United States Foreign Policy

1
United States Foreign Policy

• The conduct of one nation toward other nations

2
Goals of Foreign Policy

• National Security
• Promote Trade
• Promote Peace
• Promote Democracy
• Promote Human Rights
• Protect American Lives and Property

3
Who Makes Foreign Policy?

• The President
• Negotiates treaties
• Executive agreements
• Summit meetings
• Recognizes countries and ambassadors

• Congress
• Approves money
• Declares war
• Approves treaties and appointments

4
Other influences on Foreign Policy

• Public opinion
• The American voters
• The Cabinet and other advisors
• Needs of the U.S.
• The Press
• Other countries (allies enemies)
• Past policies of the U.S.

5
U.S. Turns Toward Imperialism

• Imperialism
• The policy by which one country takes control of
  another either directly or through economic or
  political involvement

6
Eyes Toward Expansion(Pages 468 470 in The
U.S. Its People)

• Reasons for

• Reasons Against

7
Reasons for Expansion

• Keep up with the Europeans
• Morally right to spread democracy, Christianity,
  and civilization
• Survival of the Fittest (Social Darwinists)
• Economic gain
• Markets
• Raw materials
• Protect trade investments

8
Reasons Against Expansion

• Anti-democratic
• Economic burden to build and maintain an empire
• Fears that American society would not be able to
  assimilate non-white people (nativism)

9
Roots of U.S. Imperialism - Political

• Promote democracy in other areas
• Need to build military strength
• Importance of the Navy
• Alfred Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power on
  History (1890)
• The Great White Fleet (1907 circumnavigation of
  globe)
• Global competition for colonies
• Europe involved in Asia and Africa
• Other nations are doing this US doesnt want to
  be left out

10
Roots of Imperialism - Economic

• Industrialization of the U.S.
• Need raw materials
• Need markets for manufactured goods

11
Roots of Imperialism - Cultural

• Social Darwinism
• Survival of the Fittest
• Free market competition
• Superiority of Americans
• Spread Christianity
• Promote the American way of life

12
Purchase of Alaska - 1867

• Purchased from Russia for 7.2 million
• Reasons for
• Strategic location
• Valuable resources lumber, minerals (later gold
  oil
• Reasons Against
• Sewards Ice Box
• Sewards Folly

13
Acquisition of Hawaii

• Annexed after American business backed revolution
  in 1898
• Reasons for
• Sugar plantations
• Naval base at Pearl Harbor
• Reasons against
• Not democratic process Hawaiian people did not
  vote to be annexed