Foreign Policy Flashcards
What was the idea of Accidental Empire (motive for Imperialism)
How was need for Markets motive for imperialism?
- Empire came about unintentionally due to several unrelated political moves
- usa believed this need could be met with ‘open door’ rather than territorial expansion
- Depression of 1893 stimulated desire to see new markets
- USA faced surplus in farm produce and needed markets to absorb these
What was progressive imperialism?
- what is this shown by?
(motive for imperialism)
- Motivated by a desire to improve the lives of non-americans
- america could civilise the world - as shown by Philippines and hawaii
- shown by removal of yellow fever in Cuba and building of schools and hospitals
How was The end of Westward expansion a motive for Imperialism?
- Westward expansion was a form of imperialism and after the close of the frontier, American attention would inevitably turn abroad
What was preclusive imperialism?
(motive for Imperialism)
- Taking colonies to prevent other countries doing so
How was the Monroe Doctrine a motive for imperialism and when was it passed?
- 1823 - US would not tolerate European expansion in the Americas
When and what was the Roosevelt Corollary ?
- 1904 - US can intervene in Latin America if there is ‘wrong doing’
What were US interests in Samoa?
- Strong German and British interest as a trading post
- Samoan Civil War in 1898
- 1899, Samoan monarchy abolished
- US established a protectorate in the east and the west became a German colony
What were US interests in Hawaii?
- This was to use as a stopping station on the way to China and Japan as well as the economic advantage of Hawaiian sugar
- Since 1875 the USA had imported Hawaiian sugar duty free - increasingly dependent on US economy
- 1890’s, large american presence in Hawaii, Pacific Naval Base and Pearl Harbour
- 1891, Hawaiian queen leads a rebellion. Marines arrived and rebels surrendered in three days.
- July 1898, US annexed Hawaii
What were US interests in The Philippines?
- US purchased from Spain for $20 million as part of Treaty of Paris 1898
3 reasons: - US could ‘civilise’ through democracy and christianity
- Prevent being taken over by Britain, Germany or Japan
- Islands ‘incapable’ of ruling themselves
- Strong resistance by Filipinos resulting in 4 year war of subjugation
What were US interests in Puerto Rico?
- Originally Spanish owned
- US invaded in 1898 during Spanish-American War
- Ruled to belong to US under Organic Act of 1900
What were US interests in Venezuela?
- US intervened during 1895 British-Venezuelan dispute over border in Guiana
- Demanded Britain to send dispute to arbitration - eventually did
What were US interests in the Dominican Republic ?
- 1903, Republic defaulted on the repayment of $40 million of American loans
- 1904, America took control of its customs revenue in order to take back the loan
- president described as ‘big stick policy’
What were US interests in the Panama canal?
- US trying to build canal since 1860s
- 1903, Panamanians stage a revolt for independence from Columbian rule
- Revolt supported by US, sent a battleship and a regiment
Panama achieves independence - Accepts US offer of $10 million for a 16 km wide strip of land to build the Panama Canal through
What were US interests in Nicaragua?
- Important because of proximity to the US, a high level of economic investment in the country as well as the possible Atlantic/Pacific canal site
- 1912, Nicaraguan pro-American president, Adolfo Diaz, threatened by revolution
- US sent in 3,000 troops and made Nicaragua a protectorate
What were US interests in China?
give year!
- No interest in expanding territorially into China
- In 1899, US introduced Open Door Policy
- Later extended to state that the US government would protect the lives and property of US citizens living in China
What were US interests in Japan?
- Tensions between countries - with racist legalisation and actions concerning japan
- US helped negotiate end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 - Japan blamed Roosevelt for the decision to not make russia pay
- 1908, Root-Takahira Agreement signed, agreed to respect each others interests in China and maintain the current situation in the Pacific
- In turn, the US agreed to the Japanese ‘right’ to annex Korea
What were the causes of the Spanish-American War?
- Yellow Press
- De Lome Letter
- Monroe Doctrine
- Economic interest
- President Mckinley
- Cuban Rebellion 1895-98
- The ‘Maine’ incident
- desire for US to join the ranks of the great powers
Yellow Press?
sensationalist and patriotic press campaigns inflamed public opinion
De Lome Letter?
A private letter from the Spanish minister in Washington DC, was published. It claimed McKinley was a ‘weak bidder for the admiration of the crowd’
President McKinley?
Had a strong interest in protecting cuban sugar and was fairly open to war
Cuban Rebellion
1895-1898
Declining economy and increasing resistance in Cuba
Monroe Doctrine? - in relation to spanish american war?
Cuba was in America’s sphere of influence
- intervention inevitable due to geographical closeness
- fear USA would not be able to control an independent Cuba which in turn would threaten american interests on the Island
Economic interest ? –> in relation to spanish-american war?
Fighting to protect US business interest in Cuba
- including cuban sugar
- offer a deliberate distraction from the Depression in the 1890s
(bring in market stuff - new markets in response to 1893 depression)
The ‘Maine’ incident
US battleship Maine exploded killing 266 crew. Blame was placed on the Spanish and Roosevelt ordered a blockade of Cuba
