Important U.S. Treaties Flashcards
CFPT
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Overview: This treaty officially ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the United States’ independence from Britain and establishing new borders for the country.
Significance: It marked the U.S.’s emergence as an independent nation, defined its territorial boundaries, and laid the foundation for future expansion.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Overview: Ended the Mexican-American War, with Mexico ceding a large portion of its northern territory (modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico) to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million.
Significance: It fulfilled the U.S. idea of Manifest Destiny by expanding the nation’s borders across the continent and set the stage for debates on slavery expansion into new territories.
The Treaty of Paris (1898)
Overview: This treaty ended the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding its territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States, while Cuba gained independence.
Significance: The treaty marked the United States’ emergence as a world power with overseas colonies and expanded its influence in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)
Overview: The U.S. purchased approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the nation.
Significance: It significantly expanded the U.S.’s territory, opened up the west for settlement, and set the stage for westward expansion and exploration.
The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
Overview: This treaty officially ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties and reparations on Germany and redrawing the map of Europe.
Significance: Although the U.S. Senate rejected the treaty, it played a key role in the post-war order and laid the groundwork for the League of Nations, even though the U.S. did not join it.
The Treaty of Ghent (1814)
Overview: Ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, restoring pre-war boundaries and establishing peace without any territorial changes.
Significance: It resolved the war, affirmed U.S. sovereignty, and helped establish the U.S.-Canada border, paving the way for more peaceful relations between the two nations.
The Camp David Accords (1978)
Overview: A peace agreement brokered by President Jimmy Carter between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, leading to Egypt becoming the first Arab country to recognize Israel in exchange for the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.
Significance: The accords marked a significant breakthrough in Arab-Israeli relations, fostering peace in the Middle East and reducing the possibility of further wars between Israel and its neighbors.
The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)
Overview: Established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance of Western countries aimed at providing collective security against the Soviet Union.
Significance: NATO became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and remains central to U.S. defense strategy and international relations today.
The Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851 and 1868)
Overview: These treaties between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes guaranteed the protection of tribal lands and rights, in exchange for peace and cooperation with settlers.
Significance: The treaties reflected the federal government’s policies toward Native Americans during westward expansion, though they were later violated, leading to the loss of native lands and sovereignty.
The Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Overview: An international treaty that set binding targets for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat climate change.
Significance: While the U.S. signed the treaty, it did not ratify it, reflecting ongoing debates about balancing environmental policy with economic considerations.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (1968)
Overview: A landmark treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting disarmament, and encouraging the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Significance: The U.S. is a signatory, and the NPT has been central to global nuclear arms control efforts, though it remains controversial among some nations.
The Antarctic Treaty (1959)
Overview: An international agreement that established Antarctica as a scientific preserve, banned military activity, and prohibited nuclear tests on the continent.
Significance: The treaty promotes international scientific cooperation and environmental protection, with the U.S. playing a leading role in its enforcement.
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Overview: A treaty between Spain and Portugal, sanctioned by the Pope, that divided the world into two spheres of influence for colonization purposes.
Significance: Although predating the founding of the United States, this treaty shaped the geopolitical dynamics of the Americas, with European powers vying for control over the New World.
he Treaty of 1830 (Indian Removal Act oh my GOD)
Overview: The U.S. government signed multiple treaties with Native American tribes to remove them from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River, known as the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
Significance: This led to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, an event known as the Trail of Tears, and had devastating effects on their populations and cultures.
The Panama Canal Treaty (1977)
Overview: The U.S. and Panama signed a treaty that agreed to return the Panama Canal to Panama by the end of 1999, while ensuring U.S. control over its operation until that time.
Significance: This deal ended U.S. control over the canal after nearly a century, and it marked a shift in U.S.-Latin American relations.
