FOREIGN POLICY 1865-1890

What is the first example of American imperialism/empire?

Westward expansion/The Frontier
Displacement of Native Americans — Empire

What was Mahan's main purpose in encouraging that the U.S. build a strong navy? What book did he argue this in?

To make America a powerful world power; he argued that naval power was essential for world power.

1890 "The Influence of Seapower upon History"

What led to the Alabama Trials?

Americans believed Britain had been in gross breach of neutrality by allowing the construction of The Alabama and other Confederate commerce-raiders to be built and armed in British shipyards

Britain during this period was a global leading shipbuilder —- North of England's economy based on cotton manufacturing and had strong links with leading Confederates

When did the Alabama set sail and what impact did it have on the North?

The Alabama set sail in 1862 and disrupted Northern trading (losses of $6m ) and sank Union ships

When and what was the Johnson-Clarendon convention?

1869: seemed to find a solution by referring the claims of breaches of neutrality to arbitration, but contained no apology on behalf of the British and nothing about the 'indirect losses' suffered by the American merchant marine

Why did the Senate reject the Alabama Claims?

Fuelled by hostility towards Johnson Administration
Felt they had not been properly insures for the indirect losses that they gad suffered (indirect losses being the inflated insurance rates and wholesale transfer of American tonnage to foreign powers due to the Alabama's presence on the high seas)

Who was Charles Sumner and what did he propose with regards to the Alabama Trials?

Charles Sumner (Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee): Britain to pay for direct and indirect damages ($15m and $110m)+ contended that Britain had prolonged the Civil War by 2 years and was liable for half of the costs of the conflict ($2000m) —\> increased difficulty of coming to an agreement

What was the Treaty of Washington and when was it signed?

Signed May 8 1871 by British and American representatives
Alabama Claims submitted to an international tribunal for arbitration

What was the Tribunal decision over the Alabama claims?

Tribunals final decision made on September 14, 1872-\> GB negligent in their duty as a neutral power by allowing the Alabama to escape and owed the US $15.5m in compensation
Britain accepted without much dispute —\> outcome of Alabama claims viewed as a model of diplomacy and success for the principle of arbitration

When was Alaska purchased from Russia and for how much?

1867 — $7.2m

Why were there strained relations between Britain and Canada following the Civil War?

Due to apparent support by the British and Canadians to the Confederacy during the Civil War

When did Canada become a self-governing dominion?

1867 while Britain continued to control its foreign and defence policies

Who were the Fenians and what were the Fenian Raids 1866-71? How did this affect the move towards Confederation?

* an Irish American nationalist organisation that wanted to get back at the British Empire for the poor treatment of Ireland by the English. they attacked both Canada West and Canada East, (USA turned a blind eye because of ongoing disputes over with GB and Canada over the Alabama Claims.)
* US eventually arrested several ringleaders


* aroused genuine fears of American annexation which pushed the Canadian provinces to join together in a national Confederation

Where was British Colombia? Why was it significant to the Americans?

Separated Alaska from the rest of America - far away from the rest of Canada by land and even further away from Canada by sea.


Many American expansionists hope to lure the territory into joining the US, and use the closeness to Alaska and Washington state as arguments to lure them.

Canadian gov won British Colombia by the commitment to build a national railway, the Canadian Pacific

Extremely rich in terms of natural resources and developing potential

Vancouver became a booming trade and military centre by 1870.

Why did Canada eventually gain control of British Colombia?

Agreed to build a transcontinental railway to connect British Colombia to the rest of Canada — the Canadian Pacific

American expansionism into Canada subdued after Alabama trials resolved and compensation provided

When was Hawaii annexed by the US?

1898, during the Spanish-American War

When did Hawaii become a state?

1959

Why was America interested in Hawaii?

Shippers, merchants, sailors, refueling station, sugar/fruit plantations, already ran most of the country — would serve as a point for provisions for these groups and for ships making trade journeys to Asia

since 1875, USA had imported Hawaiian sugar free of duty in return for the Hawaiian gov refusing concessions such as the importation of manufactured goods to other countries.
→ this meant that Hawaii was effectively reliant on the USA economically

What were the Midway Islands?

Midway Islands located in the Pacific Ocean—\> opened a more stable route to Asian markets
Vital naval coaling station which steamships needed in order to travel further afield

When were the Midway Islands annexed?

Formally annexed by the USA in 1867 but claimed by Captain Brooks for the US in 1859

What were the Midway Islands used for in 1903?

The island became a link in the Hawaii-Guam segment of the first trans-pacific submarine cable and a cable station was set up on one of the islands

When and what was the Pan-American Conference?

2 Oct 1889- 19 April 1890

Conference established the Americas (North,Central and South) as a loose affiliation of nations

US Secretary of State James Blaine developed the idea for the conference with the hope that it would establish diplomatic ties between the different nations

What was the Monroe Doctrine?

foreign policy doctrine set forth by President Monroe in 1823 that discouraged European intervention in the Western Hemisphere

When was the Monroe Doctrine issued?

1823

When did the Dominican Republic offer itself up to be a US colony? Why did the Senate reject the annexation of the Dominican Republic in 1870?

DR offered itself up in 1869

fear that people viewed as inferior might have to be admitted into the Union or granted statehood, reducing influence of majority white states

What was the 1868 Burlingame Treaty?

Signed by US in order to promote trade with China

What were Albert Beveridge's views on US imperialism?

Imperialism as benevolent and would bring ideas of freedom and liberty to people around the world
argued that American commerce "must be with Asia. The Pacific is our Ocean ...China is our natural customer'

What impact did the financial crash of 1893 have on US foreign policy?

Depression at home meant that US looked to the world for economic prosperity

Who was the Secretary of State in 1882? What were his beliefs and findings?

William H. Hunt

Advocated for strong US navy — commissioned a report that found that 14 out of 17 US Steamships dated back to the Civil War

Found of 140 ships on the naval list, only 42 were operational and the navy mainly comprised wooden sailing vessels opposed to modern steamships.

Why could it be said that the US lacked means and consistent policy necessary for enlarging its role in the world in the 1870s and 1880s?

Small and unprofessional diplomatic service — no embassy officials in Beijing who could speak Chinese

US army was smaller than Bulgaria's with only 28,000 men

why was the USA detached from foreign entanglements?

* Felt superior to many European countries and distance protected them from the ‘broils of Europe’
* thinking only of the western hemisphere was institutionalised by the Monroe Doctrine

why was the USA Isolationist?

American energies were still concentrating on settling the continent and exploring its natural resources

foreign markets were not yet essential - industrial output could be absorbed by internal demand

Within the Western Hemisphere, no neighbour threatened its security

What was Grant’s role in foreign affairs and diplomacy?

* Normally left diplomacy to SoS Hamilton Fish (1869-77), but on two occasions he demonstrated his gullibility and ignorance

What did Grant do for DR?

He was persuaded to support the annexation of the Dominican Republic but the treaty was rejected by the Senate in 1871 (responsible of Charles Sumner)

Grant removed Sumner but he still failed to revive the treaty.

What did Grant do in the Ten Year War between Spain and Cuba?

He wanted Fish to recognise Cuban belligerency, but fearing a war with Spain, Fish neglected to obey in 1869.

1870 - the House called for recognition so Fish threatened Grant with resignation so Grant would send a message to Congress urging strict non-interventionism

What evidence is there to say William Seward was an expansionist Secretary of State from 1861-1869?

* He planned to acquire naval bases in the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands
* He wanted to negotiate a treaty with Colombia to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
* Most of these schemes failed to materialise

When was the power of the Monroe Doctrine demonstrated?

in the American response to the attempt by France and Austria to establish an empire in Mexico.

why was USA keen to acquire Alaska?

* Seward felt the development of Alaskan harbours might provide a gateway to northern Asia where US merchants ships could fuel and make provision for the long journey across the Pacific Ocean
* it would expand the Pacific coastline of the USA, spread US rule and keep the British out
* maintain good relations with such a powerful national as Russia

When did politicians begin to show a greater interest in foreign policy?

During Arthur’s administration, they called for an expanded navy to demonstrate American willingness to back foreign policy up with force.

1887

acquisition of Hawaii as a naval base

What were the three main issues causing tension with Canadian territory?

the Fenian Raids

the Red River Colony

the western Canadian province of British Colombia

What were the Alabama Claims?

during the Civil War, businessmen in Britain and Canada had sympathised with, and continued to trade with, the South.

A Confederate warship, the *Alabama*, had been very effective in breaking the Northern blockade of Southern cotton exports.

After the war, the US demanded compensation for the damage done by the *Alabama.*

How did USA/Seward respond to Maximilian’s empire in Mexico?

France had taken advantage of the USA’s preoccupation with the Civil War to establish a puppet emperor, Maximilian, supported by French troops.

In 1866, Seward demanded that the French withdraw, and the USA moved 50,000 troops to the borders.

The French backed down and abandoned Maximilian.

What did the collapse of Maximilian’s empire do?

It was easy for Seward to present the outcome as a vindication of the Monroe Doctrine, reinforcing its mythic importance

expulsion of Europeans fitted in with the idea of the Monroe Doctrine as defensive but also fed expansionist ideas about the future of American dominance of the Western Hemisphere