U.S. Foreign Policy

Unit 10

Foreign Policy

0 Definition: This countries actions, words, and beliefs toward other countries

0 Main Goals:0 Protect America and Americans0 Support economic growth and human rights around the

world0 Increase support for American values like democracy and

freedom

Most often the President and executive branch initiate our foreign policy responses to world events and work with the legislative branch to carry out these responses

Foreign Aid

0 The help or assistance that we give to other countries, usually through our Department of State0 Main goal of our foreign aid is to

create friendships abroad and foster future trading partners

0 Foreign aid comes in many forms. The most common are 0 economic, like money 0 military, like soldiers helping

after a disaster 0 advice, like how to create a

democracy

Military

0 This country’s troops, led by our President who is called the Commander-in-Chief0 main goal of our military is to

prevent war and protect the United States

0 Department of Defense is made up of the following branches: 0 Army 0 Navy 0 Air Force 0 Marines

Treaties

0 A formal agreement between countries that, like laws, must be followed 0 The President is responsible for

negotiating and signing treaties0 All treaties must be approved

by 2/3rds of the Senate

Example: Countries form an alliance through signing a

treaty. This treaty says that if one of the countries is attached,

the others will step in to protect each other

The Cost of Foreign Policy

American Foreign Policy Through History

0 1796 – George Washington warning of “entangling alliances”0 1822 – Monroe Doctrine0 1904 – Roosevelt Corollary0 1918 – Wilson and League of Nations0 1945 – Marshall Plan0 1946 – Cold War0 1947 – Truman Doctrine0 1950’s – Korea, Vietnam0 1991 – Gulf War0 2002 – Bush Doctrine

America as a Superpower

0Definition – 0 A country with the capacity

or potential to effect creative and destructive power in any corner of the known world

By the Numbers

0Economic Power0 Population 300 million (ranks 4th)0 GDP $10.9 Trillion (ranks 1st)0 Total Trade $2.3 Trillion (ranks 1st)0 Imports $1.5 Trillion (ranks 1st)0 Exports $800 Billion (ranks 1st)0 Affiliate Sales $10 Trillion (ranks 1st

0 GDP Growth Ranks 1st among WID’s

0 Military Power0 Military Spending: $400 Billion (ranks 1st)

0 Naval Supremacy: 9 Supercarrier Groups (ranks 1st)

0 Air Supremacy: More advanced fighters than any other country6,000-10,500 nuclear warheads (ranks 1st or 2nd)

0 Ground Supremacy: More armed forces than any other country1.4 million personnel on active duty (ranks 3rd)

0 Land Area: 6 million square miles (ranks 3rd)

0 Railroads: 140,000 miles of railway (ranks 1st, 2.3x Russia)

0 Highways: 4 million miles of highway (ranks 1st, 2x India)

0 Airports: 5,128 paved airports (7x Brazil, > next 20 countries combined)

By the Numbers

Soft Cultural Power

0American Brands (McDonalds, Coca Cola, Apple) are known worldwide

0American entertainment known and available worldwide

0Large numbers of American students and workers abroad

Foreign Policy in the Nuclear Age

0Nuclear Weapon States0The Two Koreas (Video)0North Korea’s Threat and

Demand foreign policy

Question to Consider

0Should the United States as the last Superpower act as a police force for the world?

0What reasons for American foreign policy make U.S. involvement in North Korean affairs likely?