PLS 341: American Foreign PolicyPLS 341: American Foreign Policy

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

Early History of American Foreign Policy

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Thus Far…

• Chittick created a framework with which we can analyze and better understand foreign policies.

• M/M: – Multilateral/Unilateral

• C/C:– Coercive/Non-Coercive

• A/A:– Active/Reactive

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Today…

• Today we will examine the early history of the United States– How did events and reigning

theories of government shape our foreign policy?

– How did the president influence the foreign policy followed?

– What factors are important in determining foreign policy?

• Important Note:– Your first FPH brief is due by

Monday.

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Background on Europe

• Europe was born in the Dark Ages– The ruins of the Roman Empire

tended to show Europeans that they were not as good as the Romans before them

– Power resided in the land• If the ruler was good, the land

would prosper• If the ruler was bad, the land

would decay• The converse also held

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Background on Europe

• The Age of Absolutism– Power resides in a single individual

• King• Prince• Pope

– The commoners do not have power• Creation of the idea of state

sovereignty– Sovereignty resided with the state

(ruler of the state), not with anyone above the state

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Background on Europe

• Protection of the state was central– Raison d’état– Machiavelli– Richelieu

• Power Politics– Balance of Power– Hegemony– Mercantilism

• The resulting diplomacy (Old Diplomacy) was MCA– Unilateral, Coercive, Reactive

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Background on Europe

• The Enlightenment– Eighteenth century movement in

Europe (and America)– Put reason at the center of

philosophy• Resulted in placing the

individual at the center of the world

– Created liberal political philosophy• Resulted in placing the

individual at the center of political power

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Background on Europe

• Lockean Liberalism became the new best political philosophy– Replaced Hobbes, who held that

the state needed to increase its power to protect its citizens from each other and from external threats

– Liberalism called for limited government to protect the people from tyrannical government

• The resulting diplomacy (New Diplomacy) was MCA (the opposite of the Old Diplomacy)– Multilateral, Non-Coercive, Active

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The Colonial Period (in US)

• Prosperity Values:– That’s why they came here

• Community Values:– Build a new world order– Read the back of your dollar bill:

• Novus Ordo Seclorum• “New Order of the Ages”

• Security Values:– French and Indian War– Spillover from Continental wars

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First War of Independence

• 1776-1788• From what you know about US

history, what would our foreign have been?– Why?

• What would influence it most?

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Federalist Period

• 1789-1800• Idealism rules! • Washington and Adams

– conducted Foreign Policy as they believed US domestic policy should be conducted

– This Idealism would rear its head again during the rule of Woodrow Wilson

• Foreign policy was mainly MCA– Unilateral– Non-Coercive– Active

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Republican Period

• 1801-1815• Foreign policy was mainly MCA

– Unilateral– Coercive– Active

• Why the difference?– What changed in our needs for

Prosperity, Security, and Community?

– Did any events affect it?

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Growth and Expansion

• 1815-1849• Foreign policy remained MCA

– Unilateral– Coercive– Active

• Why no change?– Different presidents– Events in Europe affect us– Mexican-American War– Promulgation of the Monroe

Doctrine

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Identity Crisis

• 1850-1865• Foreign policy became MCA

– Multilateral– Non-Coercive– Active

• Some Events– California Gold Rush (1848–‘55)– The US Civil War (1860–‘65)– European Immigration– Growth of big cities

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Theory

• Are the above reasons enough to explain the change?

• What should explain changes in foreign policy?

• Chittick:– Prosperity– Security– Community

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Assignment

• Read: Chapter 3 (Chittick)• Monday’s Topic:

– From Isolation to Hegemony

• Do not forget:– FPH Brief #1 is due Monday– It is an online event– Link is “Policy Index”

• http://oforsber.kvasaheim.com/courses/pls341/studentworkindex.php