US Foreign Policy Principles PDF

US FOREIGN POLICY PRINCIPLES Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, the 7th of June of 1776, proposed the independence from American Colonies (they are not soviet to the approval of the British empire or anyone else): - It proposed an alliance among the 13 colonies to form a confederation to fight...

US FOREIGN POLICY PRINCIPLES Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, the 7th of June of 1776, proposed the independence from American Colonies (they are not soviet to the approval of the British empire or anyone else): - It proposed an alliance among the 13 colonies to form a confederation to fight toward Great Britain. - Recognized the sovereignty of the People and the right to decide the form of government, not imposed by monarchy or heritage. *Anyone who had properties could be elected. - It claimed the right for liberty and equality among men who had property, but excluded slaves and women. *Equality before the law THE COMPLAINTS THAT SUSTAINED INDEPENDENCE: There were 27 complaints to the King and the British parliament to justify the revolutionary movement. Among the most important complaints: High taxes due to highly indebted Crown No taxes without representation on Parliament Cutting off trade with the rest of the world British armies in times of peace Abuses from the British armies (the British abused the colonies taking lands because they cared about their own interests) Lack of credible judicial system (mock trials) The 13 “independent” colonies were culturally divided, but followed enlightenment principles and search for freedom. They distrusted a centralized government and national government. *Division among founding fathers on federalism-antifederalism and the powers of the states. Giving rights to the national government and to the president on war, foreign policy and trade. The rest remained to the power of the state governments. On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. 10 of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791. The ratified Articles (Articles 3-12) constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution → the US Bill of Rights. In 1992, 203 years after it was proposed, Article 2 was ratified as the 27 th Amendment to the Constitution. Article 1 was never ratified. MONROE DOCTRINE: James Monroe, the 5th President of the USA, warned in 1823 European countries not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere (warning against colonization). They didn´t want monarchies in the western hemisphere, becoming independent thanks to France. Afraid of Great Powers of Europe may claim imperial rights in America, and affect the expansion to the west. It was a way of protecting the USA, not just the western hemisphere. *Isolate form the struggles between European Kingdoms. BRETTON WOODS: They decided to create the institutions that we know today (WB, IMF, UN, WTO/GATT). The US dollar was used for every transaction. Bretton Wood Agreement (1958) pegged the value of dollars to gold reserves. *44 currencies pegged to the US dollar value for international transactions. *Large amount of dollars in the international economy didn´t correspond to the US gold reserves. There was not enough gold to support all the US dollars that were circulating in the global markets. *Difficulties to change dollars for gold. *Great trade deficits not supported by gold. *Serious financial pressures to the US economy. The global economic system is based on institutions, values, laws, agreements and sometimes the use of force to protect economic interests. Those institutions are promoted and have the influence of the USA. CHALLENGES OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM: *The EU is a follower of what the USA dictates, but not a challenger. Though in a future their interests can be different to the ones of the USA. *The BRICS, mostly Russia, China and Brazil. VARIABLES OF THE CHALLENGES: - The currency system → they are trying to change it - Substitution of international institutions (belt and road initiative designed by China) - Economic interests