FP (1920-45) Flashcards
1
Q
3
Describe the US spheres of influence from 1920-45
A
- Europe
- Latin America
- Far East
2
Q
4
Describe the aims in FP from 1920-41
A
- Remain isolationist towards Europe (e.g. ‘Return to Normalcy’)
- Protect interests in Far East, especially the Open Door policy threatened by Japanese expansionist policies
- Maintain Monroe Doctrine
- Maintain politcal and econonic interests in Latin America
3
Q
3
Why did the US struggle to be isolationist in 1920s?
A
- US had become so important to global order post-WW1 that it necessitated involvement
- Growing fear of communism’s spread led to American-European economic bills (Dawes and Young plans)
- To maintain far east interests, had to protect strong navy against Japanese armament
4
Q
3
Describe growing Japanese influence in the Far East in the 1920s
A
- Had acquired German colonies in Pacific
- Posed threat to communication links between Hawaii and Guam/Phillipines
- China vulnerable to Japanese occupation due to expected civil war
5
Q
5
Describe the reasons for the US attendance at the Washington Disarmament Conference 1921
A
- Prevent renewal of Anglo-Japanese alliance in 1922 by detaching GB from ally
- Maintain status quo in China
- Especially Open Door policy that favoured US trading interests
- President Harding left foreign affairs policy in control of Charles Evan Hughes (Secretary of State)
- Hughes was a keen supporter of disarmament
6
Q
1
What did the Anglo-Japanese alliance do?
A
- Secured Japanese support for British interests in Far East
7
Q
6
Describe the achievements of the Washington Conference 1921
A
- Signed by US, GB, Japan, France (and Italy in 1922)
- Each agreed to reduce battleship tonnage for 10 years to protect volatile Pacific
- Japan accepted less tonnage than UK and US (approximate ratio of 5:3 for US to Japan) - protect stronger navy status
- Signed Four-Power Treaty to respect individual interests in Far East and maintain Open Door
- Japan promised to remove troops from Chinese province of Shantung
- In return, US agreed to not to strengthen military presence in Guam
8
Q
4
Describe the limitations of the Washington Conference 1921
A
- Imposed no limits on army/air force size
- Naval limitations only applied to battleships and aircraft carriers
- No sanctions to enforce a potential breach of agreement
- Terminated by Japan in 1936 as it began naval expansion
9
Q
4
Describe aspects of US-Europe relations in the 1920s
A
- post-WW1 European loans
- Dawes Plan 1924
- Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
- Young Plan 1929
10
Q
5
Describe the background to the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
A
- Set up by Kellogg (US Sec of State) and Briand (French Foreign Minister)
- US did not match French enthusiasm on alliance due to European isolationist beliefs
- But saw Pact as necessary to placate Europe
- Strong growth of peace movement in USA in 1920s
- e.g. World Peace Association
11
Q
4
Describe the terms of the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
A
- Signed by 15 countries
- Agreed to not wage war except in self-defence
- Would seek peaceful means to resolve disputes
- Senate ratified Pact 85:1
12
Q
2
Describe limits to the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
A
- Again no method (e.g. sanctions) of enforcing agrement
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee insisted there was no provision to sanction USA military involvement if agreement was broken
13
Q
4
Describe post-WW1 European loans
A
- USA pledged loans post-WW1 to restore prosperity and prevent spread of communism
- Insisted all war debts must be repaid
- Threatened harsher repayment terms on British war debts after it attempted to restrict rubber supplies from Empire to artificially inflate its price
- Loans not given to USSR or China
14
Q
3
Describe the background to the Dawes Plan 1924
A
- Keen to stabilise Germany to prevent Comminsist revolution
- Jan 1923, Germany defaulted on reparation payments
- Dawes, an American Banker, tasked in 1923 with review of terms and published report in 1924
15
Q
5
Describe the Dawes Plan 1924
A
- Reduced annual payments to $250m a year with payments increasing over 5-year period as German economy improved
- Total fees fixed
- Germany given immediate loan of 800m marks (half provided by US bankers, half provided by other foreign bankers)
- Recommended reorganisation of German State Bank and increased foreign loans
- Dawed recieves Nobel Peace Prize in 1925
16
Q
3
Describe the Young Plan 1929
A
- Replaced Dawes Plan
- Scaled down repetation payments to $26bn
- Would be paid over extended period of 59 years
17
Q
3
Describe a problem with the Young Plan 1929 for the USA
A
- Circular cycle (USA loaned to Germany, Germany used loans to pay reparations to Allies. Allies used this to pay US War debt)
- Therefore reducing reparation payments led to less money for US
- Yet this demonstrated increasing willingness to forgo economic advantage for maintain European interests
18
Q
3
Describe aspects of US-Latin America relations in the 1920s
A
- Private business involvement
- State economic involvement
- Intervention to settle disputes
19
Q
4
Describe US private business involvement in Latin America in the 1920s
A
- US investment in LA doubled from $1.5bn to $3bn from 1924-29
- 1923, General Electric set up ‘American and Foreign Power Company’ to control electricity provision in 8 LA countries
- General Motors manufactured cars in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay
- US companies dominated media
20
Q
3
Describe US state economic involvement in Latin America in the 1920s
A
- State Department hired economists to develop plans for countries that requested US investment
- e.g. Edwin Kemmerer
- Kemmerer Plans - stabilised and developed LA economies by offering advice built on sound currency and central banking
21
Q
2
Describe US intervention in Colombia in the 1920s
A
- 1921, USA gave Colombia $25m (started under Wilson, ratified 1921)
- Compensation for support of Panama independence in 1903
22
Q
3
Describe US intervention in Mexico in the 1920s
A
- Ongoing dispute after default on mostly-American, international debts in 1914
- 1922, Mexican government agreed to repay $500k
- Bucareli Accords 1923
23
Q
2
Describe the Bucareli Accords 1923
A
- Mexico provided compensation for damage caused to foreign property during the Mexican Revolution
- Mexican President Calles cancelled treaty after violent protest
24
Q
3
Describe US intervention in Nicaragua in the 1920s
A
- 1925, US troops withdrawn from Nicaragua to improve relations
- 1926, 5k sent back due to outbreak of civil war
- US diplomat organised Peace Treaty of Tipitapa 1927
25
Q
1
What was the problem with withdrawing US troops in Latin American in the 1920s?
A
Often replaced by local militia e.g. Nicaragua
26
Q
3
Describe Japan’s 21 Demands for Chinese Government
A
- During WW1
- Would have greatly expanded Japanese influence over China
- Threatened US interests
27
Q
4
Describe relations with Japan in the 1920s
A
- Washington Conference 1921 demonstrated co-operative involvement
- Progressed relationship after tension of Japan’s 21 Demands for Chinese Government
- Washington system regarded with suspicion in Japan as Anglo-American device to contain Japan
- 1924 Immigration Act removed Japanese exclusion from Asiatic Barred Zone (banned Japanese immigration to USA)
28
Q
3
Describe FDR’s view of US Foreign Relations in 1933
A
- Saw US as ‘moral force’ to achieve positive impact
- Unsuccessfully fought for US membership of World Court in 1935
- At time of largely isolationist Congress
29
Q
4
Describe the ‘Good Neighbour’ policy
A
- LA policy adopted by FDR
- Emphasis on economic and diplomatic co-operation in LA rather than military intervention
- FDR saw policy as transforming Monroe Doctrine into arrangements for mutual hemispheric action against aggressors
- Yet arguably a continuation of Hoover’s policies of economic pressure to exert influence
30
Q
6
Describe examples of the Good Neighbour policy
A
- By 1938, GN policy led to 10 treaties with LA countries - led to huge trade increases for USA
- US troops left Haiti, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
- 1934, Congress signed treaty with Cuba that nullified Platt Amendment (though retained 1 naval base at Guantanamo)
- Low tariff policies of Cordell Hull (Sec of State 1933-44) improved LA economies
- Tariff reduction on Cuban sugar massively expanded Cuban trade
- Reciprocal Tariff Act 1934
Platt Amendment - authorised US occupation of Cuba
31
Q
5
Describe the Reciprocal Tariff Act 1934
A
- Institutional reform to grant President power to reduce tariffs in return for reciprocal reductions towards US
- Repealed several 1920s isolationist and protectionist trade policies
- Contrasted isolationist/protectionist Congress of time
- American duties on foreign products declined from avg of 46% in 1934 to 12% in 1962
- Began global trend towards lower tariff barriers and increased globalisation
32
Q
3
Describe the public attitude towards neutrality policy
A
- Growth of totalitarianism in 1930s saw Europe move towards conflict
- 1937 Gallup Poll found that 70% of Americans thought WW1 involvement was mistake
- 95% opposed involvement in future European war
33
Q
6
List the dates of the neutrality acts + the Quarantine Speech
A
- 1st - 1935
- 2nd - 1936
- 3rd - 1937
- 4th - 1937
- Quarantine speech - 1937
- 5th - 1939
34
Q
4
Describe the 1st Neutrality Act
A
- Policy of non-intervention
- Prevented sale of armaments to combatant nations
- Prevented US citizens from travelling on ships of countries at war, except at own risk
- Intended to avoid repeat of Lusitania incident
35
Q
2
Describe the 2nd Neutrality Act
A
- Banned loans to countries at war
- Set limits on trade in materials useful for war
36
Q
3
Describe limits to the 2nd Neutrality Act
A
- Act did not cover ‘civil wars’ or US companies
- US companies such as Texaco, Standard Oil, Ford sold items on credit to Franco during Spanish CW
- By 1939, Spain owed American companies more than $100m
37
Q
3
Describe the 3rd Neutrality Act
A
- Forbade export of munitions to either side of Spanish CW
- However permitted ‘cash and carry’ - nations could buy munitions from USA, permitted they paid in cash and used own ships
- Only Britain and France had naval capacity and cash reserves to use scheme
38
Q
2
Describe the 4th Neutrality Act
A
- Authorised President to determine what could be bought by countries at war, other than munitions
- Made travel on ships of countries at war unlawful
39
Q
5
Describe FDR’s attitude towards neutrality by 1937
A
- Began to despise growing militarism and totalitarianism in Germany
- Saw that USA would have to drop, or at least weaken, neutrality policy
- War would end economic problems of New Deal
- View contradicted isolationist public and Congress
- Quarantine Speech 1937
40
Q
2
Describe the backdrop of Quarantine Speech
A
- Spainish nationalist bombing of citizens
- Japanese declaration of war on China in 1937
41
Q
4
Describe the Quarantine Speech
A
- Chicago, October 1937
- FDR described both horrors of war and problems of neutrality
- Suggested international quarantine (exclusion) of aggressors
- Yet did not name individual countries
42
Q
2
Describe the 5th Neutrality Act
A
- President could authorise ‘cash and carry’ export of arms/munitions to countries at war
- President could specify which areas were warzones, through which US citizens/ships were forbidden from travel
43
Q
2
Describe FDR’s use of the 5th Neutrality Act
A
- Proclaimed North Atlantic, infested with German U-boats, a combat zone
- Ordered patrol of US Navy in Western Atlantic to reveal location of German submarines to British navy
44
Q
4
Describe how the US moved away from neutrality in the years 1939 to 1941
A
- FDR increased defence budget by $300m after Hitler announced further rearmament
- 1939, French placed large orders with US aircraft industry following secret talks with FDR, bypassing US neutrality laws
- March 1939, censured Germany and recalled its ambassador for breaking the Munich Agreement by annexing all of Czechoslovakia
- FDR called on Germany and Italy to give assurances it would not attack any European nation in next 10 years
- Censured - formally express disapproval
- Munich Agreement - permitted partial German annexation of Czechoslovakia
45
Q
5
Describe how the US assisted the allies 1939-41
A
- Nov 1939, Congress agreed to sell arms on strict cash-and-carry basis
- Felt sales would benefit Allies more as British warships could better project vessels to destroy German warships
- 1940 Destroyers-for-bases deal
- Lend-Lease Act 1941
- Atlantic Charter 1941
46
Q
4
Describe the 1940 destroyers-for-bases deal
A
- Traded Britain 50 destroyers for 6 Caribbean bases (+ lease of Bermuda and Newfoundland bases)
- in reality, traded elderly destroyers for valuable bases
- yet marked shift to active support for Britain
- important since Britain had been unable to afford the 14k aircraft and 25k aero-engines it had ordered
47
Q
3
Describe the 1940 election
A
- Republcians and candidate Wendell Wilkie were seen as party of non-involvement
- but support for neutrality crossed party lines
- FDR’s popular vote margin declined from 11m (1936) to 5m margin (1940)
48
Q
3
Describe FDR’s attitude towards neutrality in the 1940 election
A
- Sept 1940, gave speech in Boston declaring that American ‘boys were not going to be sent into foreign wars’
- Yet increasingly began to appeal to businessmen who could profit out of war
- Fireside chat in Dec 1940, called for USA to be the ‘arsenal of democracy’ i.e. providing arms to Britain
49
Q
4
Describe the Lend-Lease Act 1941
A
- May 1941, loaned weapons to maintain British military action
- Had been reluctant in 1940 in case Nazis annexed Britain and used arms against America
- Gallup Poll found only 19% felt British support went too far (signicant change from 1937 poll)
- Nov 1941, policy extended to USSR
50
Q
3
Describe the Atlantic Charter
A
- Joint statement issued by FDR and Churchill in August 1941
- Spoke of vision of world with international peace, self-determination and freedom of seas
- Spoke of necessity for the ‘final destruction of Nazi tyranny’
51
Q
4
Describe relations with Japan in the 1930s leading up to the invasion of China
A
- Four-power treaty effectively collapsed when Japan began military actions in Manchuria from 1931-32
- Set up a satellite state, separating Manchuria from China
- USA establishing official ties with USSR in 1933, hoping to deter Japanese influence through trade expansion
- Japan’s closer alliance to facist Italy and Germany alarmed USA and applied economic pressure
52
Q
2
Describe the Japanese invasion of China
A
- Japan invaded China in 1937
- Declared Open Door policy obselete
53
Q
3
Describe US reaction to the Japanese invasion of China (1937-39)
A
- Lent money to China to equip them with weapons
- Attempted to prevent the sale of US manufactured planes to Japan
- Japan had relied on industrial supplies from USA
54
Q
4
Describe US reaction to the Japanese invasion of China (1940-41)
A
- From 1940, Congress limited supplies of oil and iron to Japan
- FDR signed bill banning sale of machine tools to Japan following signing of Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis in 1940
- 1941, Secretary of State (Hull) demanded Japan withdraw from China and promise not to attack dutch and french colonies in South-east Asia
- Japan refused as USA offered nothing in return
55
Q
2
Describe the Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
A
- Set up by Japan as means to economically exploit territory under its control
- Had invaded French colonies in Indochina following French occupation by Germany
56
Q
3
Describe the US reaction to the Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
A
- July 1941, US froze Japanese assets in the US and placed an oil embargo on Japan
- Japan promised to pull-out of Indochina if the US and Britain cut off aid to China and lifted the economic blockade on Japan
- Doubts over whether Japanese would honour agreement
57
Q
3
Attack on Pearl Harbour 1941
A
- 7 December 1941
- Attack at US base on Oahu, Hawaii
- Aimed to destroy Pacific Fleet so the US could not stop Japanese expansion into East Asia
58
Q
3
Describe the destruction at Pearl Harbour in 1941
A
- Destroyed 180 aircraft
- Sank 7 battleships
- Sank 10 other vessels
59
Q
2
Why did the Pearl Harbour attack fail?
A
- US aircraft carriers were out at sea
- Missed the US fuel stores which would have forced US fleet to return and leave East Asia undefended
60
Q
3
Describe the response to Pearl Harbour
A
- 8 Dec, declared war on Japan
- 11 Dec, Italy and Germany declared war on USA honouring treaty obligations
- Some suggestions that FDR withheld intelligence of attack to leave pretext for war - little evidence for this
61
Q
4
Describe the role of US forces in WW2
A
- Forces in both Europe and Far East
- US victory over Japanese fleet at Battle of Midway in 1942 marked turning point in Pacific
- General Eisenhower planned and supervised consequential D-Day landings in 1944
- Truman authorised use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to end war in Pacific
62
Q
3
Describe the deaths at Hiroshima and Nagasaki
A
- 80k instantly killed in Hiroshima
- 40k instantly killed in Nagsaki 3 days later
- 100k more died of radiation poisoning in months following
63
Q
3
Describe the rationale behind the use of atomic bombs in Japan
A
- 6 months of strategic and intense bombing had not shaken the resolve Hirohito regime
- Truman became convinced that atomic bomb was only solution after Japan rejected continued demands for unconditional surrender
- Alternative solution, Allied invasion of Japanese islands, would have incurred hundreds of thousands of casualties
64
Q
2
Describe criticism of the use of atomic bombs in Japan
A
- Soon after war, US Navy and Air Force both produced reports claiming that conventional bombing and submarine warfare would have soon forced Japanese surrender
- Accusations that Truman administration authorised atomic bombing to demonstrate military might to USSR
65
Q
2
When did FDR die?
A
- 12 April 1945
- weeks before end of war
66
Q
3
Describe the Ludlow amendment
A
- Proposed amendment to call for referendum on any declaration of war by Congress
- Would’ve slowed down WW2 entry
- 1938, defeated by Congress 209-118
67
Q
3
Which countries did the US intervene in to settle disputes in LA in the 1920s?
A
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
