Transcript U.S. Foreign Policy

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Ms. Kirk
American Government
The Development of US Foreign Policy
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Initially, the US followed a policy of Isolationism (a
national policy of avoiding participation in foreign
affairs)
We also followed a policy of unilateralism (A
national policy of acting without consulting others)
Then and now, we generally follow a policy of
moralism (a national policy of emphasizing
morality in foreign affairs)
And Pragmatism (The policy of taking advantage
of a situation for national gain)
The Constitution
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President is Commander in Chief, but Congress has
the power of appropriations and the ability to
declare war
President negotiates treaties; Senate ratifies them
President appoints ambassadors and military
affairs officials, but the Senate but approve the
appointments
Early Foreign Policy
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Trade, not trouble!
But trade led to trouble
Embargo Act (no ships leaving US ports without
approval by US government)
Monroe Doctrine (pledge by US to oppose
attempts by European states to extend their political
control into the Western Hemisphere)
Manifest Destiny
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Theory that the US was divinely mandated to
expand across North America to the Pacific Ocean
Permitted Americans to rationalize expansion as
legitimate and moral—not to view it as colonialism,
which the US considered to be a bad thing
The Roosevelt Corollary
(Theodore, that is)
Concept from early 1900’s that it is the U.S.
responsibility to assure stability in Latin America
and the Caribbean
Related to Panama Canal which was vital to US trade
World War I
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Initially, the US wanted to stay out of the war
Initially, the US did not know who to support, as the
country had immigrants from all over Europe
Initially, it made political and economic sense to stay
out
German submarine warfare (sinking US ships
sending cargo to Great Britain and France)
eventually led us into the war and helped us choose
a side
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Collective Security—Concept that peace would be
secured if all countries collectively opposed any
country that invaded another
Woodrow Wilson strongly believed in collective
security after World War I
League of Nations
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Created to implement collective security
An international governmental organization
dedicated to preserving the peace
The United States never joined the League because
the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty.
Wilson not happy
Senators felt that US needed to maintain
isolationism and unilateralism
Great Depression
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More and more people felt that isolationism and
unilateralism were wrong
People thought isolationism was causing problems in
trade, and problems with trade made the Great
Depression worse, they argued
World War II
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US entered in 1941 (Dec. 7, in fact) with the
bombing of Pearl Harbor
The War caused many Americans to believe that we
needed to end our policy of isolationism
War was a huge turning point for US foreign policy
The United Nations was Established
(shortly before end of WWII)
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International organization to guarantee the security
of nations and to promote global economic,
physical, and social well-being
Big Three—United States, Britain, and The Soviet
Union
Grand Alliance—Big Three plus China and France
had the 5 permanent seats on the UN Security
Council
International Monetary Fund
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Created to stabilize international financial relations
through fixed monetary exchange rates
Established under the Bretton Woods Agreement
(which also established the World Bank)
Established around the same time as the UN
The Cold War and Containment
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Truman Doctrine—U.S. policy initiated in 1947
providing economic assistance and military aid to
countries fighting against communist revolutions or
political pressure
Marshall Plan—European Recovery Program of
extensive aid to Western Europe after World War
II
Containment—Strategy to oppose expansion of
Soviet power with military power, economic
assistance, and political influence
NATO
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The first peacetime military treaty the United States
joined. NATO is a regional political and military
organization created in 1950.
Other terms in history to know…
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Cuban Missile Crisis—the 1962 confrontation that
nearly escalated into war between the US and the
Soviet Union over Soviet deployment of medium
range ballistic missiles in Cuba (missiles eventually
withdrawn)
Vietnam War—US effort to prevent North Vietnam
from taking over South Vietnam (big failure)
Détente—the relaxation of tensions between the US
and the Soviet Union that occurred during the 1970’s.
U.S. Foreign Policies
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Nixon Doctrine—the policy implemented at the end
of the Vietnam War that the US would provide arms
and military equipment to countries but would not do
the fighting for them
Carter Doctrine—US policy that the Persian Gulf
area was vital to US interests and the US would fight
to maintain access to it
Reagan Doctrine—Policy that the US would provide
military assistance to anti-communist groups fighting
against pro-Soviet governments
More Policies
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Powell Doctrine-advocates an all or nothing
approach to military intervention to ensure quick
and decisive victory
Engagement—Us will remain actively involved in
foreign affairs
Enlargement—US will actively promote the
expansion of democracy and free markets
throughout the world
The War on Terror
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September 11, 2001
Creation of Department of Homeland Security
Bush Doctrine created (US will use preemptive
military action against a perceived threat of US
interests)
Continues Today
Executive Branch (Foreign Policy)
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The President
Department of State
Department of Defense
National Security Agency
Joint Chiefs of Staff (military advisors)
CIA
National Security Council
Congress (Foreign Policy)
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Congressional leadership
Congressional oversight
Treaties and Executive Agreements
Appointments (Senate approves)
Appropriations
War Powers Act
The Military Industrial Complex
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The grouping of the US armed forces and defense
industries
Some fear this complex can lead to power for some
that can be very dangerous
Today’s Challenges?
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See Obama’s Top Ten Foreign Policy Headaches