Changes

In the late 19th century Americans paved more and more attention to human rights abuses abroad. The [[Irish Catholics]] were especially angry at British refusal to allow for the independence of Ireland.  [[American Jews]] were alarmed at the murderous pogroms of Jews in Russia. All Americans were angered by the brutal Spanish suppression of freedom movements in Cuba; this anger directly caused the [[Spanish American War]] in 1898, which resulted in a small American empire. In each case Americans argued that the denial of democracy was the root cause of the human rights abuses.

In the late 19th century Americans paid more and more attention to human rights abuses abroad. The [[Irish Catholics]] were especially angry at British refusal to allow for the independence of Ireland.  [[American Jews]] were alarmed at the murderous pogroms of Jews in Russia. All Americans were angered by the brutal Spanish suppression of freedom movements in Cuba; this anger directly caused the [[Spanish American War]] in 1898, which resulted in a small American empire. In each case Americans argued that the denial of democracy was the root cause of the human rights abuses.

[[File:Belgium-ww1.JPG|thumb|210px|left|American disgust with German violations of human rights in occupied Belgium was a reason for entering World War I]]

[[File:Belgium-ww1.JPG|thumb|210px|left|American disgust with German violations of human rights in occupied Belgium was a reason for entering World War I]]

American were outraged by German brutality in Belgium in 1914, and by the German sinking of an unarmed passenger liner the ''"[[Lusitania]]"'' in 1915. President [[Woodrow Wilson]] forced the Germans to abandon attacks on merchant ships--and when Germany resumed in 1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war.  Americans were aghast at the Turkish slaughter of Armenians --the [[Armenian Genocide]] of 1915; for a while in 1919 there was talk of making Armenia an American protectorate, but nothing came of that.

American were outraged by German brutality in Belgium in 1914, and by the German sinking of an unarmed passenger liner the ''"[[Lusitania]]"'' in 1915. President [[Woodrow Wilson]] forced the Germans to abandon attacks on merchant ships--and when Germany resumed in 1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war.  Americans were aghast at the Turkish slaughter of Armenians --the [[Armenian Genocide]] of 1915; for a while in 1919 there was talk of making Armenia an American protectorate, but nothing came of that.