Comprehensive Study Guide: United States Foreign Policy

Learning Targets and Objectives

• Timeline Proficiency: On a timeline, identify the foreign policy trends and changes throughout United States history.
• Monroe Doctrine: Explain the central ideas of the Monroe Doctrine.
• Turn-of-the-Century Imperialism: Identify the evidence of U.S. imperialism around the turn of the century.
• Roosevelt's Corollary: Explain Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
• Post-WWII Leadership: Explain why the United States embraced a global leadership role after World War II.

Essential Lexicon: Key Terms and People

• General Philosophies and Doctrines:
      - Isolationism: A policy of staying out of the affairs of other countries.
      - Internationalism: A policy of working with other countries to address world problems, emphasizing unity and teamwork (e.g., the United Nations).
      - Interventionism: The use of force, threats, or coercion to interfere in the affairs of another country or influence them.
      - Expansionism: Extending a nation's power over less populated areas or territories.
      - Imperialism: Expanding power over other countries and building an empire.
      - Unilateralism: When a nation takes action by itself.
      - Multilateralism: When three or more countries work together or take action together.
      - Realism: Prioritizing a nation's security interests over ideology or morality.
      - Idealism: Taking actions that align with or are consistent with core values.
      - Manifest Destiny: A concept used to justify expansionism.
      - Containment: A strategy used to manage the influence of opposing powers.

• Influential Historical Figures:
      - Thomas Jefferson: Associated with the Louisiana Purchase.
      - James Monroe: Delivered the 1823 speech articulating the Monroe Doctrine.
      - John Quincy Adams: Credited with the creation/authorship of the Monroe Doctrine.
      - William McKinley: President during the Spanish-American War and the start of the imperialist era.
      - Theodore Roosevelt: Established the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
      - Woodrow Wilson: President during World War I and creator of the League of Nations.
      - Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR): President during World War II.

• Major Events, Agreements, and Organizations:
      - Neutrality Proclamation (1793)
      - Washington's Farewell Address
      - Louisiana Purchase (1803)
      - Mexican War (1846–1848)
      - Mexican Cession
      - Alaska Purchase (1867)
      - Spanish-American War (1898)
      - League of Nations
      - Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, 1937)
      - America First Committee
      - Pearl Harbor Attack (1941)
      - United Nations (1945)

Contextual Backdrop: Post-War Economic Expansion

• Industrial Growth: Manufacturing grew significantly during the Civil War.
• Demographics: Continued immigration contributed to growth and labor supply.
• Technological Continuity: There was a continuation of antebellum industries and innovation in communication and industry.
• New Revolutions: Significant revolutions occurred in transportation and innovation during this period.

Early American Foreign Policy (1700s – 1860s): Isolationism and the Monroe Doctrine

• George Washington's Neutrality:
      - Neutrality Proclamation (1793): Established early U.S. intent to avoid European conflicts.
      - Farewell Address: Washington advised against permanent foreign alliances, arguing that they would bring problems and conflicts.
      - Period Trend: Isolationism characterized the era from the late $1700\text{s}$ to the $1860\text{s}$.

• The Monroe Doctrine (1823):
      - Origin: Articulated in an $1823$ speech by President James Monroe (authored by John Quincy Adams).
      - Core Warnings: Europe was warned not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.
      - U.S. Pledge: The United States pledged not to involve itself in European politics.

The Era of Expansionism (1803 – 1867)

• Louisiana Purchase (1803): The purchase of a vast amount of land under Thomas Jefferson.
• Annexation of Texas (1845): Gaining of additional territory.
• Mexican War (1846–1848): Led to the acquisition of the Mexican Cession; noted as acquiring new land.
• Alaska Purchase (1867): Continued the trend of gaining more land for the nation.
• Justification: Manifest Destiny served as the primary ideological justification for these expansionist actions.

The Rise of Imperialism (Late 1898 – 1908)

• Leaders: William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
• Spanish-American War (1898): Triggered by Cuban resistance to Spain; the U.S. intervened to help Cuba.
• Territorial Gains: Following the war against Spain, the U.S. annexed:
      - Puerto Rico
      - Guam
      - The Philippines
• Annexation of Hawaii (1898): Conducted during the same imperialist surge.
• The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine:
      - Established the principle of preemptive U.S. intervention in Latin America.
      - Justified U.S. intervention into European and Latin affairs as a protective measure in the hemisphere.

World War I and the Interwar Return to Isolationism (1914 – 1941)

• World War I (1914–1918):
      - President Woodrow Wilson maintained neutrality until $1917$.
      - The U.S. eventually declared war against Germany, joining France and Britain.
• Interwar Isolationism (1920–1941):
      - League of Nations: Although the U.S. created the League of Nations, it refused to join.
      - General Policy: Emphasized demilitarization and a lack of desire to participate in foreign wars.
      - Expansion of Aggressors: In the $1930\text{s}$, Germany, Italy, and Japan began expanding.
      - Legislative Neutrality: The U.S. passed the Neutrality Acts of $1935$, $1936$, and $1937$.
      - America First Committee: Organized rallies (e.g., April 4th, 8:00 P.M. at Municipal Auditorium) with the slogan "Let's Stay OUT of Europe's War" and "Make AMERICA Safe for Democracy."

World War II (1939 – 1945)

• Neutrality: The United States maintained neutrality from the start of the war in $1939$ until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in $1941$.
• Entry into War: Joined the conflict in $1942$ (though neutrality ended with the declaration in late $1941$).
• The Alliances:
      - Allies: Included the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.
      - Axis Powers: Included Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Postwar Internationalism and the Cold War (1945 – Present)

• Shift in Policy: After WWII, the U.S. embraced an internationalist foreign policy and a global leadership role.
• Motivations: Fear that Soviet Union influence would take over; a desire to spread U.S. influence.
• United Nations (1945): The U.S. joined as a founding member.
• Marshall Plan (1948–1951): Provided $\$13.3 \text{ billion}$ in aid to Europe to combat post-war instability.
• NATO (1949): Established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a security alliance.
• USAID: Created by the President in $1961$ to provide international development assistance.