables were converted to garages and repair shops as the Army increased the number of Regular Army recruits who passed through the post during the war.
In 1922, the name of the post was changed to Fort Hayes in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes, an Ohio Governor and later President of the United States.
FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE
Veterans of the Spanish-American War met in Columbus in 1899 to establish the American Veterans of Foreign Service. It was the first national organization in the country to represent veterans of all foreign wars.
Many war veterans returned home with sickness and injuries, and there was no medical care or veterans' pension for them. The organization lobbied federal and state governments to provide benefits to veterans. It also helped veterans complete the paperwork necessary for them to receive benefits.
At a meeting in Pittsburgh in 1914, the American Veterans of Foreign Service and The National Society of the Army of the Philippines, created by veterans of the Philippine-American War, merged to form the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The VFW became a government-chartered non-profit organization in 1936. The organization receives no funding from United States tax receipts; it is supported by charitable donations.
Many war veterans returned home with sickness and injuries, and there was no medical care or veterans' pension for them. The organization lobbied federal and state governments to provide benefits to veterans. It also helped veterans complete the paperwork necessary for them to receive benefits.
At a meeting in Pittsburgh in 1914, the American Veterans of Foreign Service and The National Society of the Army of the Philippines, created by veterans of the Philippine-American War, merged to form the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The VFW became a government-chartered non-profit organization in 1936. The organization receives no funding from United States tax receipts; it is supported by charitable donations.
U.S. INTERVENTION IN MEXICO AND CAMP WILLIS, 1916
Mexico was torn by revolution and civil war in the decade of the 1910s. The United States shared a 2,000 mile border with Mexico, and American businesses had invested in Mexican railroads, oil fields and plantations.
President Woodrow Wilson ordered two U.S. military interventions during the Mexican Revolution. At Veracruz in 1914, the president sought to influence the conflict by controlling the flow of foreign supplies to Mexico's chief port. In 1916, Wilson ordered the Punitive Expedition in response to Francisco "Pancho" Villa's raid in New Mexico. The invasion, led by General John Pershing, failed to locate Villa and increased anti-U.S. sentiment in Mexico.
When the Ohio National Guard was mobilized for service along the Mexican border, more than 7,000 soldiers mustered at Camp Willis in Columbus (Upper Arlington). The first troops arrived in July 1916 and left for Camp Pershing in El Paso, Texas, arriving in Texas by late August. A majority of Ohio’s units had returned home when the entire National Guard was drafted into service in August 1917, as the U.S. entered World War I.
President Woodrow Wilson ordered two U.S. military interventions during the Mexican Revolution. At Veracruz in 1914, the president sought to influence the conflict by controlling the flow of foreign supplies to Mexico's chief port. In 1916, Wilson ordered the Punitive Expedition in response to Francisco "Pancho" Villa's raid in New Mexico. The invasion, led by General John Pershing, failed to locate Villa and increased anti-U.S. sentiment in Mexico.
When the Ohio National Guard was mobilized for service along the Mexican border, more than 7,000 soldiers mustered at Camp Willis in Columbus (Upper Arlington). The first troops arrived in July 1916 and left for Camp Pershing in El Paso, Texas, arriving in Texas by late August. A majority of Ohio’s units had returned home when the entire National Guard was drafted into service in August 1917, as the U.S. entered World War I.
ANTI-GERMAN SENTIMENT DURING WORLD WAR I
By the time of U.S. entry into World War I in 1917, there were over ten million immigrants in the United States from the countries of the Central Powers. Most German-American communities supported neutrality. To gain support for the war, President Woodrow Wilson selected George Creel to lead a propaganda campaign for war bonds, and filmmakers were encouraged to produce movies that featured alleged German atrocities. Wartime propaganda typically dehumanizes the enemy; Germans were referred to as "Huns."
The German U-boat sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the decoding of the Zimmermann Note in January 1917 inflamed anti-German feelings in the United States. Once the U.S. entered the war, anti-German sentiment led to efforts to suppress German culture in America.
There was some anti-German sentiment in Columbus during World War I. German schools and the last German newspaper were closed and never reopened. Schiller Park was renamed Washington Park, Schiller Street was renamed Whittier, and Germania Street became Stewart. At Broad and High Streets, a pile of German school books was burned. However, there was no directed violence at German-American individuals in Columbus.
The German U-boat sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the decoding of the Zimmermann Note in January 1917 inflamed anti-German feelings in the United States. Once the U.S. entered the war, anti-German sentiment led to efforts to suppress German culture in America.
There was some anti-German sentiment in Columbus during World War I. German schools and the last German newspaper were closed and never reopened. Schiller Park was renamed Washington Park, Schiller Street was renamed Whittier, and Germania Street became Stewart. At Broad and High Streets, a pile of German school books was burned. However, there was no directed violence at German-American individuals in Columbus.
Eddie Rickenbacker: World War I Ace of Aces
Born in 1890, Eddie Rickenbacker grew up in a one-story home at 1334 East Livingston Avenue. Because Columbus was in the midst of a manufacturing boom, Rickenbacker’s job with the Columbus Buggy Works fed his fascination with mechanical and automotive workings. By the turn of the 20th century, the company was creating automobiles and Rickenbacker worked as a mechanic and test driver. He raced in the first two Indianapolis 500 races (1911, 1912).
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Rickenbacker immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army. Rickenbacker's reputation landed him a job as a driver in France for General John J. Pershing, commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe. While in France, he met U.S. air pioneer Billy Mitchell, who arranged for Rickenbacker to transfer to the U.S. air service in August 1917. Appointed chief engineering officer of the fledgling Army Air Corps, Rickenbacker later transferred to combat flying with the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, known as the "Hat in the Ring" squadron. He was responsible for downing a total of 26 enemy planes during the war, earning him the reputation as America's Ace of Aces. His notable attack on seven German aircraft on 25 September 1918, during which he shot down two, earned him the U.S. Medal of Honor.
After the war, Rickenbacker established his own automotive company before eventually becoming General Manager of Eastern Airlines.
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Rickenbacker immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army. Rickenbacker's reputation landed him a job as a driver in France for General John J. Pershing, commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe. While in France, he met U.S. air pioneer Billy Mitchell, who arranged for Rickenbacker to transfer to the U.S. air service in August 1917. Appointed chief engineering officer of the fledgling Army Air Corps, Rickenbacker later transferred to combat flying with the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, known as the "Hat in the Ring" squadron. He was responsible for downing a total of 26 enemy planes during the war, earning him the reputation as America's Ace of Aces. His notable attack on seven German aircraft on 25 September 1918, during which he shot down two, earned him the U.S. Medal of Honor.
After the war, Rickenbacker established his own automotive company before eventually becoming General Manager of Eastern Airlines.
