A Century of Sanctions

By

Benjamin Coates

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An 1807 political cartoon representing the Thomas Jefferson administration embargo.

"Ograbme"

An 1807 political cartoon representing the Thomas Jefferson administration embargo. The snapping turtle named “Ograbme” (“Embargo" spelled backwards) is biting a merchant.

During the 2019 Venezuelan presidential election crisis, the U.S. imposed sanctions on PDVSA.

PDVSA Sanctions

During the 2019 Venezuelan presidential election crisis, the U.S. imposed sanctions on PDVSA, a state-owned oil and gas company, to pressure President Maduro to resign.

A 2012 cartoon depicting 'international community sanctions.'

Assad Cartoon

A 2012 cartoon depicting “international community sanctions” (the fingertip) imposed to stop violence on civilians under Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s administration.

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie waves to crowds lining Pennsylvania Avenue.

Emperor Haile Selassie

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie waves to crowds lining Pennsylvania Avenue as he rode in a Lincoln-Mercury Continental convertible with President John F. Kennedy on October 1, 1963.

Protesters in Australia in 2011 protest sanctions imposed on Syria.

Sanctions Protest

Protesters in Australia in 2011 protest sanctions imposed on Syria.

The Near East Relief organization raised funds and awareness across America in response to Armenian and Assyrian genocides during World War I.

WWI Poster

The Near East Relief organization raised funds and awareness across America in response to Armenian and Assyrian genocides during World War I.

British leaflet promoting a 1935 lecture by Pan-African leaders.

Ethiopian Support

British leaflet promoting a 1935 lecture by Pan-African leaders who opposed the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.

Cotton, wool, and warm blankets intended for the war front.

Ethiopia 1935

Cotton, wool, and warm blankets intended for the war front were piled at the Addis Ababa, Ethiopian railway station in 1935.

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was Time magazine’s Man of the Year in 1936.

Time Magazine

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was Time magazine’s Man of the Year in 1936.

Alien Property Custodian executive staff in 1918.

Alien Property Custodian

Alien Property Custodian executive staff in 1918.

Charles G. Fenwick, professor of International Law at Bryn Mawr College.

Charles G. Fenwick

Charles G. Fenwick, professor of International Law at Bryn Mawr College, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1939 that the Thomas Neutrality Act should be amended to allow either Congress or the president to select aggressor nations and apply sanctions.

Japanese occupation currency used in the Dutch East Indies in 1942.

Half Gulden

Japanese occupation currency used in the Dutch East Indies in 1942.

OFAC

The logo of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

President Bill Clinton visiting Hanoi in 2000.

Clinton in Vietnam

President Bill Clinton visiting Hanoi in 2000 after normalization of relations between the U.S. and Vietnam.

South African singer Miriam Makeba testified in March 1964.

Miriam Makeba

South African singer Miriam Makeba testified in March 1964 before the United Nations Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa.

British Anti-Apartheid Movement flyer announcing a demonstration in Trafalgar Square.

Anti-Apartheid

British Anti-Apartheid Movement flyer announcing a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on November 3, 1963.

A 1976 poster reads, 'Independence for Zimbabwe. Condemn the white minority government of Rhodesia!'

Rhodesia Poster

A 1976 poster reads, “Independence for Zimbabwe. Condemn the white minority government of Rhodesia!”

A 1976 cartoon that depicts the white Southern Rhodesia Prime Minister Ian Smith talking to U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Ian Smith Cartoon

A 1976 cartoon that depicts the white Southern Rhodesia Prime Minister Ian Smith talking to U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Smith is preparing to transfer water from a full barrel labeled “White Minority Rule” to an empty barrel labeled “Black Majority Rule,” but his scoop, labeled “Transfer of Power,” has large holes in it.

President Jimmy Carter announces sanctions against Iran.

Jimmy Carter

In 1980 President Jimmy Carter announces sanctions against Iran in retaliation for taking U.S. Embassy workers as hostages.

Barbara Walters interviewed President Jimmy Carter on December 28, 1977.

Barbara Walters Interview

Barbara Walters interviewed President Jimmy Carter on December 28, 1977, the day he signed the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

President Donald Trump’s August 2019 tweet about the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

Trump's IEEPA Tweet

President Donald Trump’s August 2019 tweet about the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

A 1976 poster that reads 'Condemn the South African apartheid regime and support the international boycott.'

South African Boycott

A 1976 poster that reads “Condemn the South African apartheid regime and support the international boycott.”

A 1999 USA*Engage sponsored billboard.

USA*Engage

A 1999 USA*Engage sponsored billboard meant to capture the attention of campaigning presidential candidates in Des Moines, Iowa. The image features Uncle Sam throwing a boomerang, with the caption “Unilateral Sanctions Hurting Iowa Hurting U.S.”

A post-9/11 editorial cartoon commenting on the absence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq.

Iraq Cartoon

A post-9/11 editorial cartoon commenting on the absence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq. The IraqerJack box represents Iraq, and the disappointed man depicts President George W. Bush.

Executive Order 13224 on the left and Specially Designated Nationals list on the right.

Treasury Sanctions

Executive Order 13224 - Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (left). Specially Designated Nationals list (right).

A 2014 U.S. Government Accountability Office illustration.

Sanctions Process

A 2014 U.S. Government Accountability Office illustration shows the interagency process to determine whether to impose sanctions under Section 5(b) of the Iran Sanctions Act.

A 2019 group photo of world leaders from 19 countries and the European Union who attended the June G20 Summit.

G20 Summit

A 2019 group photo of world leaders from 19 countries and the European Union who attended the June G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Together they represent most of the world economy.

A 2014 image that symbolizes the European Union’s self-destructive sanctions against Russia.

EU Sanctions

A 2014 image that symbolizes the European Union’s self-destructive sanctions against Russia at the request of the U.S.

Tourist in 2012 holding Iranian currency (rial) in Ardabil, Iran.

Iranian Rial

Tourist in 2012 holding Iranian currency (rial) in Ardabil, Iran.

Nicaraguan Protester.

Nicaraguan Protester

In December 2018, President Trump signed the Nica Act, a law that imposes financial sanctions on the Nicaraguan government and individuals involved in human rights violations.

A 2005 billboard across the street from the U.S. Interests Section offices in Havana, Cuba.

Havana Billboard

A 2005 billboard across the street from the U.S. Interests Section offices in Havana, Cuba. The Cuban soldier calls out to the aggressive Uncle Sam, “Imperialist Sirs, we have absolutely no fear of you!”

Countries or individuals sanctioned by the United States in 2015.

Sanctioned Countries

Countries or individuals sanctioned by the United States in 2015.

Europe's Optical Illusion by Norman Angell.

Europe's Optical Illusion

First published in the United Kingdom in 1909, Europe’s Optical Illusion by Norman Angell was republished a year later under the title The Great Illusion.

On November 2, 2018, President Trump tweeted out a movie-style poster announcing, 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING.'

Trump's Sanctions Tweet

On November 2, 2018, President Trump tweeted out a movie-style poster announcing, “SANCTIONS ARE COMING.” Two minutes later the White House’s official Twitter account clarified the president’s tweet refer to renewed sanctions on Iran.

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