American Foreign Policy 1900-present

A Brief Outline

Events that Shaped American Foreign Policy from 1900-present

Isolationism after Spanish American War

World War I (1914-1918)

Return to Isolationism (1918-1941)

World War II (1941-1945)

Cold War (1945-1989)

Korean War/Cuban Missile Crises/Vietnam War (1950-1973)

Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)

9/11 and the War in Iraq (9/11/01 – present)

Pre WWI Isolationism Focal Points

Develop strong economy

Build infrastructure in new lands

Return to isolationism

World War I: American Involvement

1916Woodrow Wilson’s Pledge: “keep us out of war”• Wins election

1917RMS Lusitania sunk by German U-boats• 128 Americans killed

Wilson wants to “make the world safe for democracy”. • Therefore, we join the war.

America at end of WWI…1919

Pres. Wilson goes to Versailles, France to sign peace treaty.

Wilson asks for “League of Nations” to be formed• Democracies should work together to ensure world peace.

WWI Aftermath

League of Nations is turned down by CongressL. of Nations would force us into war to protect other countries. •Congress wants to return to isolationism

Therefore, League of Nations is established•USA is not a member! •We are neutral again….until WWII

Isolation years in America….1920’s

Roaring 1920-1929

Good timesEconomic boom!

1929 Stock Market Crash

Isolation Years in America…1930’s to WWII1930-1937

Great Depression!

1937-1941US making money again• Sell goods to Europe while it destroys itself again….

U.S Foreign Policy argument in 1940FDR (Democrat)

Believed US should be involved in Europe to stop Hitler

Republican Congress

Wanted to keep America isolated

What does this mean for Europe?

Europe in 1940

Pearl HarborDecember 7,1941

End of WWII….boom!

End of WWII…beginning of Cold War

Main goal of US after WWIIExpand democracy to keep Communism from spreading!

1947POTUS Truman signs the Truman Doctrine• Declares U.S. foreign policy = containment of Communism – How?

– Keep democracies for becoming Communist– So, America has to be the leader in this war, right??

1949…Communism v. Capitalism

America vs. Communism1950

Korean War breaks out• North Korea = Communism• South Korea = Capitalist

– Capitalists win

1959Fidel Castro takes over Cuba• Makes it Communist

1961-1973Vietnam War• North Vietnam = Communism• South Vietnam = Capitalism

– Communists win

Cuban Missile Crises…how the world almost got blown up! 1963 (6 days of Terror)

Russia started moving nuclear weapons to Cuba. • Castro liked annoying the US.

POTUS JFK • Told Russia to take weapons out of Cuba or else we would blow it off the face of the Earth!– And we waited….

And we waited….

Cold War Thaws Out…1963-1989

1963Russia finally takes weapons out of Cuba.

This scary moment leads to détenteStop using nuclear weapons to promote foreign policy. • Russia and USA slow down nuclear weapon making.

1989Russia falls apartCommunism ends in USSR.

Persian Gulf War1990-1991

Iraq leader Saddam Hussein orders attacks Kuwait

Wants to take control of their oil fields

POTUS Bush ISends in US Army to free KuwaitWhy? • We want control of the oil!

Persian Gulf War ends….or does it?

1991Hussein orders retreat out of Kuwait.

US troops come home.

Hussein stays in power….• Does this make sense?

9/11 Attacks lead to us going back to fight terrorists….right?

Al-Qaeda is from where?

From Afghanistan

POTUS Bush IISends US military to Iraq? We kick out Saddam Hussein• Start a new democratic government.

• What about the terrorists?

War in Afghanistan, to find the terrorists!