Key Concepts in U.S. Foreign Policy History

Reagan Foreign Policy

Focused on military buildup, confronting the Soviet Union through the 'Reagan Doctrine,' and supporting anti-communist movements worldwide.

Realism

A foreign policy theory emphasizing power, national interest, and the competitive nature of international relations.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904)

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting the U.S.'s right to intervene in Latin America to maintain stability.

SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative)

A missile defense system proposed by Reagan to protect against nuclear attacks, often called 'Star Wars.'

Shanghai Communiqué (1972)

A U.S.-China agreement under Nixon that paved the way for diplomatic relations by acknowledging the 'One China' policy.

Spanish-American War (1898)

A conflict in which the U.S. defeated Spain, acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines while ensuring Cuban independence.

Taiwan

An island where the Chinese Nationalists fled after the Chinese Civil War, leading to ongoing U.S.-China tensions.

Teller Amendment (1898)

Stated that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War.

Texas Annexation (1845)

The U.S. annexed Texas, leading to tensions with Mexico and contributing to the Mexican-American War.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

A U.S. policy pledging to support nations threatened by communism, marking the beginning of the Cold War containment strategy.

Unilateralism

A foreign policy approach where a country acts independently without relying on alliances or international institutions.

Vietnam Hangover

The reluctance of the U.S. to engage in military interventions after the Vietnam War due to its costly and unpopular nature.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

A conflict between communist North Vietnam (backed by the USSR and China) and South Vietnam (supported by the U.S.), ending in U.S. withdrawal and communist victory.

War on Terror (2001-)

A global military campaign launched by the U.S. after 9/11, targeting terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda and leading to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Warsaw Pact (1955-1991)

A military alliance of communist Eastern Bloc nations led by the USSR, created in response to NATO.

Washington Naval Treaty (1922)

An agreement among major naval powers to limit battleship construction and prevent an arms race.

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

A speech advising against entangling alliances and political divisions.

William McKinley

The 25th U.S. president, responsible for the annexation of Hawaii and leading the U.S. during the Spanish-American War.

Woodrow Wilson

The 28th U.S. president, known for his role in WWI, the League of Nations, and promoting democracy worldwide.

World War I (1914-1918)

A global conflict in which the U.S. joined the Allies in 1917, contributing to victory against Germany and the Central Powers.

Yalta Conference (1945)

A meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss post-WWII plans, leading to Soviet control of Eastern Europe.

Zero-Sum Conflict

A situation where one country's gain directly results in another's loss, often used to describe Cold War rivalries.

Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

An agreement between the U.S. and Spain in which Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined the boundary between U.S. and Spanish territories in the West.

Admiral Mahan

Alfred Thayer Mahan, a U.S. naval officer and historian who influenced naval strategy through his book The Influence of Sea Power upon History, emphasizing the importance of naval power.

Algeciras Conference (1906)

An international meeting in Spain that resolved tensions between France and Germany over Morocco, reinforcing France's influence while keeping Morocco nominally independent.

Barbary Pirates

North African pirates who attacked U.S. and European ships in the Mediterranean, leading to the Barbary Wars (1801-1805, 1815) and U.S. naval action under Presidents Jefferson and Madison.

Bipolarity

A global power structure dominated by two superpowers, such as the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Carter's Foreign Policy

Focused on human rights, diplomacy, and reducing Cold War tensions; included the Camp David Accords, Panama Canal treaties, and handling of the Iran hostage crisis.

Constructivist View of Foreign Policy

A theory that international relations are shaped by ideas, identities, and social interactions rather than just material power.

Commander Perry

Commodore Matthew Perry, who led the U.S. Navy expedition to Japan in 1853-1854, opening trade relations between the U.S. and Japan.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the 1970s, marked by arms control agreements like SALT I and improved diplomatic relations.

Dollar Diplomacy

President Taft's policy of using economic investment and financial power to influence Latin America and East Asia instead of military intervention.

Domino Theory

The Cold War belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow, used to justify U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Entangling Alliances

A term from George Washington's Farewell Address warning against forming permanent foreign alliances that could drag the U.S. into conflicts.

Flexible Response Military Strategy

A Cold War defense policy under Kennedy that sought a range of military options (conventional and nuclear) rather than just relying on nuclear deterrence.

Four Policemen

Franklin D. Roosevelt's vision for post-WWII global security, where the U.S., U.K., Soviet Union, and China would maintain order.

George Kennan's Long Telegram (1946)

A message from U.S. diplomat George Kennan outlining the Soviet Union's expansionist policies and advocating containment, shaping U.S. Cold War strategy.

Glasnost

A Soviet policy under Mikhail Gorbachev that promoted openness and transparency in government, contributing to the end of the Cold War.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)

Authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war after alleged attacks on U.S. ships.

Hawaii (Annexation of, 1898)

The U.S. annexed Hawaii following the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani, influenced by economic and strategic interests.

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)

A U.S.-U.K. agreement giving the U.S. the right to build and control the Panama Canal without British involvement.

INF Treaty (1987)

An arms control agreement between the U.S. and USSR that eliminated intermediate-range nuclear missiles, reducing Cold War tensions.

Iran-Contra Affair

A Reagan-era scandal in which the U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran and used the proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Iron Curtain

Winston Churchill's term describing the division between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and Western democracies during the Cold War.

Isolationism

A foreign policy approach advocating minimal involvement in global affairs, particularly before WWII.

James K. Polk

The 11th U.S. president (1845-1849), known for territorial expansion, including Texas annexation and the Oregon boundary settlement.

Japanese-Americans in WWII

Many were forcibly interned in camps due to fears of espionage following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

Jay Treaty (1794)

A treaty between the U.S. and Britain that resolved post-Revolutionary War tensions and helped avoid war.

Jingoism

Extreme patriotism, often advocating aggressive foreign policy or war.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

An international treaty renouncing war as a means of resolving conflicts, though it lacked enforcement mechanisms.

Korean War (1950-1953)

A conflict between communist North Korea (backed by China and USSR) and South Korea (backed by the U.S.), ending in an armistice.

League of Nations Article X

Required member nations to defend each other against aggression, a key reason why the U.S. Senate rejected joining the League.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Allowed the U.S. to provide military aid to Allies during WWII before formally entering the war.

Lodge Amendment

A proposal by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge to modify the Treaty of Versailles, which contributed to U.S. rejection of the League of Nations.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The U.S. bought a vast territory from France, doubling its size.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America.

Marshall Plan (1947)

A U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Europe after WWII and prevent communist influence.

Massive Retaliation

A Cold War military doctrine that threatened overwhelming nuclear force in response to an attack.

McCarthyism

The anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, involving aggressive accusations of subversion.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

A conflict between the U.S. and Mexico resulting in U.S. acquisition of the Southwest.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

A policy warning European nations against interference in the Western Hemisphere.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

The Cold War strategy that nuclear war was deterred by the guarantee of total destruction.

National Security Act of 1947

Reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence community, creating the CIA and Department of Defense.

NATO (1949)

A military alliance among Western nations to counter Soviet expansion.

Neutrality Acts (1930s)

Laws aimed at keeping the U.S. out of foreign conflicts.

Nine Power Treaty (1922)

A treaty affirming China's sovereignty and maintaining the Open Door Policy.

Nixon Doctrine (1969)

Declared U.S. allies should take more responsibility for their own defense.

No First Use (Nuclear Weapons)

A policy stating a country will not use nuclear weapons unless first attacked with them.

NSC-30

An early Cold War policy paper outlining U.S. nuclear weapons policy.

NSC-68

A key Cold War document advocating military buildup to counter the Soviet threat.

Nuclear Deterrence

The idea that nuclear weapons prevent war through fear of retaliation.

Nye Committee (1930s)

Investigated U.S. arms manufacturers' influence in pushing America into WWI.

Open Door Notes

U.S. policy advocating equal trade access in China.

Oregon Territory

A region in the Pacific Northwest acquired through treaty with Britain in 1846.

Panama Canal

A crucial waterway built by the U.S. for global trade and military mobility.

Perestroika

Soviet economic reforms under Gorbachev.

Platt Amendment

Allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs.

Portsmouth Peace Treaty

Ended the Russo-Japanese War (1905), mediated by Theodore Roosevelt.