HIST 2340W Midterm

Battle of Okinawa

Who: General Simon Bolivar Buchner, US vs Japan

What: Final Battle of WWII in Pacific Theater. It was the second most brutal and deadly battle of WWII.

Where: Okinawa, Japan

When: 1945

Why: it was an important stepping tone for invasion of mainland Japan. it was a strategic position for planned invasion of Kyushu.

How: Use of kamikaze warfare

Lend Lease Act

Who: FDR, Congress, Allies

What: US got around belligerents but was still technically neutral. Maintained being “neutral in speech” while still supporting the allies. Was a shift away from neutrality while still being neutral. Allies did not need to immediately pay back the US for what they received.

Where: European theater

When: 1941-WWII

Why: To maintain neutrality

How: The US provides aid to allies in the form of food, oil and materiel.

Neutrality Acts

Who: US congress

What: an attempt at neutrality while stopping belligerent nations. Act 1 was an import arms embargo. There was immediate concerns with Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia but the US still oil to Italy as it is not apart of the embargo. Act 2 extended the embargo and added a ban on loas to belligerent nations.

Where: Italy and other belligerent nations

When:1935-1939

Why: an attempt to not get involved in another war

How: through acts passed through congress.

Charles Evans Hughes

Who: Charles Evans Hughes

What: he was secretary of state under Harding and Coolidge. During the Washington Naval Conference, he initiated armaments talks and advocated for GB, France, Japan and the US to sign a treaty to keep heavy ships at the same ratio. The US scrapped 180,000 tons of ships. They sunk more ships than admirals have in centuries (35 minutes). He passed around names of ships that should be sank. Took less than a month to come to an agreement.

Where: Washington

When: interwar period

Why: to help reduce tensions between naval powers.

How: through the Washington Naval congress. 5 power treaty, 4 power treaty, and 9 power treaty

Dawes Plan

Who: Senator Charles Dawes

What: an economic recovery plan that applied to Germany. It helped Europe during the interwar economic crisis. Germany couldn’t repay their reparations. France occupied the River Valley. Helped solve European economic crisis.

Where: France, Germany and the US

When: 1924

Why: US growing influence in Europe. Emphasizes US intervention.

How: Since Germany couldn’t pay reparations that were a result of the treaty of Versailles, the US offered loans to Germany and France reduced reparations.

Henry Cabot Lodge

Who: Senator Henry Cabot Lodge

What: Was on the foreign affairs committee and was the biggest opponent to the league of nations. Served from TR to FDR. Advocated for expanding US influence. He also apposed the Versailles Treaty. Helped reform diplomacy under TR.

Where:

When: 1924

Why: Safeguarded US sovereignty and interests in International Affairs.

How: Shot down the League of nations in Congress.

Fourteen Points

Who: Pres. Woodrow Wilson

What: established international expectations (sovereignty, trade, open oceans) which promoted the league of nations. It also established peace talks as a result of WWI. He addressed congress but was aimed at an international audience. The goal was to prevent future wars and promote self determination which was the 10th point.

Where: Congress

When: 1918

Why: to bring an end to WWI and establish ideal expectations for the future and establish peace.

How: Based on Wilsonian ideals.

Zimmerman Telegram

Who: German Ambassador Zimmerman

What: sent a telegram to Mexico that got interpreted in London. The British Intelligence decoded and relayed the message to the US. The message said that Germany would aid Mexico in starting a war with the US so they could gain territory lost during the Mexican American war (New Mexico, Arizona and California). If this was successful then Germany would’ve gained the upper hand in Europe as the US would have been distracted on the American Continent.

Where: London, England/ US

When: 1917

Why: This was a direct threat to American national security as it was bringing the war to the American continent, thus inching the US towards war.

How: all telegrams that went from Germany to North America had to pass through London.

Sussex Pledge

Who: Germany and the US

What: An agreement between Germany and the US that establishes that Germany would not sink merchant or passenger ships without warning. This happened after the sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex in 1916 in the English channel. This was a way for the US to avoid entry into WWI. In 1917, this pledge is broken and the US declares war on Germany, entering them

Where: Germany & US

When: 1916

Why: Prevent future bombings of civilian ships that would involve the US in WWI.

How: A promise made by Germany to the US.

Punitive Expedition

Who: General Pershing, Pres. Woodrow Wilson

What: This was a display of direct US involvement in Latin America. The goal was to capture Pancho Villa after he attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico. This was simultaneously happening during a Mexican Civil War. From the US’s perspective this was not an invasion but a military pursuit after Pancho Villa. The US did not capture Pancho Villa and they retreated because of WWI. He was later killed as a result of an affair and got shot.

Where: Mexico and Southern US

When: 1916/1917

Why: Protect US sovereignty and fight against instable governments in the south. Wilson had a strong sense of right and wrong and felt that the offenses made in the South West part of the US needed to be fought against through military force.

How: Reinforced the standard in Latin America through Wilson’s morals and ideals.

Dollar Diplomacy

Who: President Taft

What: Foreign policy to promote American Business interests abroad. It promised financial support to other countries through loans or private business. It also involves US intervention in other countries, especially in Central America and the Caribbean. It aimed to improve financial opportunities and create stability and order abroad. But the policy failed to prevent economic instability and revolution in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua and China. In Central America, the policy reassigned debt to the US, which led to nationalist movements and more conflict. In Asia, the policy heightened tensions between Japan and the US which would eventually lead to WWII.

Where: Latin America, East Asia; specifically China through railroads

When: 1909-1913

Why: To reduce European influence on the American continent and interests.

How: Financing abroad with minimal use of military force.

Algeciras Crisis

Who: TR, Germany, France

What: A conflict between Germany and France over Morocco. Germany wanted colonies in Africa. Morocco was a prior French colony. TR wants to maintain a power balance between the great powers. He saw an opportunity to bring down conflict in Europe. TR’s treaty continued France’s right to run the finances and Germany can run the banking system. Though peace did not last Roosevelt earned a Nobel Peace Price for his work in Morocco.

Where: Algeciras, Spain

When: 1905-1906

Why: This helped establish the US as a world power through strategic negotiation and avoid conflict between France and Germany. Although this did not prevent conflict in the future, it proved TR’s strategic diplomacy.

How: Through the Treaty of Algeciras.

Portsmouth Treaty

Who: Pres TR, Russia, Japan

What: this treaty ended the Russo-Japanese war and was negotiated by Roosevelt which contributed to his Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. The treaty favored Japan but prevented a complete Russian defeat. It gave Korea and parts of Manchuria to Japan. Russia was given control of the South Manchurian Railway and other territories. Russia stops expansion in that region.

Where: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

When: 1905

Why: US becomes an international mediator while establishing Japan as the dominant power in East Asia.

How: TR taking advantage of conflict to become an international mediator.

Roosevelt Corollary

Who: Pres. TR and Elihu Root

What: This was an expansion of the Monroe Doctrine and set up a precedent for US protection. It granted the US intervention in Latina America international affairs. The Monroe Doctrine was centered on anti-colonialism while the corollary was centered on policing the American continent.

Where: Congress, US

When: 1904

Why: Control over the American Sphere of influence

How: It was a consequence of the Venezuela Crisis. There was a naval blockade by Great Britain, Germany and Italy off the Venezuelan coastline because Venezuela was in debt. The US was concerned with German influence and intervention. The president of Venezuela, Castro, wanted to get out of Debt so he called on the Monroe doctrine, changing its purpose.

Platt Amendment

Who: Between Cuba and the US; drafted by Elihu Root and Senator Platt introduced it in congress

What: Issued US control over Cuba post US-Spanish war (1898) so no foreign power could gain control of Cuban territory. It required that Cuba can’t take on debt that they cannot repay. It involved US military influence in Cuba to preserve independence from European Powers (Spain). Cuba had to sell land to the US for them to use the land for Naval Bases.

Where: Cuba

When: put in place in 1901 and repealed in 1934

Why: This was used to protect the US’s sphere of influence in Cuba. This ended occupation and preserved economic and military interests.

How: a result of the Spanish American war

Open Door Notes

Who: Written by John Hay

What: They were notes to European powers by John Hay advocating for open door policy in China. The first note ensured equal economic opportunities for all powers and respect for China’s sovereignty and integrity. It prevents one country from monopolizing other spheres of influence in any region of China. Note 2 aimed at protecting China’s administrative and territorial autonomy while still wanting access to Chinese Markets. American economic interests were unilateral. These notes were not taken seriously by other powers, but the US said they were in an effort to be an international power.

Where: China

When: 1899-1901

Why: This was not a static policy. It asserted American Dominance and changed control of China.

How: Sent through ambassadors. First few steps into international diplomacy.