U.S. Foreign Policy

Isolationism

The U.S.’s initial policy, avoiding involvement in European conflicts and focusing on domestic growth

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

President George Washington advised the U.S. to avoid permanent alliances with foreign nations

Neutrality Acts

Laws the U.S. passed to maintain neutrality and avoid conflicts abroad (such as avoiding alliances in European wars)

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

President James Monroe declared that any European intervention in the western hemisphere would be seen as an act of aggression (protecting Americans from European influence)

What motivated the U.S. in the 1800s to expand its influence beyond its own borders?

Economic interests, access to new markets, and strategic concerns

In the Spanish-American War, why did U.S. go to war with Spain?

To fight for Cuban’s independence and gain control of other countries

What territories did the U.S. gain in the Spanish-American war?

Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

What year was the Spanish-American war?

1898

What impact did the Spanish-American war have on the U.S.’s policy?

A shift from isolationism to a more active role in global affairs and the beginning of U.S. territorial expansion

Open Door Policy

A statement of principles initiated by the U.S. calling for equal trading rights in China promoting free trade

What was the initial purpose of the Open Door Policy?

To prevent European powers from dominating the region economically

What year was the Open Door Policy?

1899

What year did the U.S. join the Allies in World War I?

1917

What happened after the U.S. joined the Allies in World War I?

The U.S. became a global power and began to assume a more active role in world affairs

Why did Congress decline Woodrow Wilson’s idea of the League of Nations?

The public’s desire was to return to isolationism

What was Woodrow Wilson’s idea that could potentially prevent future wars?

The League of Nations

What war marked the end of the U.S.’s isolationism?

World War II

What year was the United Nations founded in?

1945

What event made the U.S. join World War II?

The attack on Pearl Harbor

Korean War (1950-1953)

U.S. intervention to support South Korean against North Korean and communist China

In the Cold War what was the U.S.’s main goal?

Contain the spread of communism

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

U.S. intervention in Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia

What does NATO stand for?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

What year was NATO formed?

1949

Why was NATO formed?

To counter Soviet influence in Europe

What marked the end of the Cold War in 1991?

The dissolution of the Soviet Union

After the attacks on September 11th, 2001, what did the U.S. foreign policy strive to combat?

Terrorism

War in Afganistan (2001-2021)

U.S. intervention to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove Taliban from power

Iraq War (2003-2011)

The U.S. invaded Iraq to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and promote democratization

How did the War in Terror reshape U.S. foreign policy?

U.S. prioritized security and counterterrorism

Multilateralism

A form of cooperation with at least three or more parties

Unilateralism

Imposing sanctions independently or intervening in regions without international backing

What are current challenges the U.S. faces today?

Climate change, resource competition, global power dynamics, and foreign perception

What can domestic political polarization affect?

Foreign policy consistency and some allies and adversaries may question U.S. commitment to it’s alliances

What event marked the U.S.’s shift toward expansionism?

The Spanish-American War

What principle guided U.S. foreign policy in the late 1700s?

Neutrality