US superpower Flashcards
1
Q
superpower eras (1890-1990)
A
- era 1 (1890-1930): US from isolationist/non-expansion > expansionist; little war involvement, only at the end; tried to organise nations from a distance
- era 2 (1930-1950): US moving away from isolationism/neutrality (for BR esp, but other nations); enemy both RU/GE, but RU esp as time goes on
- era 3 (1950-1990): US initial communism/RU hostility fluctuated (determined by Presidents/finance mostly), eventually simmering out post-Vietnam/Reagan
2
Q
era 1 (1890-1930) - 14
- US from isolationist/non-expansion > expansionist; little war involvement, only at the end; tried to organise nations from a distance
A
- monroe doctrine (1823): US opposed EU colonialism in Western Hemisphere
- emphasised industr/west conquer/domestic politics: post 1890s, urge to expand/conquer, tech adv. to boot, ‘superior’ white anglo-saxon race
- spanish-american war (1898): US against Spanish rule of Cubans/Filipinos + battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbour
- paris treaty (1898): ended Spanish Civil War + US 180d, imperialism over cuba/puerto rico/guam
- hawaii annexation (1898): US occupied in fear of JA doing so instead; i.e. further expansion
- ‘big stick diplomacy’ (1903): ‘speaking softly and carrying a big stick’ - Roosevelt on US policy
- WWI (1914): US/Roosevelt’s aim to maintain isolationism/stay out of war>only didn’t against GE’s continued attacks + PPTs/making LofNs
- woodrow wilson (1915): punish GE, prioritise people’s welfare, made LofN but didn’t join
- W’s LofNs (1917): ‘wilsonianism’ policy, peace-keeping/isolationist US
- US warring (1914-1919): little involvement, only attacked GE after sustained warring + PPTs and LofN involvement post-war
- versailles treaty (1919): LofN made by US, US didn’t join; only real involvement in WWI
- nine-power treaty (1922): internationalization of US Open Door Policy in China; once JA disregarded in Manchuria invasion, US could do little
- young plan (1929): US reduced GE’s post-war reparations, made them easier to pay ($29bil, over 58yrs)
- KB pact (1928): pact to avoid war as a means; disregarded by most nations post-KB pact
3
Q
era 2 (1930-1950) - 13
- US moving away from isolationism/neutrality (for BR esp, but other nations); enemy both RU/GE, but RU esp as time goes on
A
- post-WWI: US peace-making aims; improve international relations (esp with RU, Cuba, Central and South America)
- roosevelt’s administration foreign policy (1930s): US to maintain neutrality, but aid BR against GE’s continual attacks (eventually leading to US involvement in future war)
- european disintegration>war (1936): EU tension growing, triggered by Axis/IT and GE; pressure on US to involve on BR’s behalf
- roosevelt/US isolationism in WWII ‘arsenal of democracy’ (1941): US preps for possible war, straddles both peace-keeping + defence strategies
- atlantic charter (1941): US/BR ties made official; aims for unity; US began naval defence against GE
- pearl harbour (1941): JA attack of US in Hawaii, precipitated US’s entry in WWII
- casablanca conference (1943): the Allies’ plans against Axis powers; ‘unconditional surrender’ sentiment
- Triparte Pact (1940s): Italy, GE, JA as Axis powers, bonded by financial struggle/conflict with US
- germany surrender (1945)
- cold war/dominance arms race (1946-1991): ongoing political rivalry between US/RU + respective allies; P. Truman’s ‘Get Tough’ policy (1946)
- kennan and truman’s containment era (1947): contain RU indefinitely; atomic weapons developed, stakes heightened
- berlin airlift (1948-49): US protected GE against RU/GE conflict (US food, coal, clothing supplies); US put B-29 bombers in UK to illustrate threat against RU
- NATO (1949): mutual protection of nations against RU’s expansionist/communist agenda
4
Q
era 3 (1950-1990) - 8
- US initial communism/RU hostility fluctuated (determined by Presidents/finance mostly), eventually simmering out post-Vietnam/Reagan
A
- deteriorating peace/cold war era (1946-1991): rising stakes, costly measures, need to protect allies/smaller nations pressured US/RU (little option for isolationism/neutrality/peace-keeping)
- domino theory: communism to spread like dominoes; US FP aimed at coordinating other nations, against RU/communism
- eisenhower era; ‘space race’/’missile gap’>national defence education act (1958): aims at lessening tension ultimately failed, emphasis on US superiority
- cuban missile crisis (1962): US U-2 spy plane saw RU’s secret missile sites in Cuba; US won by RU/US mutually removing missiles from Cuba and Turkey
- kennedy era (1950s-60s): aims to contain communism (now in ‘third world’ countries) spiralled to destroying too much
- vietnam war (1954>1969 trigger): initially small thing (10yrs/lessen communism) spiralled to decades, dividing americans, merciless/useless attack on Vietnam
- nixon’s ‘detente’ era (1960s-70s): post-Vietnam disaster, US for neutrality/low profile; nixon’s aims reverse by P. Carter and P. Reagan
- reagan’s anti-communist era (70s-90s): R: detente was ‘what a turkey has with his farmer until thanksgiving day’, soviet union as ‘an evil empire’; R’s view softened over time, prioritising the ‘Ivan and Anya and the Jim and Sally’ over government
5
Q
era 1 (1890-1930):
- monroe doctrine
- conquer politics
- spanish-american war
- paris treaty
- annexation of hawaii
A
- monroe doctrine (1823): US opposed EU colonialism in Western Hemisphere
- emphasised industr/west conquer/domestic politics: post 1890s, urge to expand/conquer, tech adv. to boot, ‘superior’ white anglo-saxon race
- spanish-american war (1898): US against Spanish rule of Cubans/Filipinos + battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbour
- paris treaty (1898): ended Spanish Civil War + US 180d, imperialism over cuba/puerto rico/guam
- hawaii annexation (1898): US occupied in fear of JA doing so instead; i.e. further expansion
6
Q
era 1 (1890-1930):
- big stick diplomacy
- WWI
- woodrow wilson
- wilson’s league of nations
- US warring
A
- ‘big stick diplomacy’ (1903): ‘speaking softly and carrying a big stick’ - Roosevelt on US policy
- WWI (1914): US/Roosevelt’s aim to maintain isolationism/stay out of war>only didn’t against GE’s continued attacks + PPTs/making LofNs
- woodrow wilson (1915): punish GE, prioritise people’s welfare, made LofN but didn’t join
- W’s League of Nations (1916): ‘wilsonianism’ policy, peace-keeping/isolationist US
- US warring (1914-1919): little involvement, only attacked GE after sustained warring + PPTs and LofN involvement post-war
7
Q
era 1 (1890-1930):
- versailles treaty
- nine-power treaty
- kellogg-briand pact
- young plan
A
- versailles treaty (1919): LofN made by US, US didn’t join; only real involvement in WWI
- nine-power treaty (1922): internationalization of US Open Door Policy in China; once JA disregarded in Manchuria invasion, US could do little
- KB pact (1928): pact to avoid war as a means; disregarded by most nations post-KB pact
- young plan (1929): US reduced GE’s post-war reparations, made them easier to pay ($29bil, over 58yrs)
8
Q
era 2 (1930-1950):
- post-wwi
- roosevelt’s foreign policy
- european disintegration to war
- roosevelt’s isolationism in WWII
A
- post-WWI: US peace-making aims; improve international relations (esp with RU, Cuba, Central and South America)
- roosevelt’s administration foreign policy (1930s): US to maintain neutrality, but aid BR against GE’s continual attacks (eventually leading to US involvement in future war)
- european disintegration>war (1936): EU tension growing, triggered by Axis/IT and GE; pressure on US to involve on BR’s behalf
- roosevelt/US isolationism in WWII ‘arsenal of democracy’ (1941): US preps for possible war, straddles both peace-keeping + defence strategies
9
Q
era 2 (1930-1950):
- atlantic charter
- pearl harbour
- casablanca conference
- tripartite pact
A
- atlantic charter (1941): US/BR ties made official; aims for unity; US began naval defence against GE
- pearl harbour (1941): JA attack of US in Hawaii, precipitated US’s entry in WWII
- casablanca conference (1943): the Allies’ plans against Axis powers; ‘unconditional surrender’ sentiment
- Tripartite Pact (1940s): Italy, GE, JA as Axis powers, bonded by financial struggle/conflict with US
10
Q
era 2 (1930-1950):
- GE surrender
- cold war/arms race
- kennan and truman’s containment
- berlin airlift
- NATO
A
- germany surrender (1945)
- cold war/arms race (1940s-1990s): ongoing political rivalry between US/RU + respective allies; P. Truman’s ‘Get Tough’ policy (1946)
- kennan and truman’s containment era (1947): contain RU indefinitely; atomic weapons developed, stakes heightened
- berlin airlift (1948): US protected GE against RU/GE conflict (US food, coal, clothing supplies); US put B-29 bombers in UK to illustrate threat against RU
- NATO (1949): mutual protection of nations against RU’s expansionist/communist agenda
11
Q
era 3 (1950-1990)
- deteriorating peace/cold war
- domino theory
- eisenhower era
- cuban missile crisis
A
- deteriorating peace/cold war era (1946-1991): rising stakes, costly measures, need to protect allies/smaller nations pressured US/RU (little option for isolationism/neutrality/peace-keeping)
- domino theory: communism to spread like dominoes; US FP aimed at coordinating other nations, against RU/communism
- eisenhower era; ‘space race’/’missile gap’>national defence education act (1958): aims at lessening tension ultimately failed, emphasis on US superiority
- cuban missile crisis (1962): US U-2 spy plane saw RU’s secret missile sites in Cuba; US won by RU/US mutually removing missiles from Cuba and Turkey
12
Q
era 3 (1950-1990)
- kennedy era
- vietnam war
- nixon’s detente era
- reagan’s anti-communist era
A
- kennedy era (early 60s): aims to contain communism (now in ‘third world’ countries) spiralled to destroying too much
- vietnam war (1954>1969 trigger): initially small thing (10yrs/lessen communism) spiralled to decades, dividing americans, merciless/useless attack on Vietnam
- nixon’s ‘detente’ era (late 60s): post-Vietnam disaster, US for neutrality/low profile; nixon’s aims reverse by P. Carter and P. Reagan
- reagan’s anti-communist era (70s-90s): R: detente was ‘what a turkey has with his farmer until thanksgiving day’, soviet union as ‘an evil empire’; R’s view softened over time, prioritising the ‘Ivan and Anya and the Jim and Sally’ over government
