Short Term Answers for Final Flashcards
Andrew Johnson
President after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Democrat with Southern ties who sympathized with the South during reconstruction. His plan involved pardoning white Southerners (except Confederate leaders and wealthy planters) and black codes were implemented under his presidency as members of the old Southern elite came back into power in the South while following his plan. He was impeached
Reconstruction
Period of time after Civil War 1865-1877 where the Federal Government was trying to reintegrate the South back into the Union. Lead first by Lincoln, then Johnson, Congress, and Grant. The Navy’s size and power dramatically dropped during reconstruction, the budget was reduced from 700 ships to 48 from 1864 by 1880
Radical Republicans
1864 Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner. During reconstruction the radical republicans favored harsh punishments against the South, against what Abraham Lincoln argued for. Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and 1868 resulted in many Southern states being occupied militarily. They wanted the South to be essentially powerless (no navy)
13, 14, 15th Amendments
13th- Slavery Amendment 1865 by Congress + Abraham Lincoln
14th- Civil Rights Amendment 1868 by Congress
15th- Right to vote Amendment 1869 by Congress Why?
Enforcement Acts
1870 by Dept of Justice to protect African American’s rights.
Protected their rights to vote, hold office, serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws
They still could not serve in the Navy legally
David Porter
After reconstruction, Porter claimed the US Navy was falling behind in size and power on the world stage. Believed the US needed to focus more on coastal defense and commerce protection because commerce raiding was a threat to the United States. Admiral Porter is significant to US history because his arguments eventually lead to the US Navy being rebuilt and he was right about the threat of commerce raiding.
Stephen Luce
CDR Stephen Luce was a USNA grad 1847. Strongly advocated for greater education of US Naval officers. 1884-1886 served as the first president of the Naval War College (also the founder). Significant because his actions lead to greater education of Naval Officers (professionalizing the Navy)
Naval Institute
Founded 1873, a private organization that stands as a foundry for US Naval history and literature. Significant because it promoted scientific and professionalism of the Naval Officer Corps
New Port Torpedo Station
Founded summer of 1869, built the fish torpedo. Significant because in 1881 the US Navy had the first self propelled torpedo. Significant moment in history because torpedos were a huge technological innovation that gave navies an advantage over adversaries who didn’t have the new weapon.
Office of Naval Intelligence
Founded in 1882. Aimed to gather information about other countries’ navies. Used to find the best route for Panama Canal. Significant because information brought back revealed the US had a weak Navy compared to other big countries (showed what needed to be built up to stand a chance). Also published much of the material it collected, fostering support for the New Navy.
Naval War College
Stephen B Luce claimed the Academy wasn’t enough to train Naval Officers. He advocated for the Naval War College and in 1884 became the first president of the school. Purpose was to teach Officers about Navy technology, strategy, international law (professionalize the Navy, learning how to apply knowledge to naval strategy). Significant because a lot of great Naval leaders have gone to the Naval War College.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Naval Officer and teacher at the Naval War College. He released a series of books that were highly influential to naval leaders around the world. His first book was the Influence of Sea Power Upon History, published in 1890, it featured ideas from his lectures taught at the Naval War College. Significant because it would influence the New Navy, which would become focused on battleships, offense, and denying enemies free range on the sea
The Influence of Sea Power upon History
Mahan’s first book published in 1890. Arguments included the idea that the strongest Navy would lead to being a dominant world power. Argued for a united fleet and offensive defense, not waiting for the enemy to attack you. Significant to US Navy because Theodore Roosevelt and other Naval leaders drew inspiration from this book and enacted a lot of the ideas.
William Radford
- Was critical of Naval Intelligence efforts…Why?
- Rear Admiral; Served during Mexican-American War and Civil War
- Took control of the European Squadron
- Thought that forward presence rather than intelligence collection would prove more useful
C.R.P. Rodgers
- Rear Admiral, served as Superintendent of USNA, Commander-in-Chief of Pacific Squadron
- November 11th, 1879, in port with other fleets, he wrote a letter describing other countries’ more advanced navies. Said the United States was the only navy with an old fashioned cannon. Listed all of the modern foreign warships present in Peru, saying that they were all fast steamships with modern guns
- Significant to Naval History because his observations showed how the US Navy was lagging after reconstruction.
Pacific War
- War of the Pacific 1879-1883 Peru-Bolivia vs Chile
- Chile won and gained a significant amount of territory from Peru and Bolivia
- Chile’s control of the sea was key to their victory in an inevitably-difficult desert war
- The war in the Pacific shed new light on what the world’s navy is capable of which prompted professionalizing the Navy (showed the importance of having a strong navy)
ABCD ships
Part of the New Navy initiative, the ABCD ships were three cruisers and a dispatch boat named Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Dolphin. The ABCD ships marked America’s first steps in moving towards new naval technology with their steel hulls, breech loading guns, and electric lighting.
They were a rebuilding of the Navy rather than a redirection of its strategy, as they were still designed for commerce raiding and protection
William McKinley
- William McKinley served as the 25th president of the United States. He led the United States to victory during the Spanish-American war.
- Employment of the Navy allowed for victory against Spain, which occurred under his presidency
- Influence by Theodore Roosevelt as Assistant SECNAV and Vice President to build up the Navy
John Hay
US Secretary of State 1899 created open door policy that allowed all countries to have equal access to China for trade while protecting its administrative and territorial integrity. Significant to Naval History because the US Navy enforced this policy set by Theodore Roosevelt, which Japan threatened. It also prevented other European and Asian countries from using the Boxer Rebellion to cut China up into individual colonies
Spanish American War
War fought between Spain and America. Result of the war would lead to the American’s victory and would soon gain the Philippines and Guam and other territory to claim as their own.
George Dewey
Commander of the Asiatic Sea during the Spanish American War and defeated the Spanish Pacific Fleet at Manila Bay. Significance is that his leadership and preparation of the vessels before battle led to a decisive victory that allowed the U.S. to win the war
Battle of Manilla Bay
Lead by Admiral Dewey on May 1, 1898, the US Navy attacked and decimated the Spanish fleet in Manilla Bay, Philippines. Dewey waited for the Army to arrive and the forces, along with Marines, would spend the next few years fighting Aguinaldo’s forces. Significant because after the battle the US Navy contributed to taking the Philippines and winning the Spanish War.
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
July 3 1898. US fleet beat the Spanish fleet attempting to run their blockade. Brought an end to the Spanish-American war and gave Cuba nominal independence from Spain. Significant because the US had 1 casualty and the Spanish had 474, it enhanced the reputation of the US Navy.
Dan Daly
Marine, received 2 Medal of Honors, single handedly causing 200 chinese casualties in Boxer Rebellion and was famous for actions in Belleau Wood.
Boxer Rebellion
1899, China was sick of foreigners causing their governments to weaken, so the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, (AKA Boxers), decided to rebel and attack foreigners which included the United States and the Marines in China. US Marines were sent into combat to control the rebellion. Significant because it is an example of how the Marines were used for America’s economic interests.
Teddy Roosevelt
- Assistant Secretary of the Navy and president in 1901-1909.
- Big Navy Guy. Saw how the Navy could benefit the U.S. in terms of power projection
- “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
- Supporter of Mahan and his ideology; Leads to the Great White Fleet
Venezuela Crisis
- 1895 President Cleveland threatened war against British for a border dispute with Venezuela, justified by the Monroe Doctrine. Significant to Naval History because the threat of war made the British agree to negotiations.
- 1902 Britain, Germany, and Italy imposed a blockade against Venezuela for not paying debts. Roosevelt brought up the Monroe Doctrine to state that the US and only the US would be the international police force in South America and the Carribean. Led to creation of Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (U.S. can interfere in economic affairs of South American Carribean countries if they can’t pay international debts); Designed to keep Europe out of Western Hemisphere
Banana Wars
Series of “Wars” in the Carribean in which the US Navy and Marine Corp were used for the US’s economic interests in order to ensure U.S. remained a dominant power in Central America. Crucial for the development of the USMC. Marines would take the jobs no one wanted to show their importance
Smedley Butler
- Highly decorated Marine Corp officer who would eventually be awarded the medal of honor twice before becoming an outspoken critic of American small wars.
- Two medal of honors- gives one up in protest
- Openly criticizes Marine Corp as an American strong arm for economic purposes
- Criticizes Marine Corps after his experience in the Banana Wars
- Recommends cutting corps to 13,000
24 percent cut of forces (largest proposed of all services)
Philippine-American War
- Americans fought Emilio Aguinaldo, the exiled leader of the Philippine rebellion against Spain, and his forces
- 11,000 U.S. Army troops arrived; a surrender quickly occurred between the Spanish garrison in Manila and the Americans (Aguinaldo and his soldiers weren’t invited)
- U.S. Army and Marine Corps would spend the next 3 years fighting Aguinaldo’s forces
- War did not end until 1902 when Emilio Aguinaldo was captured
- Served as an early example for the U.S. of the difficulties encountered when trying to impose one’s will upon another people
Littleton W.T. Waller
1901 Major in the Marines infamous for brutality in Filipino American War. He was later court-martial-ed for murder (he ordered his men to kill anyone above 10 and killed his own Filipino guides without having a trial, was later acquitted. Significant because it shows how the US Marine Corp was used for American Imperialism, as well as the difficulty in trying to enforce our will upon another
Jacob “Hell Raisin Jake” Smith
1898-1901. An army general who served in Balangiga, Samar, in the Philippines, “The more you kill and burn the more you will please me.” and was convicted of undermining good order and discipline and forced into retirement. Significant because it shows American Imperialism in the Philippines.
Insurrectos
Filipino resistance in Philippine-American War 1899-1902.
Emilio Aguinaldo
Filipino resistance leader. After battle of Manilla bay, the US Navy used him to establish control of the Filipino population. After he realized the US wasn’t leaving, he resisted and began the Filipino American War 1899-1902 which ended after he was captured.
Roosevelt Corollary
1903 Prompted by Venezuela crisis, Roosevelt asserts “The US and only the US will intercede as an international police power in the Western Hemisphere.” Significant because it lead to US Marine Corp and Navy being used in Banana Wars.
Panama Canal
1904 US supported Panama revolutionaries against Columbia by sending US Marines to stand as a threat. US paid and recognized new government to establish the waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific. Significant because the US Navy and Marine Corp were used for American Imperialism and economic gain. Also greatly impacted the future of US Navy as it shortened the required distance traveled from coast to coast.
British Japanese Alliance
- 1902-1923
- Assist each other in safeguarding their interests in China and Korea
- Directed against Russian expansionism in the Far East
- Britain wanted to maintain ties with U.S., who was a rival with Japan, so alliance ended officially with Four-Power Pacific Treaty