Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy has varied throughout United States history, in order to adapt to changing times and needs. The alterations to foreign policies are generally made depending on the relationship the United States has with other nations, and to meet their own desires. Three types of US foreign policies include imperialism, isolationism, and containment.

Isolationism began as early as the 1700s. The United States did want make strong ties with the British, nor any other nation, as they did not want to follow in England’s footsteps. The policy of isolationism became an existent option of foreign policy after World War I.

Another major policy was containment, which was created after World War II. After resolving various problems of Reconstruction and Industrialization, Americans began to resume the course of expansion. By doing so, they took on the foreign policy of imperialism. Containment was first formed at the end of WWII, in order to eliminate Communist influences from Eastern Europe. These three foreign policies of the United States, imperialism, isolationism, and containment, were imposed because of changing times and necessities.

Imperialism is when a country extends authority over another country’s political system, economy or military. The United States took a public opinion poll in 1939 (Document E) to decide if the military should give aid to England and France. This would result in taking authority over another country’s military which would be considered Imperialism.

Isolationism refers to America’s longstanding decision to not become involved with European alliances and wars. This is a view that shows America’s perspective is different than European countries and that America can show freedom and democracy in alternative ways. The cartoon in “document B” shows this setting with Euros saying “we can’t pay off war debts”