U.S. Foreign Policy

• Five main objectives guide the United States' interactions with other countries.
  • Guaranteeing national security.
  • Fostering global peace.
  • Promoting democratic ideals.
  • Encouraging international trade.
  • Offering assistance to nations in need.

Presidential Powers in Foreign Policy

• The President's duties include.
  • Negotiating and signing treaties with other nations.
  • Selecting and sending ambassadors to foreign countries.
  • Appointing the Secretary of State.
  • Serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the military.
  • Acting as the primary diplomatic figure representing the U.S.

Congressional Powers in Foreign Policy

• Congress holds key responsibilities.
  • Ratifying treaties.
  • Declaring war.
  • Allocating funds for foreign policy initiatives.
  • Confirming presidential appointments of ambassadors and the Secretary of State.

Monroe Doctrine

• The doctrine, articulated by James Monroe, had three main principles.
  • European nations should not interfere with countries in the Western Hemisphere.
  • The U.S. pledged to stay out of European affairs.
  • The U.S. would recognize existing colonies in the Americas.

Imperialism

• Imperialism involves nations expanding their influence by colonizing other territories.
• Positives include the colonizing country gaining resources and wealth.
• Negatives include it opposing the values of freedom and independence.

Mexican-American War

• The Mexican-American War took place from 1846-1848.
• The United States achieved significant success and territorial expansion because of the war.

President James K. Polk

• Polk advocated for expansion during his time.
• He served as the U.S. President during the Mexican-American War.

Manifest Destiny

• The Manifest Destiny was the idea that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.
• Americans thought of themselves as bringing progress to the West.
• Americans believed they had a right to claim the land west of the Mississippi River.

Spanish-American War

• The sinking of the USS Maine and resulting propaganda led to U.S. involvement.
• Outcome: The U.S. gained control of Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
• It sparked debate over whether the U.S. was becoming an imperial power.

Zimmerman Telegram

• Germany sent a telegram proposing an alliance with Mexico against the U.S.
• Germany asked Mexico to declare war on America.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• A strategy of attacking any and all ships without warning.
• This included ships from neutral countries.

World War I

• The causes of WWI were complex and interconnected, summarized by MAIN.
  • Militarism.
  • Alliances.
  • Imperialism.
  • Nationalism.
• Triggered by events in the Balkans and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
• The war was defined by trench warfare, intense nationalism, and complex alliances.
• Weaponry included machine guns, artillery, airplanes, chemical weapons like chlorine and mustard gas, and tanks.

Neutrality

• Neutrality means not taking sides in a conflict.

Alliances

• Alliances formed to avoid conflict or gain strength.

Nationalism

• Nationalism is extreme loyalty to one's country and its beliefs.
• Countries go to war because their beliefs don’t align.

Militarism

• Militarism is prioritizing a strong military above all else.

Propaganda

• Propaganda is the use of information to influence public opinion.

President Woodrow Wilson

• Established the League of Nations.
• Led the U.S. into World War I.
• Proposed the Fourteen Points.

Fourteen Points

• The 14 Points promoted peace without victory.
• It called for the:
  • End of colonialism.
  • Freedom of the seas.
  • Free trade.
  • No territorial losses for any country.

The Big Four

• Leaders from four major countries shaped the post-war world.
  • Great Britain.
  • France.
  • United States.
  • Italy.

Treaty of Versailles

• Germany was forced to surrender colonies, pay reparations, and accept blame for the war.

Triple Alliance and Triple Entente

• The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
• The Triple Entente consisted of France, Great Britain, and Russia.

U.S. Foreign Policy Progression

• Early U.S. foreign policy was largely isolationist.
  • George Washington advocated for neutrality.
  • James Monroe established the Monroe Doctrine.

Expansionism/Interventionist Presidents

• President Polk focused on territorial expansion.
• Presidents Roosevelt and McKinley led the U.S. into imperialism.
• Woodrow Wilson's push for the League of Nations and entry into WWI marked a shift towards interventionism.

Manifest Destiny and War

• It led to war with Mexico.
• The U.S. captured Santa Fe, Mexico City, and California.
• Debates over slavery in new territories contributed to the Civil War.

Causes of WWI

• Militarism: Prioritization of military strength and planning.
• Alliances: Countries formed alliances for protection or power.
• Imperialism: Competition for colonies and resources.
• Nationalism: Intense loyalty to one's nation, leading to conflicts.
• Balkans: A volatile region known as the "Powder Keg".
• Assassination: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked the war.

U.S. Declaration of War on Germany

• Unrestricted submarine warfare targeted all ships, including American ones resulting in the loss of life.

Treaty of Versailles Outcome

• It legally ended the war but left lingering tensions.
• France sought more security against Germany.
• Germany was blamed for the war, causing resentment.
• Italy felt like a "loser," fueling nationalism.
• The Ottoman Empire dissolved.