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US History Final

Terms in this set (71)

Salutary Neglect
English non-interference with colonial matters. Prime Minister Robert Walpole's dictum "Let sleeping dogss lie"

"Policy" allowed local colonial assemblies to assume greater control over colonial affairs without interference from England. (THEY GOT USED TO THIS FREEDOM).

17th century internal turmoil in England had given colonies even more freedom to establish trade relationships with non-English competitors (like the French and the Dutch). Economic freedom was also a mark of "benign" or "salutary neglect"

17th century internal turmoil: civil war, King Charles I got executed, Cromwell took over for ten years, 1660 brought Charles II to the throne, England became to reassert authority (but only slightly) with Navigation Acts.

1688: Glorious Revolution against the Catholic king. William and Mary became new monarchs. Bill of Rights. Constitutional monarchy. Powerful parliament. Later led to French and Indian war.

Until the end of the French and Indian wars, policies were simply not enforced. Some leaders of the impended Revolution (John Hancock) made fortunes in smuggling illegal goods in violation of English policies.

THEY GOT USED TO THIS FREEDOM. DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
(BUT, England in debt after war, needed to reverse salutary neglect)
(CLASH OF IDEALS)
President Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality (post American Revolution)
Focus on foreign interaction SOLELY for trade. Stay NEUTRAL.

Washington's response to the current mindset of Americans as he left office. Americans at the time were caught up with "Bastille Fever" and a desire to, in general, do a lot.

Washington never said "neutrality" but still argued:
- Realistic assessment of America's limited power and economic interests mean we should pursue friendly/impartial relations with warring nations of Europe
- US citizens should not carry items to countries that would help them wage war

James Madison disagreed:
- Washington was setting a precedent for Presidential power
- Asserted president had the power to decide that there should not be war
- Constitution doesn't let the President, alone, declare war, so he can't, alone, decide to NOT declare war
French and Indian War (Seven Years War) 1756-1763
French, determined to secure American territory against encroaching British/American traders, built a chain of forts along Pennsylvania's Allegheny River.

British ministry ordered colonial governors to repel the French advance by force. Britain wanted colonial territory, larger global empire, wealth, and, as a result, POWER.

"First" World war (spanned three continents, including the Caribbean)
Three prior wars between Britain, France, and Spain from 1688-1748 (King William's War, Queen Anne's War, King George's War)

England and France traded for furs with Native Americans in Ohio County and, by the 1750s, English colonists wanted wilderness for farmland. As a result, each side tried to keep the other out of THE OHIO COUNTY.

North America is so important that it's causing fights to break out in Europe.

Sides:
- Britain, Prussia, Portugal, Native Americans
- France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Native Americans

1750: French soldiers captured English trading posts and built Fort Dusquesne

In 1753, Washington sent to demand French troops leave. They don't leave.

May 28, 1754: Massacre at Jumonville
- GW Native American ally Tanacharison (Half King) assassinates French leader Jumonville, violating codes of war

July 4, 1754: Battle of Fort Necessity
French surround Washington. French win. Washington signs surrender that admits to Jumonville's assassination AND THE WAR OFFICIALLY STARTS

1754: Battle of Fort Dusquense
- British suffer HUMILIATING DEFEAT

1755: Battle at Lake George
- Neither side wins

1756-1757: Alliance of Shawnee & Delaware Indians vs. British. Cause serious British defeats.

1756: William Pitt took over as chief minister in Britain, and diverted all military resources to America. Guaranteed payment to the colonies in order to unite them. His strategies worked.

1758-1760: British begin to win.
- Indian allies abandon French

In 1758 (with colonial forces assisting) Louisbourg was seized. In 1759, Quebec was seized.

1760: Montreal was also surrendered to the British, marking the end of the war in America.

DIFFERENT WAR STYLE IN NORTH AMERICA: GUERRILLA
(European style of British troops: good weather, open field, straight rows of soldiers, rules of engagement FAIL in American wilderness.
Peace of Paris 1763
Official end to French and Indian war. Gave Britain all French land in Canada except for two tiny fishing islands. Britain got all France holding east of the Mississippi river.

French out of North America = complete British domination
Hurt relationships between British and Native Americans
Worsened relationship between England and its colonies

EFFECTS OF FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
British Troops:
- Old school warfare
- Officers were aristocrats, superiority over colonists
- Thought colonists should be taxes and PAY for their defense
- Arrogant

Colonial Soldiers/Militia
- Guerrilla tactics
- Served under own captains (more like equals)
- Hated paying taxes
- Casual, non-professionals

LASTING EFFECTS
Britain:
- Increased Empire in North America
- British in serious debt

Colonies:
- Fought for the first time versus a common enemy
- Created tensions with British troops occupying the area
- Created bitter feelings between Britain and North American colonies (serious relationship overhaul needed)

BRITISH ECONOMIC EFFECTS:
Debt before the war: 75 million pounds
Debt after the war: 130 million pounds (~$20 trillion)
- Yearly interest of 4.4 million pounds
(HOW CAN THEY PAY IT OFF?)

NEW MILITARY PRESENCE IN AMERICAN COLONIES
# of troops before the War = 0
# of troops after the War = 10,000 (costing 225,000 pounds each year) (standing army)
Proclamation of 1763
Before 1763, colonists accepted Parliament's right to take actions on their behalf. Even if economic interests weren't balanced in their favor. (because it wasn't too burdensome under Salutary Neglect)

Proclamation, however, clashed with colonists' interests. F&I War left a lot of land (much of Ohio, Mississippi valley) to the colonists, who regarded these new lands as a godsend; opportunity for economic gain through new land and trade.

BUT the proclamation reserved lands west of the Appalachian Mountains for Indians and forbade white settlement there. New policies also restricted Indian trade to traders licensed by British government. POWER OVER WESTWARD EXPANSION PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH GOV'T. The colonists couldn't settle on land they won in the war.

British Goal: avoid costly Indian War (direct response to Pontiac's rebellion). Protect fur trade. Keep western land speculation under control of the crown.

It also cost a lot of money (250,000 pounds sterling annually)

Colonists deeply resented the proclamation. Felt walled in, trapped, and that this hurt their economic interests.

THEY WEREN'T HAPPY.

It was the first (of many) "For your own good" foreign policies.
Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775
"the shot heard around the world"
- 1,500 British soldiers sent to arrest Sons of Liberty members Sam Adams and John Hancock AND confiscate/secretly take American weapons in Concord
- MA Militia drove the British back to Boston
- INCREDIBLE FIRST DEFENSE by Ameircans
- Calling all minutemen!
Declaration of Causes for Taking up Arms (1775)
Sent straight to King George III
- Americans had tried everything to keep the peace
- Meant to show that colonies only intended to fight IF FORCED
- "Our cause is just. Our union is perfect... We are determined to die free men, rather than to live slaves"

American patriots had tried all peaceful methods of settling their differences with Britain (didn't want to fight)
- All attempts have been fruitless. It just keeps getting worse
- We have to take up arms if the alternative is slavery
(still blaming Parliament, not the king)
Olive Branch Petition 1775
July 8, 1775
- issued by Second Continental Congress after Bunker Hill as final peace attempt
- "Peace petition"
- Asked that King George III stop "enslaving" colonies with taxes from Parliament in return for laying down of weapons
- Hoped to achieve a "happy and permanent reconciliation; and that, in the meantime, measured may be taken for preventing the further destruction of the lives of your Majesty's subjects"

"Begging" the King to step in for Parliament and fix this. "procure us relief [for] a happy and permanent reconciliation"
King Goerge III's Proclamation of Rebellion 1775
August 23, 1775
- Issued by King George III HIMSELF
- Refuses Olive Branch Petition
- Fully authorizes use of troops to capture American leaders and crush the rebellion
- Destroys American hopes

Finally shows that even the King is against them. King George III is an enemy too. Final break between colonies and Britain.
Declaration of Independence 1776
July 2, 1776
- At this point: FINALLY see King George III as an enemy (he, too, is not on our side)
- Formally severs ties with Britain
- Lists King George III's wrongdoings
- "The history of the present King of Great Britain, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations ... to establish absolute Tyranny over these States"
- "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government
Battle of Saratoga 1777
Sept-Oct 1777
New York
- British goal = cut off New England from rest of the 13 colonies (head off the snake)
- American goal = win for once; prove to France we got what it takes
- Result = America wins!
- Defeats a large portion of the British army (very significant)

----

Results of Saratoga
MILITARILY
- Serious American morale boost
- Proved to France we were worth it AND that we could win

POLITICALLY
- Dec. 1777 Britain discusses peace terms with US
- Immediately starts talk of US treaty of alliance with France (signed February 2, 1778)
- Money, troops, naval support (Marquis de Lafayette & other French generals join the fight)
- France formally RECOGNIZES the United States of America as a separate political nation
- Spain and the Netherlands/Dutch join
- Forces Britain to engage in a WORLD WAR (motives: reduce British empire, get British land in Europe)
- Must turn attention to Caribbean and Europe - Messed with British shipping and trade
- FORCED Britain to take troops out of America
Treaty of Alliance with France 1778
Following the battle of Saratoga, it was clear the US had a fighting chance in this revolution. France, as a result, became more confident in openly supporting the US, and the immediately started talks of a US treaty of alliance
- The treaty was signed on February 2, 1778, and France began assisting in the war effort by providing money, TROOPS, and NAVAL support
- Another result being France formally recognizing the USA as a separate political nation.
Battle of Yorktown 1781
Oct. 1781
- British Goal = Move to York Town, VA to get bailed out by the navy (sail back to NYC to regroup)
- American goal = Let's end this thing!
- French navy defeats British navy (British are surrounded in a siege both by land and by water)

Result = AMERICA AND FRANCE WIN!
- Last major battle of the revolution
Treaty of Paris 1783
England recognizes US independence
- Borders established

England and US share trade on Mississippi river

Britain allowed to collect debt America owes and Loyalists property must be returned

Complete evacuation of British troops (but they don't abandon forts in Canada)

England originally tries to say US can be its own part of British Empire
- US rejects this offer - no peace without France at the table too
- Bitter pill to swallow for Britain

(remember the painting sans British officials who refused to sit still)
Embargo Act 1807
Part of Peaceable Coercion
Peaceable Coercion was economic approach to foreign policy using trade and commerce, rather than war, as a diplomatic weapon.
- The US attempted to enforce neutral trading rights by putting economic pressure on Britain and France (who both made neutral trade difficult)

The Embargo Act in particular
- Prohibited all US ships from trading
- Was supposed to hurt Britain and France by denying them agricultural and manufactured goods
- Did a better job of hurting the US
- Seen as rather unsuccessful (only really hurts US merchants)
Nonintercourse Act 1809
Part of Peaceable Coercion
- Prohibited all trade with Britain and France BUT the President would allow trade with the first country to stop attacking our ships
Complications to Neutrality
(1) Are we bound by alliance with France
- Jefferson says yes: can't backstab France (brothers in arms, and they helped us)
- Hamilton says no: our alliance was with the crown, that's no longer France

(2) Arrival of French diplomat Minister Genet
- Representative of France and accepting a meeting would mean identifying the U.S. with the turmoil in France.
- Set precedent that US would recognize the appointed representative of any foreign government regardless of sentiment
- Also precedent of Execute Branch establishing relationship with foreign governments

(3) British Impressment
- Practice of British ships stopping American merchants and, proclaiming that the people on board were British, taking them and forcing them into the British navy
- Incredibly unfair (Americans essentially being stolen)
War of 1812
Causes:
- Economics (need to be able to trade) (Britain is confiscating trade goods)
- British wrongdoings (Britain is ignoring our status as an independent nation and doesn't respect our neutral trading rights)
- Native American Alliances -> killing Americans (and American Soldiers) (With Native Americans readily scalping Americans in return for British arms being one artists depiction of it all)
- Impressment (and other naval theft)
- Desire to drive Britain out of America
- Need to protect citizens harassed by Britain
- Need to almost "prove" itself as an independent nation
- British still have forts in Canada for easy attack
- Jay's treaty and embargo act (diplomatic negotiations) have failed

(1) Impressment
(2) Trade neutrality (Britain not respecting US)
(3) Naval theft (explaining another major injustice of British navy against US)
(4) Canada (and how Britain still has forts there)
(5) Native Americans (and how they're killing Americans)
(6) Diplomatic Failure (tried to peacefully resolve this (Jay's Treaty, Embargo act) and failed)

"War Hawks"
- Included politicians in Congress that wanted to declare war on Britain as a war of having America stand up for itself
- Felix Grundy being an example
- Painted picture of America being walked all over with Britain attempting "to subject our maritime rights to the arbitrary and capricious rule of her will"
- "Sir, I prefer war to submission"

James Madison on US Neutrality
- Britain is in a "state of war against the United States" while were are in a "state of peace" with them
- Thus we need to fight back
- Britain has all but declared war on us, but we refuse to fight back

Involvement:
The U.S. realizing total neutrality doesn't work, but only fighting Britain to try to return to neutrality.

The Stage:
- Britain had 6,000 troops in Canada (before Napoleon was defeated) and 125 gun ships at the ready
- America had 12,000 troops but 400,000 state militiamen could be called into action BUT they only had 6 gun ships AND had to fight on two fronts (American frontier and at sea)

Duration:
- 2.5 years of near-disasters and mistakes for the US
- Eventually entire US fleet confined to port by 80 British ships
- BRITISH BLOCKAGE MEANT NO TRADE OR DEFENSE TO THE US (and Early America needs trade)
- US militarily under-equipped and inexperienced
- US forces suffered defeats in attempts to invade Canada
- Napoleon's defeat in 1814 meant Britain could concentrate solely on the US
- Sentiments in Britain called for revocation of the Peace Treaty of 1783
- Most fighting on US soil (US just defending itself)

A turn for the better:
- US authorized 500 privateers to harass British shipping (they were met with great success, capturing over 1,300 British vessels)
Treaty of Paris 1814
Marked the defeat of Napoleon at the hands of the British. Allowed Great Britain to concentrate military efforts on the US during the War of 1812.

The surge in nationalism following the treaty led to sentiment in Britain calling for the revocation of the peace Treaty of 1783 (bringing the US back under British control) and even for forcing the US to return Louisiana to Spain.
Treaty of Ghent 1814
Part of War of 1812
- Marked the official end of the War of 1812
- Confirmed that the fighting would stop
- Acknowledged America is still independent
- Did little beyond that (no territory exchange, nothing to address Impressment, etc)
- Similar to Jay's treaty: meant to make a difference, but it really didn't to much)
- Despite doing little, they did fight the war without raising a large army, incurring a huge war debt, or upsetting the Consitution's checks and balances
- This led Americans to emerge from the war in high spirits
- A wave of nationalism followed and US entered Era of Good Feeling

Britain Relations Improve:
- Despite nothing being said in the treaty, Britain began to respect the rights of America (i.e. they stopped impressment and respected right to neutral trade)
- Some tensions remained until the end of the 19th century, but since then both nations have cooperated extensively ("special relationship")
Battle of New Orleans (1815)
Part of War of 1812
- Led by Andrew Jackson
- Like the Battle of Yorktown from the America revolution
- Last major battle in the War of 1812
- Despite being outnumbered, the American forces CRUSHED Britain
- Battle considered biggest British defeat by the US
- Irony: peace treaty was already signed (albeit not delivered) at the time of the battle
- Battle really convinced Britain to agree to peace
Monroe Doctrine 1823
The Stage:
- Post War of 1812
- Huge burst in nationalism
- Need for TERRITORY
- COMMERCIAL needs
- South America fighting for its independence (could become commercial interest to the U.S.)
- John Quincy Adams sees Latin American revolutions and says American should support fighting for independence but we can't FIGHT because then we're getting into wars
- Need to balance our interests AND support recognizing independent South American colonies, without getting militarily invested

The Solution:
- Monroe decided to anact his Doctrine
- Europe: stay away from us, we'll stay away from you
- Warning: stop trying to keep colonies in this hemisphere
- In exchange, we won't get involved in European wars again

The Impact:
- 1st foreign policy we have FOR OURSELVES that isn't just reaction to Europe
- Stay out of our backyard, we stay out of yours
- Demand for Europe to stay out of our hemisphere is either a defence of American security and ideals OR a way of giving America the green light to expand into the hemisphere as they saw fit (leading into manifest destiny)
- Steadily after the doctrine, the US acquired territory through conflict, purchases, and annexation

----

"We're protecting this side of the Atlantic. It's not in our best interests, then, to get involved in any international affairs in Europe"
- Justification for non-neutrality ->
- if Europe attempts to "extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and safety"
- "it's only when our rights are invaded or seriously menaced that we become resentful and make preparation for our defense"
Imperialism
Part of American Ideology Pre-Spanish American War

"Domination of one country over another country or group of people for political, economic, cultural gain"

- The American Identity in the 19th century was defined by the frontier
- Manifest destiny
- Once America expanded from coast to coast, imperialists were left afraid that a lack of expansion would lead to American stagnation
- Expansion overseas (imperialism) was their answer
- Thus a culture of American Imperialism was born

By 1896, the importance of Imperialism in politics had begun to die down
- With McKinley winning the 1896 election for his policies of economic prosperity despite Americans losing interest in Imperialism

Mark Twain brutally criticized Imperialism at many points. A leading anti-imperialist author
White Man's Burden
Part of American Ideology Pre-Spanish American War
- Belief in the obligation of superior white men to conquer and reform inferior peoples
- Otherwise these people won't know any better
- Christianity and civil liberty = Superior civilization that NEEDS to spread over the world
Missionary Spirit
Part of American Ideology Pre-Spanish American War
- Captures the belief in the superiority of Christian civilization and the duty of Christians to spread the word of God to primitive un-believers around the world
- Used as justification for imperialism to take over areas in the name of converting "savage" people
- "The two great ideas of mankind are Christianity and civil liberty (democracy, human rights). The Anglo-Saxon (white) civilization is the great representation of these two great ideas." -Reverend Josiah Strong 1891
Spanish American War 1898
Causes: (JIPUD)
- Journalism (yellow journalism and the media's impact)
- Imperialism (and the American mindset that led to our true intentions in the war)
- Private letter from Spanish diplomat that insulted the President (called him weak) (February 9th)
- USS Maine mysteriously exploded which led to declaring war on Spain
- Depression (economic depression that set America's interests on the Spanish colonies)

The Philippines
- Knowing that Spain had a fleet based in the Philippines, Commodore George Dewey drew up plans to attack the fleet and weaken the Spanish military machine before war had really started
- On May 1, Dewey led an American fleet to attack the Spaniards and sunk every ship in the Spanish fleet
- This military victor bolstered the War effort as it grew American pride which led to more than 220,000 volunteers signing up to fight Spain
USS Maine 1898
Part of Spanish American War
- USS Maine docked peacefully in Cuba's Havana Harbor
- The ship mysteriously exploded February 15th
- 260 American sailors were killed
- People blamed Spain
- Despite no one knowing who was really at fault, the blame to Spain stayed and US-Spanish tensions rose
- Large factor to eventually pulling the US to war against Spain
Treaty of Paris 1898
Part of Spanish American War
- December 10, 1898
- Gave US right to control Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam
- Finally approved on February 6, 1899

- Spain couldn't beat American navy or army in either Cuba or the Philippines
- Spain freed Cuba, gave Guam and Puerto Rico to the US
- Spain sold the Philippines for $20 million

Amendment to grant Philippines independence once a stable government was established
- Defeated when Vice President Garrett Hobart cast the tie-breaking vote
Teller Amendment 1898
Part of Post-Spanish American War
- Stated the U.S. had no intention to take over Cuba
- Explained the US was simply trying to defend the rights of the Cuban people
- No interest in asserting "sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control" over Cuba and promised to "leave the government and control of the island to its people" once peace was restored
- Amendment meant to appeal to American anti-imperialists who didn't want Cuban intervention to be a means of acquiring a larger American Empire at the Spanish expense
- Also an appeal to sugar growers in the States who didn't want to compete with the island's sugar plantations
- Leave once peace is restored
Platt Amendment 1901
Part of Post-Spanish American War
- Stated the US had the "right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty"
- States US could intervene in Cuban affairs
- Also made Cuba a protectorate of US
- States Cuba = free in spirit alone. For all practical purposes, they were controlled by US gov't (despite earlier 'intentions' to leave ex-Spanish colonies alone)

- Allowed US troops to occupy Cuba and forbade Cuba from making its own treaties with other nations

- Opened the door to an upsurge of American investment in Cuba's economy
- By 1928, US companies produced 75% of Cuba's sugar
- This economic domination of Cuba by American business left Cubans upset and would eventually fuel their revolution
Roosevelt Corollary
Part of Theodore Roosevelt
- New idea Roosevelt added to Monroe Doctrine
- US had the right to intervene to deal with "serious problems" involving countries in the Americas (good intentions: at the time, some countries were very badly run and wanted to avoid European temptation to step in and take over)
- Used by presidents in early 1900s to send military into countries (like Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua)
- By the late 1920s, US presidents rejected the Corollary (made US look like a bully)
---- Began to say we shouldn't intervene in affairs of other countries
---- 1930s emphasis on stronger FRIENDSHIPS between US and other American Nations ("Good Neighbor Policy")

- Took Monroe Doctrine 1 step further
- US justified to act as "International Police Power"
- "In the Western Hemisphere, the adherence to the Monroe Doctrine may force the US, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of wrongdoing, to the exercise of an international police power"

Additionally at the time:
America had vital interests in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Caused Roosevelt to build the Panama Canal to allow US Navy to move more easily between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to protect our interests
- Easy access to trade in these areas to increase American economy
WWI
Fought between 1914 and 1918
"The War to End All Wars"

The U.S. entered in 1917

- Over 37 million wounded & killed -> Russia has most with 9 million
- US 320,710 (doesn't include MIA)
- Map of Europe drastically changes as Empires collapse
- German, Austro-Hungarian, and Ottoman Empires collapse

- Why did US get involved? TRADE! -> Economic incentives to supply the allies -> neutrality is overrated
- As war started, trade with Germany fell drastically but trade with Allies picked up even more (most with Britain)

When the US joined:
- American troops and supplies turned the tide of war toward the ALLIES for VICTORY in 1917
- UP TO US (Senate decision on ratifying Wilson's league of nations)
- As a World Power, US vote set tone for the rest of the world
Central Powers
Mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Also included:
- Bulgaria
Triple Entente
The triple Entente refers specifically to the alliance between Britain, France, and Russia.

However, the Allied Powers also included:
- America
- Italy* (should have been a central power based on pre-war politics, but joined the Allies after a land offer from Britain)
- Ireland
- Belgium
- Netherlands
-Portugal
- Africa (mainly under France)
- Greece
- Albania
- Romania
- Serbia
- Montenegro
- Sicily
- Corsica
President Wilson: Declaration of Neutrality
Wilson uses Monroe doctrine to adhere to neutrality
- Domestic issues more important than international issues
- Isolationism/Non-intervention policy = mind your own business
- Problems and reforms at home are priority (like prohibiting woman's rights)
- The "Melting pot" of immigrants divided American loyalties between the two sides of the war (ex. German immigrants vs. Irish Immigrants)
- Burst of immigration -> coming from countries in WWI
Reasons for US entry into WWI
RMS Lusitania

German Interference with Neutral Trade

Zimmerman Telegram
RMS Lusitania 1915
Sunk on May 7, 1915
- Passenger ship from New York to Liverpool
- Took off despite warnings from German Authorities to the US (and despite US knowing of other British Merchant ships being sunk)
- Considered a fast ship, but the crew wasn't alert and didn't follow Admiralty's directions for evading German subs (sunk with a single torpedo)
- 128 Americans Killed
- Ship possibly carrying American arms sent to Britain (war supplies)
(secondary explosion on board is thought to have been munitions)
- Sunk by a German U-Boat
- Only one example of U-Boats destroying vessels with American passengers
Zimmerman telegram 1917
Last straw for the US
- Message from Germany to Mexico that offered Mexico land in the US if they allied Germany and entered the war. US got hold of the message and wasn't happy with Germany's threat to their security.

- German's underhanded deal to convince Mexico to join central powers vs. US
- Tipping point for US because the US has already been wronged by Germany (refusing to accept US neutrality and "neutral trading" rights)
- Yet, despite wrongs, US tried to keep out of war
- The actual telegram was a message between German officials discussing plans to offer US territory to Mexico as an incentive to join the war.
- Deciphered by British cryptographers and later sent to American officials
- US couldn't stand for this kind of threat to her security, and, on April 6, 1917, the US declares war on Germany

* important b/c it dragged the US into War
* up until this point, Wilson had slogan "He kept us out of war" and he had intended to keep that promise
* but Zimmerman Telegram broke the promise (war became unavoidable)
* of course, you could also say the telegram indirectly won the war for the Allies because the US entering turned the tides

"no single cryptanalsysis has had such enormous consequences" "never before or since has so much turned on the solution of a secret message"
President Wilson: Declaration of War
"there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately..."

"it is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken ... the challenge is to all mankind"

"Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of our nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion"

"but armed neutrality, it now appears, is impractical" "we will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most sacred rights of our nation"

"the wrongs against which we now array ourselves are no common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life"

"we are not about to accept battle with this natural foe to liberty"

"the world must be made safe for democracy." "we have no selfish ends to serve" "we shall be satisfied when those rights have been made a secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them"
Peace of Paris and Treaty of Versailles (1919)
PEACE OF PARIS CONFERENCE
Armistice: ceasefire where both sides agree to stop the fight and talk peace
- THE BIG THREE:
- President Wilson (US)
- Prime Minister Lloyd George (Britain)
- Prime Minister Clemenceau (France)

Wilson had idea for "Peace Without Victory" - Peace without Blame/Peace without penalty for Germany

FINAL TREATY OF VERSAILLES
President Wilson asked for "peace without victory"
- Germans accepted the 14 points BUT Britain and France wanted payback from Germany after losing so many men in war

Written as Peace of Paris Conference
- Came after Wilson's 14 points (and rejected "peace without victory")
- Really the Big Three could do whatever they wanted, as Germany was all but crushed. They decided to get revenge.

Germany:
(1) Recognizing independence
- Of Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia (bitter pill to swallow b/c countries get old German territory)
- Gives up all rights and titles over oversea possessions
- Stripped of colonies and territories -> ends the empire
(2) Armed forces restricted
- Only 100,000 in army to prevent them from starting war again
- 7 divisions of infantry and 3 divisions of cavalry
- Army solely for maintenance of order within German territory
- Armed forces of Germany can't include a navy or air force (prevent u-boat warfare)
(3) War guilt clause
- Demanded HUGE reparations to compensate for losses in war
- ALL blame for allies losses and need for complete reparation

* Resulted in German resentment b/c no other central power was blamed or made to pay.
* Recognizes independence of these countries (creates modern map of Europe)
* Germany falls into debt which leads to hyperinflation
- Italy got nothing -> Italy changes sides in WWII
* German resentment and economic crash created a political landscape favorable to Hitler. Tensions that surmount eventually lead to WWII
League of Nations
Proposed by President Wilson after the War.
- Without US support, however, it'd be largely ineffective (and would fail to prevent WWII)
- Instead of adopting the treaty: US RETURNS TO ISOLATIONISM
- Wanted no part in another horrific war from Europe's issues
- Going so far as to even reduce trade.

HOWEVER: Many other countries adopt the League of Nations
Nye Committee
- Investigated US involvement in WWI
- Charged banks and weapons companies as "merchants of death" who used war to make money
- Further pushed the US from wanting to get involved in another war
- Neutrality Acts were created as a result of the Nye Committee to ensure TRADE never pulled the US into war again.
Post WWI / Pre WWII
Beginning of Wiemar Republic
- German officials afraid of unrest and revolt of their people following defeat in WWI
- German generals asked the government to form a REPUBLIC
- Nov. 9, 1918 declared Germany a republic
- But, at the same time, HUGE HYPERINFLATION
- Economy down the drown, worthless money, etc.
- As unemployment rose, so did votes for Hitler (promised to solve unemployment, but also blames bankers/JEWS and was very Nationalistic and Militaristic)

HITLER'S RISE TO POWER
- Brings Nazi party to power using anger over Treaty of Versailles & Inflation and economic crisis to rally support
- On January 30, 1933, he's named Weimar Chancellor
- Quickly ends all democratic institutions and individual rights (constitution is TRASHED, burned)
- New goal: taking back of the Rhineland and building up of the miltiary
Reasons for US entry into WWII
US Hesitant to enter b/c they had disarmed and reduced army from 5 million at end of WWI to 118,000.
They'd also adopted the Good Neighbor Policy "No Country has the right to intervene in internal or external affairs of another"
- Push for isolationism

BUT...
Then Pearl Harbor happens
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan"
- US declared war -> other Axis powers Germany and Italy declare war on the US -> US declares back
Good Neighbor Policy 1933
The opposite of Teddy Roosevelt's BIG STICK policy
- With GNP, FDR united western hemisphere
- "No country has the right to intervene in internal or external affairs of another
- Policy of non-intervention and cooperation
Appeasement
Policy where one country will give another country something they want in hopes it will appease them -> stop them from asking for more. "Remember... One more Lollypop, and Then You All Go Home!"
- As tensions mounted, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Britain tried to defuse the situation by appeasing the Germans (called for concessions to avoid a war)
- "got the impression [of Hitler] that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word"
- Other countries followed suit, giving Hitler a lot of leeway in the hopes that he would just stop

- But, it seemed Hitler would not compromise in the end, and the Munich pact (giving Hitler the Sudetenland) was a result -> more Appeasement
- And people thought the Munich pact was GOOD (a way to further avoid war) -> "peace for our time" "peace with honor"
- Winston Churchill saw the flaws "You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war"
- Churchill defined appeaser as "one who feeds a crocodile--hoping that it will eat him last"

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REASONS FOR APPEASEMENT
(1) Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany -> so they get some leeway
(2) Economic Struggles During the Great Depression -> "butter before guns" so war wasn't an option
(3) Public Opinion and Pacifism -> No one wanted war, they'd already fought "the war to end all wars"
(4) Military Weakness -> Great Britain had already cut down on its military, couldn't afford to rebuild it now
(5) Lack of reliable allies -> Britain only had its own Empire for support (USA was too isolationist and Russia was Communist and untrustworthy)
(6) Concerns over the British Empire -> British Empire too huge to maintain AND fight a war
(7) Fear of Communism -> "Better Hitlerism than Communism", and fighting Hitler might spread Communism, while Hitler's lead in Germany could be good
Axis Powers
During WWII, powers were Germany and Japan and Italy.
Neutrality Acts 1935-1937
- Prohibited weapon sales or loans to nations at war
- Prohibited Americans from traveling on ships of nations at war (to stop a repeat of the Lusitania)
- Limited the powers of the President as a Commander-in_Chief
- Supported by US public based on opinion polls about US involvement in WWI (64% felt WWI involvement was a mistake in 1937)
2nd Saturday Surprise 1936
Hitler moves German troops into the Rhineland in direct violation of the treaty of Versailles
- Germany had already left the League of Nations in 1933 (doesn't want to comply with demilitarization)
Munich Pact 1938
Key component of Appeasement
- British and French leaders signed away several Czech border regions (the Sudetenland) to Germany
- Specifically, agreement between Hitler, Britain, and France giving Germany the right to invade Czechoslovakia
Anschluss 1938
"Union" with Austria (really just occupation and annexation of Austria without their permission)
Pact of Steel 1939
Pact/Alliance between Rome-Berlin-Tokyo (axis powers alliance)
- Tripartite Pact (Adolf Hitler, Galenzzo Cino, Sabuno Kuruso)
World War II 1939
Starts when German troops invade Poland
- September 1, 1939
- Polish army quickly defeated and Warsaw surrendered
- Britain and France had guaranteed Poland's border and were forced to declare war on Germany on September 3rd

RESULTS:
- 64 million deaths - soldiers and civilians (24 million Soviet, 8 million German, 800,000 US)
- 10-20 million refugees
- Industry down 40% (down 50% in Germany)
- Food production down 33% - down 40% in Germany (bread rationing in Britain)
Cash and Carry Act 1939
US was pressured by economic depression to widen its ability to sell weapons to Europe
- Started by FDR in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland
- US could sell weapons to Allies in Europe on a "cash and carry" basis - Europe had to come pick up weapons themselves and PAY IN CASH
- Demand for weapons brought US economy out of depression
Destroyers for Bases 1940
Deal with Britain
- Between FDR and Churchill - presidential agreement that could not be vetoed by Congress
- France had fallen to Hitler, Britain was next
- So US gave 50 WWI tanks to Britain in exchange for 8 British naval bases in the Caribbean and Canada
** Not violating neutrality act, just making a trade agreement (buying naval bases in OUR hemisphere with tanks of equal value)
Lend Lease 1941
Roosevelt didn't like Hitler, and he knew he wanted to align the US with the Western democracies, but military intervention wasn't quite a viable option at that moment for the US (too much popular force against war)
- By summer 1940, Germany had overrun Europe and Britain stood alone, dependent on arms purchases from the US
- BUT, come December, Churchill informed FDR that his nation could no longer pay for US arms (also, Congress was unlikely to approve a lone)

- Roosevelt himself devised the solution, a "flash of almost clairvoyant knowledge and understanding"
- The US would send armaments to Britain without charge, asking only that they be returned after the war
- The "fire hose" analogy ("Suppose my neighbor's home catches fire and I have a length of garden hose four or five hundred feet away")

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Gave Britain war supplies on "loan" since Britain was bankrupt
- Cash and Carry no longer an option
- FDR won American popular support by justifying lend lease as US showing itself as the "Great Arsenal of Democracy"
- "Britain is our last hope -> need to put others in front of ourselves"
- Way to out-maneuver Neutrality Act limitations

- Total of $50 billion loaned ($647 billion today)
- Finally paid back by Britain in 2006
Pearl Harbor 1941
Roots:
- Japan (an Allied Power) had been ignored at the Peace of Paris Conference
- Becomes increasingly imperialist
- This triggers US to move Pacific Fleet from San Diego to Pearl Harbor Hawaii - a message to threaten Japan and to protect the Philippines
- Under Neutrality Act -> America cut off Steel and Oil Shipments to Japan (80% of Japanese oil from US)
- Japan only had 2 years worth of oil reserves
- Also cut off 90% of trade in raw materials needed by Japan for war

- Japan didn't believe it could win a drawn-out war with the US
- Wanted to cripple the Pacific Fleet in one hit so it could invade oil-rich Dutch East Indies and Philippines without opposition
- 360 Japanese planes hit at 7:45 Hawaii time
- Despite warnings, no one believed the Japanese were capable fo the attack

- 5 of 8 US battleships, 3 destroyer ships, 7 other naval ships sunk or destroyed
- 2,400 Americans killed, 1,200 wounded
- Japan only lost 30 planes, 5 small subs, and less than 100 men

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By December, 1941, Japanese Army had a force of 2,400,000 trained ground troops and an air fleet of 7,500 planes. US had a force of 1,500,000 with only 500,000 being completely trained, and 1,157 planes with 347 war ships
- Much of America's further war production was committed through the Lend Lease Program
- Japan believed US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor was their only threat and set out to eliminate the fleet through a surprise air attack

- US received several warnings in advance, but the US War Department didn't believe Japan was on the verge of attacking the US (after all peace talks were underway)
- Even upon receiving a written message from Japan threatening war on the day of the attack, the US couldn't appreciate the full implications
- Poor communications between Washington and Hawaii helped Japan achieve the surprise attack
- Two early warnings came, but both were ignored. The second warning involved the sighting of planes about 50 miles away from an Army information center at Fort Shafter, but the lieutenant believed they were US planes returning from a spy mission

TWO WAVES OF ATTACK
- First at 7:45 am attacking seven U.S. ships along "Battleship Row"
- Second wave finished the devastation
- In less than two hours the Japanese had ruined the U.S. Pacific Fleet's battleship force, ensuring the US would not interfere with further plans for conquest

AFTERMATH
- Martial law was established, as were strict curfews and blackouts
- Censorship of news and mail
- Japanese owned businesses shut down
- Japanese internment
- Poor conditions, with no plumbing or cooking facilities, and even though the camps closed in 1945, it wasn't until 1968 that the US Government began paying compensation to Japenese American citizens (which was only ever provided to approximately 60,000 of those who had survived to receive it)

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"Battleship row"
- Bunch of ships in one area
- In a harbor without easy access to the ocean
- So close together that domino effect of explosions made the ships one giant target

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan"
- US declared war -> other Axis powers Germany and Italy declare war on the US -> US declares back
Big Three of WWII
DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS BIG THREE
NOW, IT INCLUDES:

US President Roosevelt (then Truman at Postdam)
Britain Prime Minister Churchill
Soviet Union Secretary General Stalin
Tehran Conference (1943)
One of the post war conferences between the Big Three
- The first one, in Tehran, Iran
- Codenamed EUREKA
Little progress but lots of debate over war policy
- Progress of war dominated meetings
- Symbolized the future relationships of the allies: military alignment rather than a real cooperation between nations (foreshadowing future tensions)
- Discussed future Ally operations including D-Day (Operation Overlord) and invasion of Southern France (Overation Anvil)
--- D-day ended up a victory for US and Britain but with terrible casualties
- Tried to get Turkey as an Ally (was neutral at the time)
- Finland was also an issue because it was recently captured by the Nazis (Big Three wanted to separate it from Hitler's grasp)
** But doesn't accomplish much outside of strategy

- Also initial agreement that USSR would declare war on Japan ONLY if US and Britain could defeat Germany (deal not finalized until Yalta)
- In exchange, Roosevelt promised USSR land in Asia
Yalta Conference 1945
Meeting between the big three to establish Post War Germany
- Iron curtains, UN, splitting Germany into 4 sections
- Called when Germany was about to surrender
- Germany had to pay $20 million to the Soviet Union for war reparations

- Compromises made didn't satisfy anyone, but really just resulted in Allied Occupation of Germany, rise of the iron curtain, and the establishment of the UN (firmed up some parts of UN, like 5 permanent members of Security Council)
- Resulted in many Eastern European states becoming soviet satellites

- Another major issue discussed was the strategy to defeat Japan
- US needed Soviet Union to help
- In exchange for return of territory in the Far East (Asia), Stalin promised he would declare war on Japan within 90 days of Germany's surrender
- He kept his promise, entering war with Japan on August 8, 1945
- Happened two days after Truman ordered the atomic bombing that quickly brought an end to World War II

- Agreed to allow France to also govern Germany after the war

MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
- How much land to give to Soviet Union
- Soviets ended up receiving Eastern European countries (like Latvia Estonia Lithuania) (sounds like Appeasement)
- Should Germany pay reparations?
- Finalized deal to have Soviet Union declare war on Japan in exchange for Manchuria and Kurile Islands in Pacific
Potsdam Conference 1945
- From July 17 to August 2, 1945
- The Big Three met in Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, Germany
- Final wartime conference (after Germany had surrendered unconditionally and Japan continued to fight)

- The Big Three delivered an ultimatum to Japan during the conference (surrender unconditionally or be destroyed)
- Rest of the conference devoted to the arrangement of postwar Europe (Soviet control of Eastern Europe was recognized by the Western powers as well as terms for dividing Berlin, Germany into four quadrants (each to be ruled by an ally - The UK, the US, the USSR, and FRANCE)

- Number of other agreements reached for reestablishment of governments and economies in the defeated countries of Germany, Italy, and Japan
- Truman received word of successful atom bomb testing during the conference and informed Churchill but only told Stalin the US had developed a "new weapon"
- Political and ideological differences between the US and the Soviet Union began to clearly emerge at the conference, and many consider it the start of the Cold War (due to the growing distrust between the US and the USSR)

GERMANY:
- Decided didn't want a repeat of Treaty of Versailles, so they only asked for $23 billion in reparations ($287.5 billion in today's money)
The Cold War
July 1945
- US government foreign policy has 1 focus = CONTAINMENT
- Contain the spread of communism and SPREAD democracy
- Deep Freeze: US and Soviet Union Foreign Policy Relations 1949-1991

- Aim to secure post WWII peace
- Potsdam conference
- Big three, splitting into two (USA and Britain for free gov't vs. Stalin of USSR for communism)
- Allies in war, but ideological differences = conflict
- Liberal democracy vs. communism

Lack of trust between liberal democracies and communists
- Truman gave order to use the bomb, but never told Stalin of its existence
- Stalin would later note the bomb destroyed balance between USSR and USA (USA too far ahead)
- Tensions would erupt in cold war

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Starts with Post WWII recovery
- US leading superpower after WWII (no destruction on our soil aside from Pearl Harbor)
- Nations of Europe destroyed -> ruined by bombs, starvation, needing to be re-built
- Soviet Union (USSR) is SECOND biggest superpower to survive the war
- Now has additional countries in its "empire" called Soviet Satellites

- US and USSR have totally opposing views of what to do post WWII
- US thinks Germany should be healed and re-built, wants to spread democracy
- USSR feels Germany should be kept weak so it can never attack again (since it had attacked twice w/ WWI-II), wants to spread communism (political system where economy and society are all equal - no separate classes and government controls it all)

----

COLD because tense as war but never actual war between USSR and US
- Instead, it was deep-rooted hatred, political, military, technological rivalry
- Was a war of political ideologies, nuclear weapon threats, and proxy war

INCLUDED SUCH CONFLICTS AS
- President Truman and the Korean War (1950-1953)
- President Kennedy and Cuba - Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis (1960-1963)
- President Nixon and Vietnam War (1965-1973)
- President Nixon and Vietnam War, Visit to China (1972)
- President Carter and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979)
- President Reagan and Fall of Berlin Wall (1989)
- President G.H. Bush and the First Gulf War (1990-1991)
- President Obama and Russia over Syria intervention (2013)
Proxy War
When larger countries use smaller countries to fight their battles
- Goal is to keep your rival enemy from winning more allies and spreading their ideologies

Example being Korean War (US supported South Korea and democratic gov't while USSR supported North Korea and communist government
- Using your children to fight it out for you
Soviet Satellite
Countries that were a part of the Soviet communist "empire" without real, independent governments of their own (states puppeteered by the USSR)

Countries that are technically independent but controlled politcally, economically, socially by USSR
- Like puppets on strings
Marshall Plan 1947
Plan to rebuild Europe 1947-1951 (European Recovery Program ERP)
- Created by Sec. of State George Marshall
- Europe received $13 billion in aid from US - INCLUDING Germany and Italy
- Shipments of food, fuel, machinery, serious investments in European Industries

Results: By 1952, Europe is back in business like they were Pre-WWII (Amazing turnaround)
Truman Doctrine 1947
Foreign policy of CONTAINMENT
- MINIMIZE spread of communism b/c seen as direct enemy of democracy, freedom, equality (seen as cousin to total control gov't of Hitler and Facism)
- Accomplish that foreign policy by providing military and econiomic aid to Europe in the form of the Marshall plan
NATO 1949
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Set of trade partners and friendly nations united by Marshall Plan -> Became an ALLIANCE (US teammates)

Goals:
- Unify Europe through trade and political freedoms
- Prevent another rise of destructive militarism by being mutually dependent on trade instead
- Prevent expansion of communism and soviet power
Korean War
North Korea attacks South Korea
- Korea had been divided by 38th parallel
- US had installed democracy in SK, but communist Kim Il Sung was installed in NK
- NK + USSR + China tried to launch an offensive, which caused the US to worry
- US lead a coalition of 15 countries to fight for/defend SK (termed a "police action" but really just a nasty war)
- War resulted in, really, a stalemate (tons of people died on both sides, and no borders changed)
Warsaw Pact 1955
Mutual military defense organization under leadership of Soviet Union (USSR Teammates) -> Obligates to fight for each other

Goals:
- Keep communism alive and keep East Berlin/East Germany WEAK
- Created in retaliation of NATO incorporating West Berlin/West Germany into NATO and giving it ability to remilitarize

EUROPE SPLIT INTO TWO ALLIANCES

(result of upped tensions)
- Ideology/Atomic Weapons/Post war aid (soviet union left out)
Cuban Missile Crisis
During JFK's administration
- Bay of Pigs invasion had just failed (after JFK refused to support the mission with reinforcements)
- The plan that was meant to take Castro out of power resulted in a HUMILIATING defeat
- US responded by placing huge sanctions on Cuba, so Cuba TURNED TO THE USSR

- Results in a new Soviet strategy
-Cruise ships carrying soviet NUKES and troops left Russia (missile sites being built on Cuban soil)
- US announced intention to respond with nukes to any attack launched on the western hemisphere from Cuba
- Crisis turned critical as US forces prepared for invasion of Cuba (SAC moved to defense position 2 (next step would be DEFCON 1))
- Most dangerously close we came to nuclear war
- US prepared to nuke every major Soviet city
- Due to US's policy of flexible response, every military option was open
- Tried to negotiate a settlement

- Diplomacy (between Russian Ambassador and Bobby Kennedy) prevailed
- Russia dismantled missile bases and returned nuke's to Russia
- In exchange, US missiles were removed from Turkey (haha) - and US promised not to invade Cuba
- Untying knots

** THAW in the Cold War
- Realization to JFK that nuclear war is UNWINNABLE
SALT
SALT treaty meant to reduce use of nuclear weaponry -> thaw in the cold war
- Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty
- What does S.A.L.T. do to ice?
- Depending on the salt, it cools it slightly. Err, I mean it melts it! It thaws it!
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