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An Introduction to U.S. Foreign Policy

1890-1920

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Looking Backward

The Declaration of Independence & the American Revolution

“the shot heard ‘round the world”

the Rev as an experiment in democracy that would be watched by other countries

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Looking Backward

B. The U.S. after 1776 through Civil War

U.S. foreign policy is based on 2 key things:

assuring American independence;

so staying neutral = major policy

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Looking Backward

B. The U.S. after 1776 through Civil War

U.S. foreign policy is based on 2 key things:

assuring American sovereignty; therefore neutrality = major policy

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But not just neutrality...

Also EXPANSION!

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Expansion in the 19th century

1803 - Louisiana Purchase
1840s - manifest destiny

- Texas, California, Oregon

The examples on this slide go through expansion--key acquisitions of US territory--in the 1800s.

According to T.Jefferson, a nation of farmers (vs cities) would best preserve democracy and independence, so he was eager to add to U.S. territory.
Quick reminder on this--students should remember the idea of manifest destiny and how this led to acquisition of territory. This led to a war with Mexico that was absolutely viewed as territorial expansion and naked aggression by some, but not by all. Most Americans viewed this as DIFFERENT from the naked aggression of European powers. When European powers expanded, they necessarily bumped into other sovereign countries. But when the US expanded, who did we bump into? Indians and Mexicans who were not viewed as “equals.” This seemed to make it more acceptable for Americans. American expansion into Indian territory in particular was rationalized as bringing “civilization” to a lesser people.

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So another way to think about U.S. foreign policy in the 19th century:

Our foreign policy is not to have a foreign policy.

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Civil War briefly interrupts US expansionism, but then...

POST CIVIL WAR GROWTH:

by 1885, U.S. surpasses Britain in manufacturing
by 1900, US produces more energy than Germany, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Japan combined!

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Post Civil War Growth, 1865-1900

steel 523%

coal 800%

RR track 567%

wheat 256%

immigration - U.S. population doubles

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and yet, despite this growth, the U.S. is still viewed as a small player on the world stage

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and in 1890...the “closing of the frontier”

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So, if the U.S. has expanded a lot--both in territory, population & industry...

And, the frontier is now considered “closed”...

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What prediction might you make about what the U.S. would do if a European power decided to intervene in a place very near the United States?