Unit #8 Foreign Policy Foreign Policy in Action. Foreign Policy Through World War II American foreign policy has changed over time and will continue to.

Unit #8 Foreign Policy Foreign Policy in Action Foreign Policy Through World War II American foreign policy has changed over time and will continue to change in response to international events and the actions of other nations. Isolationism At times we have followed isolationism---a foreign policy that seeks to limit our relations with other countries as much as possible. During other periods, the US has tried to meet its goals by taking an active part in affairs around the world. Neutrality President George Washington believed that the young country could not afford to take part in European alliances and wars. He chose a position of neutralitya policy of not taking sides in wars between other countries. United Nations After the war, Wilson helped found the League of Nations, a new organization intended to help keep peace. However, the League of Nations failed to keep peace; and within 20 years, the world was at war again. When the war ended, the US helped to found the United Nations. The Cold War After WWII, American leaders saw that our own national security went hand-in-hand with global security. Many Americans thought that the Soviet Union and the spread of communism were the main dangers to peace. When Soviet-backed Communists tried to take over Greece and Turkey, President Harry Truman sent American military aid to help those countries defend themselves. Trumans action was the beginning of a new foreign policy of containmenta policy of using military power and money to prevent the spread of communism. Detente By the mid 1960s, it was clear that the Soviet Union was gaining nuclear strength nearly equal to that of the US. In the 1970s, there was a period of dtentea loosening of tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. Todays Challenges Economic ChallengesAmerican leaders have had to make foreign policies that fit the issues and needs of different regions in the world. Balance trade The European Union (EU) is breaking down trade barriers between its member nations. Middle Eastoil rich countriesour foreign policy will be greatly affected by our need for oil. Terrorism The US emerged from the Cold War as the worlds strongest economic and military power. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, created a determination to work with allies throughout the world to halt future attacks and stop the flow of money to terrorist organizations.