Transcript The Isolationist Ethos and American Foreign Policy

Isolationism to Imperial
Power: US Foreign Policy to
1919
PO 326: American Foreign Policy
Shifting Gears
► In
the first section of the course, we examined
models of foreign policy decision making. In the
second section, we seek to understand the
American foreign policy experience by engaging in
a survey of its history
► At several points during this survey, we will apply
some of the approaches discussed in the first
section to gain a more complete understanding of
the decision-making that shaped our foreign policy
experience
Washington’s Admonition
► “Steer
clear of foreign entanglements” Why?
► The history of relations between the European
states to 1789 was one of conflict and duplicitous
diplomacy – in addition to moral considerations,
Washington feared that the fledgling US would fall
prey to stronger European states
 Indeed, US independence was achieved as a result of
power politics between UK and France
► Unique
socio-geographic position of US seemed
conducive to isolation from Europe
(DeTocqueville)
Washington’s Admonition
► However,
continued European involvement in the
Americas indicated that the European threat was
real despite geographic distance
 Example: XYZ Affair and undeclared war of 1798
► Washington’s
admonition thus became the basis
for a 19th Century foreign policy that largely
sought to carve out a hemispheric niche for the
new state, to allow it to grow in isolation from the
influence of Europe
► Isolationist sentiment, thus defined, formed the
underpinnings of American foreign relations even
after US involvement in World War I
Carving Out a Niche: The Louisiana
Purchase to the Monroe Doctrine
►
►
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
 Assented to by Napoleon to fund his war in Europe
 More than doubled the size of the US
 Seemingly brought added security by eliminating the
direct influence of a major European power
War of 1812 against UK: Extension of Napoleonic Wars
 Main issues: British restrictions on US trade with France,
impressment of US sailors, designs on northern US
territories
 US suffers some key losses (Canada), but victory at
New Orleans and Treaty of Ghent secures sole US
navigation of Mississippi, freedom of seas, and end of
de facto British encroachment – distance remains
important factor
Carving Out a Niche: The Louisiana
Purchase to the Monroe Doctrine
►
The Monroe Doctrine (1823): The Beginnings of American
Expansionism
 Revolts in Spanish and Portuguese South/Central America invite
renewed European involvement following the fall of Napoleon
 Monroe recognizes the independence of new states and warns
Europe against involvement in the affairs of the Western
Hemisphere
► “The
American continents, by the free and independent condition
which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be
considered as subject to future colonization by any European powers”
 Due in large part to weakness of European states following
Napoleonic Wars
 Basis of US foreign policy and hegemony in region (subject to
interpretation)
American Expansionism – Manifest
Destiny and the Mexican War
►
Throughout the 1820s and 1830s, in the absence of European
involvement, the US began to forcibly press its territorial interests in
contiguous areas
 American Indian tribes in the southern, western, and northeastern frontiers
were pushed back (Jackson, Harrison)
►
By the 1840s, social commentators and politicians had begun speaking
of the need for the US to expand its borders to the Pacific (“Manifest
Destiny,” physical security, resource acquisition)
 Polk Administration: Actively sought acquisition of Oregon and Northern
Mexican territories
 Border dispute over Rio Grande region (involving newly-annexed Texas)
provided impetus for war with Mexico
►
Mexican War, 1844
 Decisive American victory; Taylor marches on Mexico City to secure
favorable terms
 US annexes future states of New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Colorado
 Major gains, but at great eventual cost (new territories, slavery, Civil War)
The Spanish-American War: The US
Becomes a Major Power
Little was done in regards to foreign policy in the periods
immediately preceding and following the Civil War
► By the end of the 19th Century, the US sought to expand
its commercial and political interests by removing the last
vestiges of Spanish power from the hemisphere
► Spanish-American War, 1898
►
 US entry into imperialist era (extension of manifest destiny?)
 Alleged Spanish mistreatment of subjects in Cuba, dubious sinking
of USS Maine used as pretexts for war
 First employment of US sea power in international conflict
 Decisive American victory leads to annexation of Puerto Rico and
Philippines, protectorate over Cuba
Early
th
20
► American
secured
Century Foreign Policy
hegemony over Western Hemisphere is
 US uses “gunboat diplomacy” to secure economic
interests in “banana republics”
► US
involvement in Chinese economic ventures
(Hay and the “Open Door” Policy)
► Renewed European conflicts observed by US, but
no direct participation, despite “major power”
status
 TR’s involvement in resolution of Russo-Japanese war
 Avoidance of European crises over African colonies
World War I
►
When war broke out in Europe in 1914, it was seemingly
the result of the same deceit and aggression that
Washington warned against, and the US sought to avoid
active involvement
 Wilson’s slogan for 1916: “He kept us out of war”
►
►
However, the US was providing economic (and some
military) assistance to the Triple Alliance (UK, France,
Russia)
Despite efforts to keep out of bloody war, several actions
by belligerents harmed American interests
 German-Mexican designs on US (Zimmerman Note – 1916)
 Sinking of Lusitania and resumption of unrestricted submarine
warfare by Germany
World War I
► In
response to these developments, Wilson
and Congress decided in 1917 to send
troops to fight in Europe for the first time in
US history
 American Expeditionary Force (AEF) proved
decisive for Allies in European stalemate
 US becomes the predominant world power
 Treaty of Versailles – called for collective
security via a League of Nations; however,
League would fail within twenty years
Lessons from US Foreign Policy
Through WWI
► Washington’s
Admonition against foreign
entanglements spurs not only isolationism in the
19th Century, but a foreign policy designed to
achieve hemispheric hegemony or “independence”
► After hegemony secured, US exercises local
control, but does not get directly involved in the
affairs of Europe until European states infringe
upon US interests and control of the hemisphere;
this includes involvement in WWI
► WWI makes the US the predominant world power
– how would it react?