United States Foreign Policy

In the United States' only military alliance until the 20th Century, France and the United States allied (with the French sending in troops and supplies, and other forms of aid) in order to defeat a common enemy, the British.

Foreign policy was not a main concern during the meetings--the national army was limited to 840 men, and most state strength came from their state militias.

Early tariff laws kept tariffs low so that the government couldn't interfere with trade.

Caused by British impressment of American sailors, restrictions on neutral shipping, and British support of Western Indian tribes against American expansion.

Drafted by President Monroe; announced that if any country attempted to re-colonize Latin America, or if Russia attempted to move on the western coast of America, the U.S. would respond with force.

The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Philippines, and power over Cuba (all the Spanish territories). The war also elevated the U.S. to the status of a world power.

Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, the Philippines revolted over U.S. rule. 5,000 American and tens of thousands of Filipinos died as a result.

In 1903, Teddy Roosevelt sent troops to Panama to help it become independent. In 1904, the United States started building the Panama Canal.
The Roosevelt Corollary (served as an extension of the Monroe Doctrine) stated that it was the responsibility of the U.S. to assure stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Under this doctrine, the U.S. sent military forces to Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, and Mexico, among others.

World War I broke out in Europe in 1914. The U.S. wanted to remain neutral, but was eventually forced into the war by the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare--that is to say, freely restricting trade between the US and the British and going so far as to sink US ships.
President Wilson tried to present the idea of a League of Nations (as part of his Fourteen Points) but was rejected by the Senate. The US returned to isolationism and high tariffs post-WWI.

The United States soon found that its grand strategy of isolationism and neutrality failed to keep them out of war. In December 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Germany declared war on the U.S.
FDR developed the United Nations even before the end of the war, basing many of its ideals on Wilson's failed League of Nations.

After WWII, the US emerged as a world power, and the Soviet Union emerged as a threat. Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, attempted to encourage the spread of communism through eastern and central Europe and into the Balkans. When he got to Greece and Turkey, the US and Great Britain became alarmed. President Truman responded with the Truman Doctrine to contain the expansion of communism. Truman also got Congress to pass the Marshall Plan, to rebuild Europe with an enormous amount of financial aid from the US. The idea was to prevent communism by making strong vibrant economies in Western Europe. For the first time, the US also joined a political and military alliance in peacetime, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).