US foreign Policy

During World Wars

World War I and US foreign policy of
engagement
• WWI started in 1914 and US reemphasize its neutrality.
• In 1915, a British ship was sunk by Germans resulting in deaths of 124
Americans who were on that ship.
• In response, US reiterated its neutrality but also gave a warning to
Germany as the protection of US citizens is one of the main duties of
US.
• During the war, trade between US and Britain or its allies increased
immensely.
• The German attacks on US merchant ships and the Zimmermann
telegram to Mexico made it inevitable for US to remain neutral.
• On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked the congress for declaration of war
against Germany which was granted.
• US justified its step of getting involved in war based on US national
interests to protect its citizens and to promote liberty and peace in
the world.
• Moreover, US also sent its troops in Russia during Bolshevik revolution
and the forces stayed in Russia from 1918 to 1920.
• US foreign policy shifted from neutrality to engagement.
Woodrow’s idealism
• In 1918, Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech which is known by his
14 points.
• 1.Open Diplomacy
• 2. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas in war and peace
• 3. Removal of economic barriers and equal trade conditions
• 4. Reduce armaments
• 5.Just adjusting of colonial claims
• 6. Evacuation of central powers from Russia
• 7. Belgium to be evacuated and restored
• 8. Return of Alasace-Lorraine region and other French territories
• 9. Readjust Italian borders
• 10. Austria-Hungary will be provided the chance for self-
determination
• 11. Redraw the borders of Balkan region (creating Romania, Serbia
and montenegro
• 12. Creation of Turkish state
• 13. Creation of independent polish state
• 14. General association of nations (Creation of league of nations)
Impact of domestic politics upon
foreign policy
• Majority of US senate members opposed the creation of league of
nations and US involvement in it.
• The senate opposed the US involvement in league of nations because
of article 10.
• Article 10: An attack against a member state will be considered as an
attack on all members and in response, all should be prepared to go
to war.
• Due to domestic opposition, US did not join league of nations.
Interwar Period and inward
approach
• US tried to adopt the policy of neutrality and looked inward during
interwar period.
• Economic growth and industrialization was the main focus of the
state.
• The immigration act of 1924 restricted the number of people allowed
to enter in country.
• Moreover, protectionism was adopted in terms of trade.
• Upto 28% duties were imposed on farms goods (Europe also
retaliated).
• Although US focused on isolationism again but it also focused on
internalization and participated in many disarmament conferences.
• Kellogg-Briand Pact was deigned in 1928 to outlaw war.
• Different naval conferences were convened as well.
• Gradually, the hostility between states was setting the stage for WWII.
• The main focus of US was upon economic issues(1929’s economic
depression).
• US congress passed neutrality act during 1935’s war between Italy
and Ethiopia.
• US also tried to remain neutral during 1937’s war between China and
Japan and sent a note of condemnation only.
WWI and US engagement
• When WWII broke out in 1939 with German attack on Poland, US
congress signed another neutrality act, but it was different from the
previous neutrality act.
• US sent letters to Italy and Germany to persuade them to seek peace
as well.
• In 1940, Franklin Roosevelt outlined a shift in US foreign policy from
neutrality to nonbelligerency (US can gear up for war footing if it
becomes essential)
• In 1941, Roosevelt, in his message to congress, talked about the four
freedoms and the reasons they went to war in WWI.
• US was setting the stage of its involvement in war through these
actions.
• In March 1941, Congress passed lend-lease act which allowed US to
assist countries whose defense is important for US.
• It provided them war related material.
• US got fully involved in WWI after the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor in Dec, 1941.
• US declared war on Japan.
• Germany and Italy declared war on US.
• The president signed executive order 9066 targeting the Japanese
living in US.
• US foreign policy was guided by the policy of engagement in these
affairs.
• An interesting foreign policy action of US and allied states was their
alliance with Joseph Stalin.
• Moreover, an important incident which needs to be discussed is US
decision of dropping atomic bomb on Japan.
• US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 which marks the
complete defeat of axis powers.
• US expressed its supremacy in terms of military power and
technology to the rest of the world.
Fundamentals of US foreign policy
• After the end of WWII, Truman addressed the nation in new York and
explained the 12 points which will guide the foreign policy of the
state.
• 1. We seek no territorial expansion or selfish advantage.
• 2. We believe in the eventual return of sovereign rights and self-
government to all peoples who have been deprived of them by force.
• 3. We shall approve no territorial changes in any friendly part of the
world unless they accord with the freely expressed wishes of the
people concerned.
4. We believe that all peoples who are prepared for self-government
should be permitted to choose their own form of government by their
own freely expressed choice, without interference from any foreign
source.
5. By the combined and cooperative action of our war allies, we shall
help the defeated enemy states establish peaceful democratic
governments of their own free choice. And we shall try to attain a
world in which Nazism, Fascism, and military aggression cannot exist.
6. We shall refuse to recognize any government imposed upon any
nation by the force of any foreign power.
7. We believe that all nations should have the freedom of the seas and
equal rights to the navigation of boundary rivers and waterways and of
rivers and waterways which pass through more than one country.
8. All states which are accepted in the society of nations should have
access on equal terms to the trade and the raw materials of the world.
9. The sovereign states of the Western Hemisphere, without
interference from outside the Western Hemisphere, must work
together as good neighbors in the solution of their common problems.
10. Full economic collaboration between all nations, great and small, is
essential to the improvement of living conditions all over the world,
and to the establishment of freedom from fear and freedom from
want.
11. We shall continue to strive to promote freedom of expression and
freedom of religion throughout the peace-loving areas of the world.
12. The preservation of peace between nations requires a United
Nations Organization composed of all the peace-loving nations of the
world who are willing jointly to use force if necessary to insure peace.