American Foreign Policy 1776-1900

A Brief Outline

PHASES OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

ISOLATIONISM

CONTINENTAL EXPANSIONManifest Destiny

IMPERIALISMRise of Internationalism.... To be continued

Events that Shaped American Foreign Policy from 1776-19001. Relations with France- (1776-1781)

2. Washington’s Farewell Address

3. POTUS Thomas Jefferson’s first Inaugural Address

4. War of 1812

5. Monroe Doctrine

6. Spanish American War (1898-1900)

French Alliance1776-1781

America declares independence from Britain. We needed French navy to win!

• Why? We didn’t have a Navy!

1789French Revolution leads to aggressive policies against other European powersBy 1793, England declares war on the French.

What should we do as a country?

1796Washington’s Farewell Address

Established concept of isolation

“It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world…”

– G.Washington

1801Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address

Jefferson expanded upon Washington’s warning against “permanent alliances” to include “entangling alliances”

Reinforced the principle of non-involvement in European wars.

America is “kindly separated by nature and a wide ocean from the exterminating havoc of one quarter of the globe”

– T.Jefferson, 1801

Louisiana Purchase, 1803

War of 1812 Britain vs. USA•War demonstrated the difficulty of non-involvement

•Britain wanted some of the land given to us in the Louisiana Purchase.

•Illustrated the nation’s willingness to violate the policy of neutrality when it became advantageous to do so.

The Monroe Doctrine“The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers….”

– POTUS James Monroe, 1823

1823, The Monroe Doctrine•POTUS Monroe makes neutrality America’s foreign policy agenda.

•This is done in response to fears that European powers might try to expand its influence into the Western Hemisphere.

KEY GUIDING STRATEGEM

“No permanent friends, only permanent objectives”

Always keep this in mind!!

John Quincy Adams:Secretary of State to James Monroe 1817-1825POTUS 1825-1829

Had a clear vision of what US policy should be and where it should be headed.

Philosophy: National interests should determine foreign policy.

What does that mean??? • EXPANSION!!!

John Quincy Adams: Accomplishments

Adams’ Vision:Expansion of US to the Pacific

(1819)Gains Florida from the Spanish

Architect of Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny“And that claim is by right of our

manifest destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the continent which providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government entrusted to us… The God of nature and of nations has marked it for our own…”

John L. O’ Sullivan, Dec. 1845

John L. O’Sullivan

American Progress by Jonathan Gast, 1872

American Expansion

Late 19th Century Imperialism: The USA Enters the World Stage…but why?

Economic motivationsNew marketsNew resources

Manifest Destiny-extended

Military considerations Need to defend ourselves

Spanish American War 1898-1900:The War over Cuba

Spain controlled CubaUSA wanted it!

• Why? – Sugar!!!

USS Maine incident

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders Defeat the Spanish US acquires Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam

The New World Power: United States of America, 1900