U.S. Foreign Policy: WWI to 1950s

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Questions and Answers

What event in 1915 significantly worsened U.S.-German relations?

The interception of the Zimmermann telegram

The initiation of unrestricted submarine warfare

The sinking of the Lusitania (correct)

The declaration of war on Germany

Which proposal did Germany make to Mexico in the Zimmermann telegram?

Assistance in reclaiming lost territories from the U.S. (correct)

A peace treaty with the United States

Financial support for Mexico's military expansion

An alliance to invade Canada

Who was the President of the United States during its entry into World War I?

Theodore Roosevelt

Herbert Hoover

Woodrow Wilson (correct)

Warren G. Harding

What was included in President Wilson's Fourteen Points?

Open peace covenants and the creation of the League of Nations Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles for Germany?

It created the Weimar Republic and imposed reparations Signup and view all the answers

How many American soldiers were deployed in Europe by the end of World War I?

2 million Signup and view all the answers

Why did the U.S. Senate ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1921?

After the League of Nations articles were dropped Signup and view all the answers

What was a key reason for the U.S. intervention in Russia from 1918 to 1920?

To assist anti-Bolshevik forces Signup and view all the answers

What event marked the end of World War II in Europe?

Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945 Signup and view all the answers

Which two cities were bombed during the attacks that led to Japan's surrender?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan?

Winning hearts and minds of the local population Signup and view all the answers

What significant document was signed by 51 states in 1945?

The United Nations Charter Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant danger of using historical analogies in foreign policy?

They may lead to the oversimplification of unique situations Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the Truman Doctrine issued in 1947?

To support free peoples resisting subjugation Signup and view all the answers

Which policy aimed to limit the influence and expansion of the U.S.S.R. during the Cold War?

Containment policy Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive bias might result from an overemphasis on visible past events in policymaking?

A lack of awareness of important non-events Signup and view all the answers

Which military alliance was formed in 1949 as a response to the growing threat of the U.S.S.R.?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Signup and view all the answers

What can happen due to overgeneralization of lessons from past conflicts?

Creating overly simplistic views of different insurgencies Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Afghanistan, what tribal and ethnic divisions must be understood to avoid conflict?

Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Hazaras Signup and view all the answers

What major event triggered United Nations intervention in the Korean War?

North Korea's invasion of South Korea Signup and view all the answers

How many American casualties were reported during World War II?

About 418,500 Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the Trump administration's misread of the situation in Venezuela?

Misjudging the strength of Maduro’s loyalist factions Signup and view all the answers

What lesson can be drawn regarding U.S. foreign policy from historical precedents?

Understanding local dynamics is crucial to avoid repeating past mistakes. Signup and view all the answers

What approach did Obama take in response to human rights violations in Venezuela?

Enacted sanctions but maintained oil trade ties Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant misstep in Trump’s handling of Venezuela?

Failing to anticipate post-Maduro recovery Signup and view all the answers

What does the Bay of Pigs invasion illustrate in the context of U.S. intervention?

The importance of understanding local nationalist sentiment Signup and view all the answers

What common theme is evident in U.S.-Cuban and U.S.-Venezuelan relations?

Patterns of misunderstanding local political contexts Signup and view all the answers

What factor did policymakers overlook when considering foreign intervention strategies?

Social and political fractures within the country Signup and view all the answers

How did U.S. foreign policy misjudge the role of military forces in Venezuela?

By anticipating mass defections from the military Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Washington Naval Conference held between 1921 and 1922?

To promote disarmament and limit battleship construction Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff enacted in 1930?

It triggered tariff wars globally Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of the Good Neighbor Policy promoted by Franklin D. Roosevelt?

To foster amicable relations and reduce military intervention in Latin America Signup and view all the answers

What did the Atlantic Charter, signed by Roosevelt and Churchill in August 1941, outline?

War objectives and principles for allied nations Signup and view all the answers

What was one objective the U.S. pursued during the Second World War?

To win the war in Europe first before addressing the Pacific Signup and view all the answers

What event prompted the U.S. to declare war on Japan in December 1941?

The invasion of Pearl Harbor Signup and view all the answers

What series of acts did Congress pass in the 1930s to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts?

The Neutrality Acts Signup and view all the answers

What was a result of the U.S. occupation of the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Haiti?

Rise of dictatorial regimes after U.S. withdrawal Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

U.S. Foreign Policy: From WWI to the 1950s

WWI (1914-1918):
- U.S. initially neutral, but leaned towards Britain.
- 1915: German submarine sunk passenger ship Lusitania, killing 128 Americans.
- 1917: Germany introduced unrestricted submarine warfare, threatening any ships near Britain.
- February 1917: U.S. broke diplomatic ties with Germany.
- February 1917: Zimmermann Telegram intercepted, Germany proposed alliance with Mexico to reclaim lost territory.
- April 1917: U.S. declared war on Germany.
- By war's end: 2 million American soldiers in Europe.
- January 1918: President Wilson's Fourteen Points speech:
  - Idealistic vision for postwar world, including League of Nations.
  - Open peace covenants, removal of trade tariffs, reduced arms, end of colonialism.
The Interwar Years (1919-1939):
- Treaty of Versailles (1919):
  - Punished and weakened Germany.
  - Established Weimar Republic.
  - Germany assigned $33 billion in reparations and lost colonial possessions.
  - U.S. Senate ratified the treaty (1921) after removing League of Nations articles.
- 1918-1920: U.S. intervened in Russia to support anti-Bolshevik forces.
- 1920s:
  - U.S. focused on foreign trade, investment, arms control, and disarmament.
  - Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922): Limited battleship construction for ten years.
  - Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): 62 nations renounced war as policy but lacked enforcement.
- U.S. Occupations:
  - Dominican Republic (1916-1924),
  - Nicaragua (1912-1925, 1926-1933),
  - Haiti (1915-1934)
- All occupations were to protect American interests.
- 1929: Great Depression led to plummeting international trade.
- 1930: Smoot-Hawley Tariff implemented, triggering tariff wars.
- 1933:
  - President Roosevelt slashed tariffs and recognized Soviet Union.
  - Good Neighbor Policy towards Latin America: Resisting force to protect U.S. business.
  - Roosevelt supported appeasement of Nazi Germany (failed).
- 1935-1937: Congress passed Neutrality Acts to keep U.S. out of foreign conflicts.
- 1940s: U.S. Navy enforced 300-mile neutrality zone along American coasts.
WWII (1939-1945):
- June 1940: German invasion of France brought Britain and U.S. closer.
- March 1941: Congress approved Lend-Lease Program, allowing arms to nations vital to U.S. security.
- 1940: Roosevelt introduced the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.
- August 1941: Atlantic Charter signed with British PM Winston Churchill, outlining war objectives.
- July 1941: Trade with Japan halted after they sent forces into French Indochina.
- December 7, 1941: Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
- December 8, 1941: U.S. declared war on Japan; Germany declared war on the U.S. three days later.
- U.S. War Objectives:
  - Maintain Grand Alliance with Britain and USSR.
  - Win war in Europe first.
  - Achieve complete victory with unconditional surrender.
- Strained Alliance: Britain and U.S. delays in invading Europe.
- May 7, 1945: Germany surrendered unconditionally.
- August 14, 1945: Japan surrendered unconditionally after atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Total Casualties:
  - U.S.: ~418,500
  - Total: Over 70 million

The 1940s: Postwar Realities

American Foreign Policy Shift:
- Realist, interventionist, and multilateralist during WWII.
Postwar Planning:
- Conferences to establish postwar order.
  - 1944: Bretton Woods Conference, established International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
  - 1945: United Nations Charter signed in San Francisco by 51 states.
Postwar Trials:
- Nuremberg and Tokyo trials from 1945 to 1948 for German and Japanese war criminals.
Germany and Japan:
- U.S., Britain, and France merged their occupation zones in Germany, creating West Germany (1949).
- West Germany and Japan disarmed and had democratic institutions imposed.
U.S.-Soviet Tensions:
- No agreement on Eastern Europe's future.
- Confrontations over Iran and Turkey, and Greek communist insurgency.
- 1947: Truman Doctrine announced: Supporting free peoples resisting subjugation.
- 1948: Marshall Plan began to provide billions of dollars for European reconstruction.
- Truman adopted containment policy towards USSR to change Soviet policies or break up the Soviet Union.
- 1948-1949: Soviet blockade of West Berlin; U.S. airlifted supplies for a year.
- 1949:
  - Communists won Chinese civil war.
  - USSR developed nuclear weapons.
  - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed.

The Korean War (1950-1953)

North Korea invaded South Korea, sparking a U.N. intervention.
U.S. successfully drove out North Korean forces.
China intervened militarily when the U.S. invaded North Korea.
Over 34,000 U.S. troops killed.

The 1950s

Dwight Eisenhower administration:
- Created regional alliances to contain the USSR.

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Description

Explore the evolution of U.S. foreign policy from World War I through the 1950s. This quiz covers key events, decisions, and ideologies that shaped America's international stance, including the effects of the Treaty of Versailles and Wilson's Fourteen Points. Test your knowledge of significant historical moments that influenced global relations during this period.