American Foreign Policy of Isolation / American role in World War 1 & 2
NOTE: The isolation policy of America and its role in World War 1 & 2 consist of 3 chapters including a summarized version of the whole topic. the topic covers the brief history of America from British & French rule till World War 2 and American emergence as Global Super Power.
American Foreign Policy of Isolation & American role in World War 1 & 2 (Part-1)
Introduction of America as a State:[1]I
The United States of America consists of 50 States. The Capital of the US is Washington D.C and New York the largest city in America.
The total population of America is 267,954,767 (1997 estimate) whites are 83
percent and blacks about 13 percent. The official and main language are English
and the other important language is Spanish. The main religion is Christianity
and another religion is Judaism Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The United
States have one of the world's highest standards of living. The three chief
mineral products are fuels: petroleum, natural gas, and coal. In the early ages,
America adopts the isolation policy and neutral role towards world activities
in terms of treaties and alliances but after World War 2 especially in the Cold
War era America emerge as a world power and a Capitalist state. At present time
America plays an active role in world activities and is considered the most
powerful state in terms of industry, agriculture, and military.
Historical background of America:[2]
The Italian explorer
Christopher Columbus discovers America on October 12,
1492. The colonized system began in America in the 1500s by Spain, France, Netherland,
and Britain. There were 13 colonies of British in America and most of the
political development took place in these colonies. The second majority in
America was French. In 1763 after the 7 years of war against France, the French
had quit North America and this area also came under British hegemony. In 1781 struggle for independence against the
British started in a more organized form when George Washington was appointed
as the Commander in Chief of the joint Command Forces of the Colonies. In 1776
five (5) members committee was set up in the congress with the task of
preparing the” declaration of
independence” accordingly,
independence was declared. Amid the struggle for freedom, the word ‘State’ began to be used for Colonies.
On
21st June 1787 nine states signed the document of the
constitution of America and congress announced this effect on 4th July 1787. And the new President of
the Republic, George Washington, took the oath of office under the constitution
on 30th April 1789.
=================================================== Foreign Policy objectives:
After
the independence of America under the rule of the British, American makes their
policies under the presidency of Washington. The broad objectives of American The foreign policy listed as follow:
Ø To secure independence and national
security.
Ø To extend those boundaries in the interest
of security, navigation, commerce, space for a growing population, and the spread of democracy.
Ø To promote and protect the rights of
American citizens and open the Far East to American Trade and American
influence.
Ø To preserve neutrality and peace- to
keep out of the wars of Europe and also Asia as long as non-participation is
compatible with the preservation of American security and vital interest and to
devise means for peaceful settlement of all international controversies.
Ø To pervasive a humanitarian desire to
do good in the world; to spread Christianity and democracy.
The basic thing which was adopted after
independence is neutrality and the policy of isolation. But from time to time
the policy of America changes.[3]
==================================================
Isolation[4]:
Isolationism is a foreign policy of any state that
preserves the nation’s interest to not interfere in other
nation’s matters and policies and adopt a neutral role
toward the world activities.
Isolationism has been defined as:[5]
“A policy or doctrine of trying to isolate one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, and generally attempting to make one's economy entirely self-reliant; seeking to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its advancement, both diplomatically and economically while remaining in a state of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements and responsibilities.’’[6]
Isolationism vs. Internationalism in the 18th century:[7]
As
compared to other traditional histories, American foreign policy should never
be isolated. Because the beginning founders know that very well America needs
the support of others in terms of trade and economy but also want the United
States never entered the alliance politics of Europe and wars of Europe. Their
strategy, though, was to stay out of the “Old World”
Europe rivalries, machinations, and Wars. When
Britain and France went to war in 1792, George Washington declared neutrality, with the unanimous
support of his cabinet, after deciding that the treaty with France of 1778 did
not apply. George Washington
articulated in his famous 1796 farewell address.
“Steer
clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”
Also
stated that:
“The best way for the US to preserve its peace was to avoid getting entangled in the
affairs of Europe. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us has none
or a very remote relation. Those interests lead its nation to be engaged in
frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our
concern.”
Moreover,
‘foreign
influence is one of the most baneful foes of the republican government,’ Washington cautioned about the impact
on the principles of American democracy. So the US should take advantage of
its “detached and
the distant situation”
across the Atlantic
Ocean, which made it physically possible to avoid such entanglements.
In, the late 18th century the US terminated its alliance with France,
after which America's third president, Thomas Jefferson,
admonished in his inaugural address, "peace, commerce, and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."[8]
===========================================================
Isolation policy in the 19th century:[9] The 19th century marked an American policy as neutral in terms of war ad alliances with Europe. In this century presidents of their times describe their self-interest as well as their country's interest which shows the American neutral role in world affairs especially European affairs.
- 1801 President Thomas Jefferson :
At the start of the 19th century in the first inaugural address in 1801, President Thomas Jefferson describe the foreign policy interest of America and stated
that “entangling
alliances with none”
while also calling for
“peace,
commerce and honest friendship with all nations.” The goal was to extend commercial relations more than
political ones.
The mean of isolationism for the US is to not be entangled with European alliances war and this shown that US 70 percent of the treaties and international agreements signed in the 19th century were on the matter related to trade, economy and commerce.
- 1823, President James Monroe:
James Monroe articulated what would come to be known as the Monroe Doctrine, which some have interpreted as non-interventionist in intent: "In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken part, nor does it comport with our policy, so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced that we resent injuries, or make preparations for our defense."
- 1863 January, the uprising in Poland:
In
1863 After Tsar
Alexander II put down the uprising in Poland, French Emperor Napoleon III asked the United States to "join in a protest to the Tsar." Secretary
of State William
H. Seward declined and defines the American
interest or American foreign policy interest in these words:
"defending
'our policy of non-intervention—straight, absolute, and peculiar as it
may seem to other nations,'" and insisted that “the American people must be content to
recommend the cause of human progress by the wisdom with which they should
exercise the powers of self-government, forbearing at all times, and in every
way, form foreign alliances, intervention, and interference."
Spanish – American war 1898:
The United States' policy of
non-intervention was maintained throughout most of the 19th century. The first
significant foreign intervention by the US was the War;
many view the Spanish –
American war of 1898 as marking the begging of the emergence of the US as a
world power. The Americans won the war, defeating a European power, and for the
first time gained a far-flung colony of their own: the Philippines. This ultimately
resulted in the Philippine–American War from 1899–1902.
[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com accessed on 5th May 2017
[2] Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar, Comparative Government (Lahore. Ilmikitabkhana,2015)pp. 112-114
[3]
Julius W. Pratt, A History of United States
Foreign Policy, 2nd
edition, (New Jersey. Englewood cliffs,1971) pp. 3-4
[4] www.u-s-history.com
accessed on 1, May 2017
[5] en.wikipedia.org accessed on 1, May 2017
[6] https://d.docs.live.net/6e5938871af44847/Desktop/EDITING%20AERTICLE/Isolation%20policy%20of%20America
[7] Bruce W. Jantleson, American foreign policy 21-century
dynamics, 3rd edition, (New York. Duke University, 1951) p.62
Easy to understand.
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