The Trends Of Foreign Policy And National Security

The end of the nineteenth century marked a significant change in the American foreign policy. Prior to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, America had paid little attention to foreign affairs. When compared to some of the more powerful European countries, such as France, Germany, and Great Britain, the United States had a

In his address, Washington states, “The Great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign Nations is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.” Washington is advising to avoid political relations with foreign nations. He warns not to accept foreign influence of any nation. Washington wants to preserve the free self-government that began under him. The procedures addressed in the Monroe Doctrine are consistent with Washington’s advice. Monroe wants to avoid relations with foreign countries, just as Washington did. He declares that the United States should not get involved in the internal government of any other nation. This is parallel to what Washington suggested in his address. Both leaders wanted to focus mainly on the United States and avoid excessive interaction with other nations. Monroe’s manner is consistent with Washington’s from thirty years prior.

Prior to World War I, the United States generally chose to follow Washington’s farewell address and stay out of “foreign entanglements”. The United States foreign policy from 1918 to 1953 shifted from isolationism or independent internationalism to a more involved internationalism and containment of communism due to various international events, economic conditions, and US public opinion.

In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.

The Doctrine said that in return, the United States would not become involved in European affairs. They would also remain neutral to existing European colonies in the Western Hemisphere and would not interfere with them. No other nations were allowed to form a new colony in the western hemisphere at this point. And if a European nation tried to control or interfere with the nations there, it would be considered a hostile act and a threat to the security of the United

The Monroe Doctrine had a great impact due to its strict policy towards the European powers. It wanted to keep the U.S. trade safe from European powers and colonization. Without this important doctrine/document the Europeans would have most likely colonized, interfered with, and disrupted the western hemisphere and also the trade systems connected with them. The U.S. also would not be a balanced nation and have a balanced foreign policy without the Monroe Doctrine, which was also known as the back bone of the U.S. foreign policy.

Until the end of the nineteenth century, American foreign policy essentially followed the guidelines laid down by George Washington, in his Farewell Address to the American people: “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is—in extending our commercial relations—to have with them as little political connection as possible.” By avoiding

In this document, Monroe mentions that if Europe intervened in any way, that the United States would view it as an unfriendly act against the United States. This remained the cornerstone of American foreign policy for many decades.

As countries seek to avoid alliances that can lead to conflicts, noninterventionism has remained one of the most explored concepts in global politics. Having seen the impacts of the Revolutionary Wars on humanity and being home of people from different ethnic racial groups from Europe, the last 27th presidents of the United States have been adopting foreign policies that promote nationalism and internal growth rather than partnering with global powers. One of the approaches is isolationism, a policy that has always prevented the United States from involving itself in international conflicts. Since his reelection, President Woodrow Wilson has observed this tradition by maintaining neutrality for more than three years during the Panamanian Revolt against Colombia. However, the president should abandon this policy and adopt an approach that will protect humanity from the destructive war in Europe. As this paper seeks to discuss, joining the war offers more benefits to America and humanity than staying in isolation from world politics.

At the turn of the century, and after gaining our independence, the United States land mass more than doubled through the use of purchasing, annexing, and war. However, the foreign policy of our government took a predominately isolationist stand. This was a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. General Washington shaped these values by upholding and encouraging the use of these principles by warning to avoid alliances in his farewell speech. The reasoning behind these actions was that the Republic was a new nation. We did not have the resources or the means to worry about other

Having just defeated the English and gained independence, the United States started its political life as a small and weak nation which lacked the strength to resist the intrusions by stronger rival nations. In an effort to guard the nation from involvement in the wider conflicts of the Europeans and focus on domestic affairs, President George Washington followed a course of neutrality and isolationism during his presidency. Monroe doctrine proposed by President James Monroe was a continuation of Washington’s foreign policy. The Founders of the doctrine, including President Monroe, had broken away from an imperialist British power and were against imperialism. There was plenty of reason for the Monroe cabinet to feel defensive, rather than imperial, about American ideals and interests leading up to 1823.

Through the strong foundation of Isolationism and the policies enacted such as The Monroe Doctrine, the United States played a largely neutral role in foreign affairs. The Monroe Doctrine passed in 1823 was to forbid European nations from colonizing any territory in the Western Hemisphere. Although the United States didn’t have the authority or firepower to back this up, it resulted in almost four decades of compulsory US involvement in any foreign affair. After the Civil War, Isolationistic practices grew stronger as the government had to find a way to re-unite the torn nation. President Grover Cleveland promised to avoid committing the nation to form any alliances with other countries while also opposed to the acquisition of new land. The climate of post Civil War US prevented us from deep involvement in foreign affairs. Our navy was also weakened by the war. Our natural resources were scarce and our diplomatic relations with other countries had been neglected. With the attention of our government focused solely on our nation, we proceeded to develop our interior. One of the biggest reasons for growth in US land mass was the public idea of Manifest

In their book American Foreign Policy since World War 2, Steven W. Hook, and John Spanier take a historical look at American foreign policy. Since its independence, all through to the start of the 20th century, the United States had a policy of detachment. This was rooted in the believe that Europe, the only other meaningful powerful in the world in the 18th and 19th century, had intrinsic issues related to feudism that kept the continent in a constant state of war (Hook & Spanier, 2015). The U.S on its part was far away from Europe and had a unique chance to chart a different course, one free from the troubles of Europe. As a democracy free from the class systems of Europe and hence maintain peace and stability (Hook & Spanier, 2015). To maintain this peace and stability, it was in the United States interests to maintain detachment from Europe. In fact, Monroe wrote that Europe and its flawed system was evil and America should strive as much as possible to stay away from it (Hook & Spanier, 2015). However, in the 20th century, this policy of detachment was put to the test when the United States was drawn into the first and second world wars by external factors. This led the United States to get more engaged in global affairs. The idea behind engagement was to promote the ideals of democracy which, the U.S believed were the pillars of peace, as well as to protect itself from aggressors like Japan in the Second World War. After the

As we approach the next Presidential election the topic of American foreign policy is once again in the spotlight. In this paper, I will examine four major objectives of U.S. foreign policy that have persisted throughout the twentieth century and will discuss the effect of each on our nation’s recent history, with particular focus on key leaders who espoused each objective at various times. In addition, I will relate the effects of American foreign policy objectives, with special attention to their impact on the American middle class. Most importantly, this paper will discuss America’s involvement in WWI, WWII, and the Cold War to the anticipated fulfillment of these objectives—democracy,

George Washington's Farewell Speech in 1789 enclosed one major piece of advice to the state regarding relations with other nations: "avoid entangling alliances." Those words designed USA foreign policy for more than a century.