Foreign Policy (whole course) Flashcards
When was the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ released?
1823.
Who was the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ released by?
It was released by the President at the time James Monroe and his Secretary of State James Quincy Adams.
What was the ‘Monroe Doctrine’?
It was a policy of isolationism, which said:
- America should avoid becoming involved in European wars unless US interests were involved.
- American continents were not to be colonised by European powers.
- Any attempts at colonisation would be regarded as unfriendly acts.
When were the Fenians established?
1858.
Who were the Fenians?
They were an Irish Republic organisation which were set up in the USA to fight for independence from Britain.
When were the Fenian Raids?
1866-1871.
What were the Fenian Raids?
Raids by Irish groups in American who wanted independence from Britain and tried to get a reaction from the British government by attacking the border of Canada, as Canada was allied with Britain.
How many Fenian Raids were there in total?
Five.
Why did the American government refuse to intervene in the Fenian Raids?
Britain and Canada were allies and America wanted payment from Britain for the damage to the Alabama Ship.
What happened with the Alabama Ship?
The Alabama was a Confederate ship which broke a blockade of Northern ships which were trying to stop the cotton trade during the war. Britain and Canada during the war had supported the South and had helped the Alabama ship to break the Northern ships, which caused tension between the US and Britain and Canada.
How much did the US demand from Britain for damages caused by the Alabama?
$2 billion.
How much did Britain pay the US for the damages caused by the Alabama?
$15 million.
When was the Alaska purchase?
1867.
How much was Alaska purchased for?
$7.2 million.
Who was responsible for the purchase of Alaska?
William Seward, Secretary of State.
From which country was Alaska purchased by?
Russia.
What were some of the nicknames for Alaska after the Alaska purchase?
- Seward’s Icebox.
- Seward’s Folly.
What did the Chicago Evening Journal say about the Alaska purchase (negative comment)?
They said Alaska “adds little productivity to the nation”.
What did the Chicago Evening Journal say about the Alaska purchase (positive comment)?
They remarked that the extension of Alaska to the US “more than doubles our Pacific coast”
What did the New York World say about the Alaska purchase?
They said the US had been sold “a sucked orange” by Russia (this was in reference to the fur trade, as most fur had been poached by the Russians).
Give some of the positives of the Alaska purchase.
- 1869, major gold deposit found in Yukon.
- Gateway to Klondike gold fields.
- Military base during World War II.
What year was the annexation of Midway Island?
1867.
Why did the US annex Midway Island?
For guano (fertiliser) and trade routes to the East.
What was US’ involvement in Mexico in Johnson’s presidency?
50,000 US troops sent to Mexico by Seward (Secretary of State) to get Napoleon to withdraw his forces from Mexico in their war with France.
What year was the Burlingame Treaty signed?
1868.
Why did the US sign the Burlingame Treaty with China?
- To encourage immigration to the US from China.
- To improve/create trade links with China.
When did the Dominican Republic offer themselves to be colonised by the US (+bonus: what was Congress’ reaction and why)?
1869 - Congress refused the offer to stick to the ideas of the Monroe Doctrine and isolationism.
When was the Dominican Republic annexed by the US?
1870.
When did Britain pay the US for damages caused by the Alabama?
1872.
When did the King of Samoa offer the annexation of his country (+bonus: what was Congress’ reaction)?
1872 - Congress refused to annex Samoa.
When was the US-Hawaii Friendship Treaty signed?
1875.`
What did the US-Hawaii Friendship Treaty agree?
The US could import sugar from Hawaii tax free and Hawaii had to pay tariffs on US goods.
When was the US-Samoa Treaty signed?
1878.
What did the US-Samoa Treaty agree?
The US would have a Naval station in Samoa, as well as US assistance being offered to Samoa if they needed it.
Who advocated Pan-Americanism?
James Blaine, Secretary of State.
When was Pan-Americanism advocated?
1881.
What was Pan-Americanism?
The idea that all countries in North and South America should be united with the US acting as a leader for the countries.
When was the Chinese Exclusion Act passed?
1882.
What did the Chinese Exclusion Act say?
10 year ban on Chinese immigration was passed and citizenship of Chinese people already in the US was denied.
Who was William Hunt?
Secretary of the Navy.
What did William Hunt advocate in 1882?
Expansion of the Navy.
Who else (apart from William Hunt) advocated Naval expansion?
Captain Mahon.
How many US Navy Ships were found to be operational in 1882?
42 out of 140.
When was the US-Hawaii Treaty of Friendship renewed?
1887.
What was agreed when the US-Hawaii Treaty of Friendship was renewed?
Trade agreements continued and a Naval base was established at Pearl Harbour.
When did the US meet with Latin American countries for the Pan-American Conference?
October 1889.
How many Latin American countries came to the Pan-American Conference?
18.
What was agreed at the Pan-American Conference?
There would be free trade within all countries and created a system to avoid future wars and conflicts.
When did the US get involved in Venezuela’s problems?
1895.
How did US get involved with Venezuela’s problems?
Venezuela and British colony of Guiana were disputing over borders. President Cleveland demanded that the issue go into arbitration or he would send in 54 vessels. Britain accepted and the arbitration ended in favour of Venezuela.
How did the US intervene in Samoa (Cleveland’s Presidency)?
Germany had installed a monarch in Samoa so President Cleveland sent 3 ships into Samoan waters.
How did the situation in Samoa resolve (Cleveland’s Presidency)?
An agreement between US, Britain and Germany was signed over the island.
When did tensions with Chile erupt?
May 1891.
What caused tensions between Chile and the US?
- US seized Chile rebel ship.
- Fight between US and Chile soldiers caused deaths of 2 Americans.
What was the end of the situation of tensions with Chile?
War was considered but Chile backed down and payed $75,000.
When was the Queen of Hawaii deposed?
January 1893.
What was US’ reaction to the deposition of the Queen of Hawaii?
- Sent in 150 marines to protect the new Hawaiian Government.
- President Harrison even ordered the annexation of Hawaii, but the Senate refused to act.
When did the USS Maine explode?
15th February 1898 after visiting Havana Harbour in Cuba for a friendly visit.
How many Americans were killed by the explosion of the USS Maine?
266.
What was the reaction of the press to the explosion of the USS Maine?
The press blamed the Spanish (who occupied Cuba) and said they had deliberately caused the ship to explode.
What was public opinion towards Cuba after the explosion of the USS Maine?
US public wanted to support the Cuban independence bid as they believed Spain had caused the explosion.
Who wrote the letter condemning President McKinley?
The Spanish Minister to the US.
What did the letter condemning President McKinley say?
It called McKinley a “weak bidder for the admiration of the crowd” and was very insulting.
How did the letter condemning McKinley change public opinion towards Cuba?
Public opinion was very definitely towards supporting Cuban independence as they became more annoyed with Spain.
When did the Spanish-American War begin?
25th April 1898.
When did the Spanish-American War end?
August 1898.
How was the Spanish-American War ended (+bonus: what was agreed)?
Signing of the Treaty of Paris between US and Spain. The treaty agreed:
- US would recognise Cuban independence.
- US would take control of Guantanamo Bay.
- Spain gave Puerto Rico and Guam to US.
- US were allowed to buy the Philippines $20 million.
When was Hawaii annexed by the US?
7th July 1898.
What was ‘Open Door Policy’?
US, Britain, France, Russia and Japan agreed to respect each others’ trading rights in China.
Who advocated the ‘Open Door Policy’?
John Hay, Secretary of State.
When was ‘Open Door Policy’ advocated?
1899-1900.
When was the Boxer Rebellion?
1900.
What was the Boxer Rebellion?
A rebellion in China aimed at foreigners.
How did the US react to the Boxer Rebellion?
US forces were sent in to rescue foreign embassies in Peking and protect US citizens in China.
What was the Platt Amendment?
Allows the US to be involved in Cuban affairs and preserves US control of the island.
When was the Platt Amendment signed?
1901.
When did US help with the Russo-Japanese War?
1904.
How did US help with Russo-Japanese War?
Roosevelt invited delegates from Russia and Japan to the US to sign a peace treaty to end the war.
What reward was Roosevelt given for his actions in the Russo-Japanese war?
He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
When did construction of the Panama Canal begin?
1906.
When was the ‘Great White Fleet’ sent around the globe?
1907.
What was the ‘Great White Fleet’?
A large fleet of white ships that were sent around the globe on a ‘tour de force’.
When was the Root Takahira agreement signed?
30th November 1908.
Who signed the Root Takahira agreement?
US and Japan.
What did the Root Takahira agreement agree?
That US and Japan would respect each other’s trading rights in China.
When was a treaty signed between US and Nicaragua?
1911.
What did the treaty signed between US and Nicaragua agree (+bonus: did this ever go through)?
That Nicaragua would become a US protectorate, but the Senate later rejected the treaty.
When did Taft send US troops to China and why?
During the Chinese Revolution to protect US interests there.
When was the Panama Canal finished (+bonus: when was it opened)?
1913 and was opened in August that year.
When did Haiti become a US protectorate?
1915.
What was the agreement with Haiti about becoming a US protectorate?
Haiti would be a US protectorate for 10 years and US forces would stay there for 10 years.
What was the Zimmerman Telegram?
A telegram sent between German Foreign Minister and German Ambassador to Mexico hinting that Germany and Mexico would ally in the event of war with the US. The German Ambassador also said that Mexican land lost to the US would be returned.
When was the Zimmerman Telegram sent?
1917.
When did the US enter WW1?
6th April 1917.
What were Wilson’s 14 points?
The 14 things he believed would bring a just and lasting peace.
How many US soldiers were killed in WW1?
50,000.
How much had the US loaned to the Allies in WW1?
$22 billion.
Who’s idea was the League of Nations?
Wilson.
Which country refused to join the League of Nations?
The US.
When and where was the idea of the League of Nations first presented?
1919 at the Paris Peace Conference.
Why did the US public want a return to isolationism after WW1?
- They believed WW1 had been caused by selfish European rivalries and wanted to avoid any future involvement with them.
- Red Scare: the public did not want Communism to spread to the US.
- US wanted to focus on their trade interests in the Far East.
When was the Washington Conference?
1922.
Which countries came to the Washington Conference?
US, UK, Japan, France and Italy.
What was agreed at the Washington Conference?
Arms would be limited and stability and peace would be brought to the Pacific. Each country had to reduce the tonnage of battleships for 10 years.
Which treaty was signed at the Washington Conference?
Four Power Treaty: the countries involved agreed to respect each other’s interests in the Far East as well as maintain the Open Door Policy in China.
What are some of the limitations of the agreements made at the Washington Conference?
The agreement placed no limit on the size of armies or air force and there was no method of enforcing it. Japan started expanding in the 1930s.
How did the US help in the Nicaraguan Civil War?
5,000 US troops were sent to deal with the Civil War.
When did the US help in the Nicaraguan Civil War?
1926.
When were troops removed from Nicaragua?
1932.
When was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
1928.
How many countries signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact (+bonus: give some examples)?
15 (France, US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Italy).
What did the Kellogg-Briand Pact agree?
The countries who signed the pact agreed not to go to war except in self defence and that they would try to peacefully end conflicts.
What was the limitation of the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
There was no punishment put in place to deal with any country that might break the agreement.
How did the Dawes Plan come about?
- Charles Dawes sent to investigate why Germany couldn’t afford to pay their reparations
- In 1924, published a report saying reparations should be on a fixed scale ie Germany pays more as their economy gets better.
- German payments decreased to $250 million a year then increasing over the next 5 years.
What did the Dawes and Young Plan give Germany?
Loan of 800 million marks, half provided by US bankers.
What price did the Young Plan set the German reparations payments at and for how many years?
$26 billion to be paid back over 59 years.
Why did the Dawes and Young Plan come about?
American wanted to stop the spread of communism in Germany by helping to restore its economy.
What was America’s attitude to being involved with Latin America in the 1920s?
They wanted to continue to peruse and protect their interests in Latin America, which was mainly economically motivated.
How had US investment in Latin America changed in the 20s?
It had doubled from $1.5 billion to $3 billion between 1924 and 1929.
Give an example of an American company having influence in Latin America in the 20s.
General Electric - in 1923 it controlled the electricity supplies of 8 countries.
Give examples of how the US government were involved in Latin America in the 1920s.
- US gave Colombia $25 million in compensation for its support of Panama’s independence.
- In 1926, 5,000 US troops were sent to Nicaragua to deal with the Civil War.
What was the Good Neighbour Policy?
FDR created this policy to improve economic co-operation with Latin America.
Give some examples of American actions under the Good Neighbour Policy.
- 1934: US signed a treaty that nullified the Platt Amendment (1901) which had given the US occupation of Cuba. The US just kept Guantanamo Bay.
- Tariffs were lowered which helped Latin American economies.
- FDR passed Reciprocal Trade Agreement in 1934 - repealed isolationist policies from the 20s and helped the US to compete better in foreign trade, giving FDR power to negotiate tariffs and trade treaties without first consulting Congress.
When was the first Neutrality Act?
1935.
What did the first Neutrality Act do?
Gave the President power to stop US ships carrying US made munitions to countries at war.
