American Citizenship

Foreign Policy and National DefenseChapter 17 Notes

Section 1

Foreign Affairs and National Security

Isolationism to Internationalism Domestic Affairs

Events at home Foreign Affairs

The nation’s relationships with other nations For the first 150 years, America maintained

a foreign policy of isolationism A purposeful refusal to become generally

involved in the affairs of the rest of the world The Past 70 years, America has maintained

a policy of foreign engagement

Foreign Policy Defined

It is made up of all of the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries

Diplomatic, military, commercial, etc. The President, by both

constitutionality and tradition, has been the primary conductor of foreign policy

State Department Headed by the Secretary of State

Ranks first among members of the president’s cabinet

The Foreign Service Under international law every nation has the right

of legation the right to send and receive diplomatic

representatives Ambassadors

An official representative of the United States appointed by the president to represent the nation in matters of diplomacy

One Ambassador stationed at the capital of each state the United States recognizes

State Department (Con’t) Special Diplomats

Ambassadors to UN or NATO, or other international conference

Passports Certificate issued by a government to its citizens

who travel or live abroad Required now anytime you leave the boundaries of

the United States (Even Mexico) Diplomatic Immunity

Ambassadors are regularly granted diplomatic immunity

They are not subject to the laws of the state to which they are accredited

The Defense Department

Civil Control of the Military Though the framers of the Constitution

knew the importance of a strong defense, they also recognized the dangers of a strong defense

Thus giving great powers over the military by the President and Congress

Both publicly elected persons

The Defense Department (Con’t)

The Secretary of Defense Has Two Major Responsibilities

The President’s chief aide and advisor in making and carrying out defense policy

Operating Head of the Defense Department Stationed in the Pentagon

Chief Military Aides Five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

serve as the principal military advisors to the President, Department of Defense, and National Security Council

The Military Departments

Three military Departments fall under the Department of Defense

The Department of the Army The Department of the Navy The Department of the Air Force

Section 2

Other Foreign and Defense Agencies

The CIA

Central Intelligence Agency was created by Congress in 1947

Main task is to gather information and relay that info to the President

It also conducts espionage Spying

Department of Homeland Security

Charged with the task of protecting the United States against terrorism

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency created by Congress in 1958

Work ranges from basic research that focuses on origin, evolution, and structure of the universe to exploration of outer space

Military is greatly used today, including GPS

The Selective Service System

Draft, also called conscription or compulsory military service

Even today, soon after turning 18, males must register with the selective service

Section 3

American Foreign Policy Overview

Two New Principles

Collective Security The forging of a world community in

order to maintain internal peace and order

Deterrence Strategy of maintaining the military

might of the United States at so great a level that the very strength will deter, discourage, an attack on this country by any hostile power

Resisting Soviet Aggression

Cold War A period of more than 40 years during

which relations between the two superpowers, US and Soviet Union, were at least tense and more often than not, distinctly hostile

Détente and the Return to Containment

In the 1970’s, President Nixon used a policy of détente in order to improve relations with the Soviet Union and China

French term meaning “a relaxation of tensions”

Section 4

Foreign Aid and Defense Alliances

Foreign Aid

Economic and military aid to other countries

Started as a US policy in the 1940’s after WWII

Security Alliances

Over the last 5 decades, the United States has constructed a network of regional security alliances

Agreements to take collective action to meet aggression in a particular part of the world

NATO RIO Pact

The United Nations Formed at the United Nations

Conference on International Organization, met in San Francisco in 1945

Permanent Headquarters are in New York City

The Security Council Made up of 15 members

5 , United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China are permanent members

10 other nonpermanent members are appointed for 2 years by the General Assembly