1890-1920 Foreign Policy

How did ‘Accidental Empire’ motivate US imperialism?

• USA didn’ economically need and empire due to their trade with Britain

• They never had any intention of developing an empire it just occurred accidentally

How did ‘Progressive Imperialism’ motivate US imperialism?

• The empire was motivated by a desire to improve non-american lives

• they wanted to export their values to less developed countries

• The removal of Yellow Fever from Cuba

How did the need for new markets lead to US imperialism?

• They had an open door policies as opposed to territorial expansion

• They had economic motives to expand

How did the end of Westward Expansion lead to territorial gain?

Westward Expansion was a form of imperialism and once it had ended they had to turn elsewhere

How did ‘Preclusive Imperialism’ lead to expansion?

The USA had to colonise other countries to prevent other imperial powers from doing the same

What did the USA do in Hawaii?

• 1898 annexed it for new markets

• Wanted to stop Japan and China

• Mckinley tariff meant they lost their trading advantages

What did the USA do in the Philippines?

• The Treaty of Paris meant that the USA would purchase the Philippines for $20 million

• USA believed they were incapable of governing themselves and that they could civilise the islanders

• They had a $600 million 4 year war due to unrest

Who were members of the Anti Imperialist League?

• William Jennings Bryan

• Grover Cleveland

• Andrew Carnegie

• Sammuel Gompers

What was Yellow Journalism?

• newspapers printing extremely sensationalised stories about a Cuban revolt against Spanish rule

• Stories published were anti-Spanish and clearly untrue

What was the Maine incident?

• US warship exploded killing 266

• The US blamed the Spanish and conducted an investigation which concluded it was a Spanish Mine

• It was later discovered it was caused by a design issue

Why did McKinley play a role in going to war with spain?

• A highly critical letter of McKinley from the Spanish ambassador found it’s was to the USA

• McKinley now felt that he had no choice but to go to war

What was the Spanish-American war?

• Lasted 3 months

• Spanish tactics were generally weak and the US navy attacked Spanish fleets

• 5,000 US soldiers killed in Cuba mainly due to the climate, 379 killed in combat

What were some consequences of the war?

• over 5,000 troops suffered with Yellow Fever

• Purchased Philippines for $20 million

• USA becoming involved in other areas

• 4,000 die due to conflict within the Philippines

• 1903 change to Cuba’s political system

What was the significance of the Spanish-American war?

• Shift to an imperialist power

• Expansionist stance on foreign policy

• Showed off the strength of the US military

What was Big Stick Diplomacy?

The stance Teddy Roosevelt took on foreign policy, where negotiation was key with an overall threat of a powerful military (big stick)

How was big stick diplomacy used regarding the Dominican Republic?

• They hadn’t repayed the USA back $40 million worth of loans

• Roosevelt took control of their customs revenue in order to pay the debt back to America

How did the USA become involved in China?

• Didn’t want involvement from European countries

• 1900 Boxer Rebellion was directed at immigrants. The USa sent in troops to assist the foreign countries

• 1899 John Hay announced an extension of the open door policy to China stating the US government would protect the lives and property of US citizens in China

What did the USA do regarding the Panama Canal?

• 1881 French Company attempted to build the Canal but financially struggled

• Colombia wanted $15 million from US government and $10 million from the Panama Canal Company

• 1903- Roosevelt staged a revolt from the Panamanians against the Colombians

• The USA granted Panama it’s independence who then allowed the canal to be built for $10 million

• Within a year, over 1,000 ships were using the canal

What did the USA do regarding Cuba?

• Teller Amendment stated that the Cuba was independent from Spain and that the USA had no intention of colonising it

• Platt Amendment limited Cuba’s sovereignty by granting the US the right to intervene in their affairs

• 1903 their industries were completely reliant on the USA (like Hawaii)

• USA invaded in 1912

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine which allowed the US to use military means if they hadn’t repayed debt (Police Powers)

What was Dollar Diplomacy?

Taft’s way of foreign policy where the US would use it’s financial powers to influence foreign affairs

What did the USA do in Nicaragua?

• Anti-American president so the USA cancelled their economic privileges granted to their miners

• Taft sent in the Marines and put a pro American leader in

• USA controlled their national bank and occupied the country for a further 10 years

What was the Great White Fleet?

• 1907-1909 US warships went on a world tour to show the power of the Navy and how valuable the Panama Canal would be

What was Moral Diplomacy/Wilsonianism?

A peaceful, moral and ethical approach to foreign policy. The US was morally superior and could benefit other countries

What did wilson do regarding foreign policy?

• He gave Colombia $20 million in reparations for their role in encouraging the Panamanians to rebel

• He intervened in Latin America expanding Roosevelt and Taft’s policies

How did Wilson intervene in countries?

• Intervened in Haiti due to a revolution (remained there till 1934)

• Dominican Republic placed under US military rule in 1915 till 1924

• Built infrastructure projects for the countries expecting things/their loyalty in return

• Wilson involved the US in foreign affairs more than any other US president

Why did resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare make America join the war?

• Germans gave an 8 hour warning before sinking all ships in British waters, they wanted to starve the allies into surrendering

• Wilson cut off diplomatic relations with Germany

• From February to March 1 million tonnes of allied ships were sunk

Why did the Zimmerman Telegram encourage America to join the war?

• German foreign secretary sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico (1917) proposing a secret alliance between Mexico and Germany

• The Germans promised to give Mexico back land they had lost to America

• US ambassador intercepted the telegram and sent it to the USA

• Mexico knew nothing about the telegram as they were in a Civil War

Why did German Activities within the USA encourage them to join the war?

• Black Tom’s munition plant exploded in 1916 causing $20 million worth of damage, smashing windows 16 miles away and fragments of debris damaged the statue of liberty

• German saboteurs were blamed but no one went to trial

• Espionage

Why did Wilson’s conscience result in US joining the war?

Wilson realised that only the countries at war (belligerents) would be able to have a say in the peace deal

How did America economically prepare for the war?

• They relied on victory and liberty bonds, introduced a 25% inheritance tax and a 75% income tax (they collected $10.5 billion in taxes)

• War industries board set up to coordinate taxes and finances

• Railroads became a centralised system

• Lever Food and Fuel Control Act- set up wheat prices to encourage production

• Herbert Hoover became food administrator coordinating relief efforts in Europe for refugees

How did workers prepare for war?

• The National Labour Board was set up to settle industrial disputes and heard 1,200 cases

• Union membership rose by 2.3 million during the war (greater acceptance of Unions)

• War Labour Policies Board set wages and the standards of employment by consulting unions and employers

How were women involved in the war?

• they were never mobilised

• encouraged people to buy war bonds and sent comforts to the troops

• unions didn’t want women working

• only 6,000 engaged in aircraft manufacturing

How were Native Americans involved in the war?

• They were not classed as citizens but volunteered to fight in Europe due to their tradition

• Wanted to demonstrate that they were equal and were respected by allied soldiers

• Used their language as a way to secretly communicate

• 2,000 in the Navy and 10,000 in the Army

• 1924- All Native Americans were granted US citizenship