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American Revolution
Tensions between the British Crown, represented by the colonial government, and the citizens of the 13 Colonies sparked the American Revolution. France entered the war, making the war an international affair, siding with the colonists in their fight for independence. The colonies won their independence, and all fighting ended by 1783. -
Washington's Farewell Address
In his farewell address, Washington warned and advised the American people on several topics to preserve safety and happiness. Washington warned against factions and sectionalism which would divide and destroy the Union, promoted the idea that religion and morality increase political prosperity, and suggested that the United States steer clear from political connections with foreign nations creating permanent alliances. His address established American values and position on foreign affairs. -
Barbary Wars
The Barbary States, upon learning that American ships were open to attack, successfully captured several American ships as the United States lacked a navy. President Jefferson refused to pay tribute, and years of war were waged between. This was the first war America waged in the "Old World." -
Embargo Act
The Embargo Act was passed at Jefferson's request after his non-violent approach to the British and French molestation of American merchant ships failed. The embargo closed all ports to export, cutting off foreign trade, and hurting many American famers. -
War of 1812
Due to America's desire to expand territorially, the Royal Navy's seizure of American ships, and the British attempts to restrict U.S. trade, the United States and Great Britain waged another war. The United States suffered from several losses to the British, Canadians, and Native Americans; but the U.S. also pulled some major victories preventing British invasions in New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans. These victories ultimately helped boost American pride and patriotism. -
Monroe Doctrine
The idea of Spain reclaiming the Western Hemisphere concerned President Monroe heeded advice from John Quincy Adams. The result was the Monroe Doctrine, though it was not refferred to as that at that time, which said that the U.S. would not get involved in European affairs nor interfere with existing European colonies in the Western hemisphere. It did say that any further attempts of colonization in the Western hemisphere would be met with U.S. opposition. -
Manifest Destiny
The belief that Americans had a divine obligation to expand westward toward the Pacific Ocean. The westward expansion was driven by religious fervor, the belief that God blessed the nation to expand, and other economic incentives. Manifest Destiny caused issues within religion, race, morality, and money, and can be viewed as a cultural war. It was also the precursor to the U.S-Mexican War. -
U.S. Mexican War
The Manifest Destiny driven U.S. and the politically divided, unstable Mexico clashed head-to-head in the U.S.-Mexican War which drastically changed the future of both nations. By the time the war ended in 1848, Mexico lost close to half of its territory, the present Southwest of the U.S. The war left a lasting impact: many now question the morality of the war and whether or not it was truly necessary. -
Spanish-American-Cuban War
The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence, was waged between Spain and the U.S., and ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas. The U.S. acquired western Pacific and Latin American territories. Spain's defeat allowed attention to transfer from overseas colonial expanision to domestic needs revitalizing the Spanish economy, culture, and literacy. The U.S. came out a world power - vital to its role in international politics and European affairs. -
Roosevelt Corollary
A reaffirmation of the Monroe Doctrine's claim, Roosevelt assured that any European invasion of the Western hemisphere would be met with U.S. opposition. He also added that the U.S. would also protect Latin America. In 1905, Roosevelt's corollary was in full effect when the Dominican Republic was under threat of invasion by European debt collectors. The U.S. faithfully carried out its claim. -
World War I
The Serbian assassination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked WWI. The Central Powers fought against the Allied Powers. The U.S. entered the war with the Allies in 1917. By the end of WWI the deaths suprassed 9 million and injuries 21 million, international relationships soured, and Germany devastated economically, politically & patriotically. In combination with the Treaty of Versailles, WWI was the precursor to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's rise & another international conflict, WW II. -
American Isolationism
The idea of isolationism was generated by the culmination of the Great Depression and the losses from WWI. America shifted from being greatly involved in European affairs to complete neutrality. Even after agressive Nazi actions, America was still leary of entering onto the world stage again. Public opionion shifted slightly from complete neutrality to limited support. The Pearl Harbor Attack changed public opinion. -
World War II
A politcally and economically devastated Germany sought the help of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 sparked British and French involvement against Nazi Germany; it sparked WWII. Six years later, after the war finally ended, nearly 45-60 million people were killed, not including the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. WWII serves as a reminder to not repeat history and leave a country (who was not entirely responsible for WWI) devastated & unstable. -
The Cold War
The Cold War shaped American foreign policy. The U.S. believed the only defense to Soviet domination was containment. The Cold War led to a nuclear arms race, a race to space, and the Red Scare (the belief that communism was alive and well in the U.S.) which ultimately caused many to lose their jobs in the U.S.. By 1991, the Cold War was finally over. -
Engagement
Engagement is the current U.S. policy which went into effect soon after the end of WWII. This is the opposite of the isolationism policy America adopted after the losses of WWI. Under this foreign policy, the U.S. has involved themself in many international affairs with the most recent being the conflict in Syria. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine pushed for monetary and military U.S. support for Greece and Turkey, two countries who were vulnerable to Soviet domination and Communism. The doctrine, if approved, would involve the United States in yet another foreign, overseas conflict. Many historians say that Truman's address was the official declaration of the Cold War. -
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan called for the channeling of $13 billion to Europe for the puropse of financial recovery. The Americans viewed the plan as a gesture of generosity while the Soviets saw the plan as an attempt to interfere with international, foreign affairs and successfully prevented Poland and Czechoslovakia from taking part in the plan. For the U.S., the plan rehabilitated Europe's economy making it a more stable investment. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The struggle to annex Hawaii began as early as 1820, or at least interest in Hawaii. Relations between the Hawaii and America were strained, especially when the Mckinley Tariff was approved, hurting Hawaiian sugar growers. Eventually, the suger growers overthrew the Queen of Hawaii with U.S. provided protection. It was not Clevelend but Mckinely who signed the resoultion to annex Hawaii which remained a territory until 1959 when it was annexed into the Union. -
Vietnam
The U.S. entered Veitnam in hopes of preventing the spread of communism. The Vietnam War was a very long, controversial war that resulted in the deaths of many U.S. troops, no exact victor, and a disarray of America's foreign policy of containment. Unlike other wars, when U.S. troops returned, their service went unappreciated. America was not proud of their troops -
Détente
Détente is a French term that when translated means relaxtion. The period of time when relationships between the U.S. and the Soviet Union improved. Expanded commerce and cooperative research in space exploration resulted from several signed agreements between Nixon and Brezhnev. Détente came to an end when Reagan was elected. -
Carter's Emphasis on Foreign Policy
Carter pushed for a foreign policy completely different than the Nixon Administartion's foreign policy. Carter emphasized a foreign policy founded on human rights, moral values, and service to humankind. His foreign policy was initially successful with the discontinued military and political support of President Somoza, normalizing relations with mainland China, and mollifying the hostility between Egypt and Israel. -
9/11 Attacks
19 al-Qaeda militants hijaked four airliners and committed suicide attacks against the U.S. With two airliners hitting both towers of the World Trade Center, one hitting the Pentagon, and one crashing in a Pennsylvanian field, nearly 3,000 died along with an estimated 400 police and fire fighters. The 9/11 attacks sparked U.S. involvement in fighting terrorism and changed the American lifestyle. -
War in Afghanistan
In response to the 9/11 attacks, U.S.-led coalitions led attacks against Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, their first act in the U.S. War on Terror. Taliban and al-Qaeda forces continue to wage guerilla warfare against U.S. and Afghan troops. Osama bin Laden, after several failed attempts to locate and exterminate him, was finally killed by U.S. forces on May 1, 2011. -
War in Iraq
Believed to hold weapons of mass destruction, the U.S., along with Great Britian, sent coalitions to wage war on Iraq. 3 weeks after invasion, coalition forces defeated Saddam Hussein's regime and captured key Iraqi cities. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured by U.S. forces, tried and convicted of acts against humanity, and hanged. Guerilla warfare is a continuing issue even after conventional military forces were toppled. No weapons of mass destruction were discovered in Iraq.
