U.S. Foreign Policy

U.S. Foreign Policy

Imperialism

• A stronger country takes over a weaker country or region

• U.S. took control of Philippine Islands after Spanish-American War (1898)

• Also gained control of Puerto Rico and Guam

Neutrality

• To avoid taking sides in a war

• Not getting involved in a conflict

• George Washington’s Farewell Address

• Beginning of World War I

• Beginning of World War II

Isolationism

• Refusing to become involved in foreign affairs

• U.S. refused to join League of Nations after WWI

Reliance on International Organizations

• Joining together with other countries

• U.S. joined the United Nations and NATO after WWII

Containment

• Preventing our enemy [Communists] from gaining new territory

• Based on “domino theory’

• U.S. became involved in Korean War and Vietnam War

• U.S. supported Contras in Nicaragua

Collective Security

• Relying on international organizations for national security

• Attack on one is an attack on all

• Joining NATO to protect against communist aggression

• Led USSR to create the Warsaw Pact

Detente

• Relaxation or easing of tensions

• U.S. and Soviet relations improved in the 1970s [with Nixon] until the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in Dec. 1979

• Signing of SALT I Treaty

Monroe Doctrine-1823

• U.S. did not want Europe to claim more land in Latin America

• U.S. told Europe to stay away from newly independent countries in Latin America

• In return U.S. would stay out of European affairs

Manifest Destiny-1840s

• Americans wanted more land

• Belief that the U.S. should expand its territory [from sea to shining sea]

• Used to justify gaining Oregon, Texas and Mexican Cession

• 1890s-used to justify overseas expansion

Open Door Policy-1899

• U.S. wanted access to trade with China

• Sec. John Hay idea that all nations should have equal commercial and industrial trade rights in China

Roosevelt Corollary“Big Stick Policy” 1901-1909

• U.S. wanted to keep Europe out of Latin America

• Teddy Roosevelt’s policy that the U.S. will act as a “police force” in Latin America

• Used this policy to justify U.S. intervention in LA to collect debts

Good Neighbor Policy-1933

• Latin America was unhappy with U.S. interventions in their region

• Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to improve relations with Latin America by pledging not to interfere in affairs in the region

Cash and Carry Policy

• U.S. wanted to remain neutral while helping France and Britain fight Germany during WII

• United States agreed to sell armaments to Britain and other nations opposed to the Axis Powers, but only on the condition that the arms were paid for in advance and transported from the United States in foreign ships.

Lend-Lease Act 1941

• Roosevelt wished to provide Britain with all possible aid short of war.

• it allowed Roosevelt to authorize the transfer of military materials to Britain with the understanding that they would ultimately be paid for or returned if they were not destroyed.

Truman Doctrine-1947

• The Soviet Union and the spread of communism were seen as threats

• President Truman said the U.S. would provide support to any nation fighting communism

• Greece and Turkey successfully fought off communism

Marshall Plan-1948

• Europe had been destroyed by WWII

• Plan of Sec. Marshall for the U.S. to provide economic aid to Europe to rebuild their economies after WWII

• Aid also offered to USSR and Satellite nations, but they refused

Brinkmanship

• Increasing tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War

• the practice of pushing dangerous events to the verge of—or to the brink of—disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome.

• Example- Cuban Missile Crisis