Foreign Policy 1890-1920 Flashcards
What was the overall shift during this period?
There was a shift in foreign policy from isolationism towards imperialism
What were the 3 factors that led to greater imperialism?
Economy
Ideology
Individuals
How did economy impact the rise of imperialism?
After the rapid growth from the boom and the ‘golden age’ of agriculture people wanted to achieve more of that through empire.
How did ideology impact the rise of imperialism? (and what were the 2 groups?)
After the end of the frontier, manifest destiny continued. ‘Progressive imperialists’ wanted the create an empire to ‘liberate’ or ‘civilise’ other countries while ‘preclusive imperialists’ wanted to acquire colonies to make sure other countries didn’t get there first.
How did individuals impact the rise of imperialism? (3 examples)
Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote a book which advocated for naval strength in expansion and protection.
He collaborated with Teddy Roosevelt who was expansionist and fought in the Spanish-American War.
The vote on the annex of the Philippines came down one person V.P Hobart - ‘accidental empire’
Which group was formed as a reaction against imperialism and who was in it?
The Anti-Imperialism League 1898 - including politicians like Cleveland, Jennings-Bryan and businessmen like Carnegie.
Give the main conflict under McKinley and the date it occurred
The Spanish-American War 1898
What were the 3 causes of the Spanish-American War 1898?
The Cuban Revolt 1895 - nationalists led by Jose Marti were brutally defeated - many americans wanted to intervene as Cuba was economically important.
Yellow Peril - Americans were concerned about Asian modernisation and mass immigration and saw it as a threat so they were desperate for more bases.
USS Maine - In February 1898 the USS Maine was blown up in a harbour in Cuba - portrayed as spanish provocation despite it probably being an internal issue.
What were the 4 main consequences of the Spanish-American War?
More colonies - Puerto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii and the Philippines were annexed
Expanded navy - After Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet was great content for pro-imperialist press
Conflict within America - The Anti-Imperialist League attacked government for betraying the founding fathers
Passing of the Platt Amendment - 1901 it was passed authorising American intervention in Latin America as part of the Cuban American Treaty
What and when was the Roosevelt Corollary?
In 1904 there was an amendment to the Monroe Doctrine that gave America the right to intervene in Latin America and exercise ‘international police power’ if there is ‘chronic wrongdoing’
What policy in foreign affairs did Roosevelt adopt? and why did he?
Open Door Policy. During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China foreigners and Christians were being driven out which led European powers to forcibly intervene. This made the US worried about trade with China being prevented by Europe so created an open door policy on trade.
What war did Roosevelt intervene in and how did this mark a departure in foreign policy?
Russo-Japanese War - The US were slightly intimidated by Japan’s growing power as they modernised and beat Russia in the war. So Roosevelt decided to mediate and negotiate the peace treaty in 1905 showing how the US were getting involved in European business.
What was considered Roosevelt’s crowning success in foreign policy and what were the obstacles for it?
The Panama Canal - he wanted to link up the Pacific and Atlantic ocean through central america for faster trade. However as the Colombian government was uncooperative, Roosevelt needed a country that was so supported Panamanian independence in Colombia eventually creating a new state. To celebrate the canal the US Navy did the Voyage of the Great White Fleet 1907-1909 and the world tour of 16 warships.
How did Taft do his foreign policy differently and what was it called? + 2 examples
Taft used Dollar Diplomacy to expand financially rather than militarily. This was shown in 1909 when he chose to pay the debts of Honduras meaning they owed him giving him influence. He then repeated this in Haiti and nicaragua. Also in China J.P Morgan financed railroads as dollar diplomacy.
What 3 pieces of evidence are there that Wilson was less imperialist than the Republican presidents?
Isolationist William Jennings-Bryan was appointed in cabinet.
He compensated Colombia $20 million for the interference of the Panama Canal and insisted that the US pay the shipping tolls.
He abandoned dollar diplomacy
