United States Foreign United States Foreign PolicyPolicy

The conduct of one nation The conduct of one nation toward other nationstoward other nations

Goals of Foreign PolicyGoals of Foreign Policy

• National SecurityNational Security

• Promote TradePromote Trade

• Promote PeacePromote Peace

• Promote DemocracyPromote Democracy

• Promote Human RightsPromote Human Rights

• Protect American Lives and PropertyProtect American Lives and Property

Who Makes Foreign Policy?Who Makes Foreign Policy?

• The PresidentThe President– Negotiates treatiesNegotiates treaties– Executive Executive

agreementsagreements– Summit meetingsSummit meetings– Recognizes Recognizes

countries and countries and ambassadorsambassadors

• CongressCongress– Approves moneyApproves money– Declares warDeclares war– Approves treaties Approves treaties

and appointmentsand appointments

Other influences on Foreign Other influences on Foreign PolicyPolicy

• Public opinionPublic opinion

• The American votersThe American voters

• The Cabinet and other advisorsThe Cabinet and other advisors

• Needs of the U.S.Needs of the U.S.

• The PressThe Press

• Other countries (allies & enemies)Other countries (allies & enemies)

• Past policies of the U.S.Past policies of the U.S.

U.S. Turns Toward U.S. Turns Toward Imperialism- End of 19Imperialism- End of 19thth CenturyCentury• ImperialismImperialism

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

Eyes Toward Expansion- pg. 16Eyes Toward Expansion- pg. 16(Pages 548-549) in The U.S. & Its (Pages 548-549) in The U.S. & Its People)People)

• Reasons for:Reasons for: • Reasons Against:Reasons Against:

Reasons for ExpansionReasons for Expansion

• ““Keep up with the Europeans”Keep up with the Europeans”• Morally right to spread democracy, Morally right to spread democracy,

Christianity, and civilizationChristianity, and civilization• ““Survival of the Fittest”Survival of the Fittest”• Economic gain Economic gain

– MarketsMarkets– Raw materialsRaw materials– Protect trade & investmentsProtect trade & investments

Reasons Against ExpansionReasons Against Expansion

• Anti-democraticAnti-democratic

• Economic burden to build and Economic burden to build and maintain an empiremaintain an empire

• Fears that American society would Fears that American society would not be able to “assimilate” non-white not be able to “assimilate” non-white people (nativism); Can’t make them people (nativism); Can’t make them “into” Americans…too different!“into” Americans…too different!

Pg. 17 Pg. 17 Roots of U.S. Imperialism - Roots of U.S. Imperialism - PoliticalPolitical• Promote democracy in other areas of world!Promote democracy in other areas of world!

• Need to build our military strengthNeed to build our military strength– Importance of the Navy Importance of the Navy

• Alfred Mahan, Alfred Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power on History The Influence of Sea Power on History (1890)(1890)

• The Great White Fleet (1907 circumnavigation of globe)The Great White Fleet (1907 circumnavigation of globe)

• Global competition for coloniesGlobal competition for colonies– Europe involved in Asia and AfricaEurope involved in Asia and Africa

• Other nations are doing this – US doesn’t want to be Other nations are doing this – US doesn’t want to be left outleft out

Roots of Imperialism - Roots of Imperialism - EconomicEconomic

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

Roots of Imperialism - Roots of Imperialism - CulturalCultural

• Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism– ““Survival of the Fittest”Survival of the Fittest”– Free market competitionFree market competition

• Superiority of AmericansSuperiority of Americans– Spread ChristianitySpread Christianity– Promote the American way of lifePromote the American way of life

Purchase of Alaska - 1867Purchase of Alaska - 1867

• Purchased from Russia for $7.2 millionPurchased from Russia for $7.2 million• Reasons for:Reasons for:

– Strategic locationStrategic location– Valuable resources – lumber, minerals Valuable resources – lumber, minerals

(later gold & oil(later gold & oil

• Reasons Against:Reasons Against:– ““Seward’s Ice Box”Seward’s Ice Box”– ““Seward’s Folly”Seward’s Folly”

Acquisition of Hawaii Acquisition of Hawaii

• Annexed after American business Annexed after American business backed revolution in 1898backed revolution in 1898

• Reasons for:Reasons for:– Sugar plantationsSugar plantations– Naval base at Pearl HarborNaval base at Pearl Harbor

• Reasons against:Reasons against:– Not democratic process – Hawaiian Not democratic process – Hawaiian

people did not vote to be annexedpeople did not vote to be annexed