HIS 1005 Midterm
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HIS 1005 BMWA: Modern American History- Prof. Marta Millar
Luka Iakobidze
Midterm Assignment
Dynamics of U.S. Foreign Policy
The history of American foreign policy during the years 1920-1941 and 1945-1975 demonstrates an active relationship between internal and external events, politicians, and the country's position in world politics. After the tragedy of World War I, the United States became isolationist in the 1920s, avoiding European conflicts. It demonstrated this by rejecting the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. However, after WWII, with Europe weakened and the Cold War approaching,
the United States turned from isolationism to interventionism. This shift was intended to compensate the Soviet Union's influence, with programs such as the Truman Doctrine stressing the United States' responsibility in assisting nations facing communist dangers.
This essay will look at significant political decisions, central individuals, and events that impacted America's diplomatic actions and policies throughout these crucial years.
Analysis of Primary Source 1:
Source
: The "Good Neighbor Policy" speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasized a crucial change in US international relations,
particularly regarding Latin America, in his "Good Neighbor Policy" address made in 1933.
Roosevelt's address highlighted the importance of respect for one another and harmony in
society, as well as the wish for the United States to depart from its historically aggressive attitude
in the Western Hemisphere. He wanted a peaceful international partnership based on mutual
understanding and respect.
Relating to this, Roosevelt said, "In the field of world policy, I would dedicate this Nation
to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because
he does so, respects the rights of others." This phrase summarizes Roosevelt's desire for the
United States to transition from a dominant force to a trustworthy and respected participant in
international affairs. He uses the idea of a "good neighbor" to explain how a nation can maintain
its self-respect by not getting involved in other countries' affairs. He believes that when a country
respects itself, it naturally respects the rights of other nations. Aside from this core
announcement, Roosevelt emphasized the policy's main concept by declaring that "no state has
the right to intervene in the internal or external affairs of another." he's making it very clear that
there are limits to how countries should interact with each other. This quote not only highlights
the main idea of not interfering but also represents a broader belief that every nation has its own
rights, and no outside power, no matter how strong, should violate those rights. This statement
marked a significant change from previous U.S. policies and sent a strong message that the time
of the U.S. getting involved in Latin American affairs was over. This remark, together with his
primary statement, illustrates Roosevelt's desire for the United States to transition from a
dominant force to a trusted and respected player in international affairs.
Analysis of Primary Source 2
:
Source
: The "Truman Doctrine" speech by President Harry S. Truman.
In President Harry S. Truman's famous "Truman Doctrine" speech, a new viewpoint on US
foreign policy develops, strongly contrasted with Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy." The
"Truman Doctrine," delivered in 1947, was Truman's public promise of America's commitment
to controlling the growth of communism globally, especially in Europe and Asia.
Truman's speech said that America should help countries that are trying to stay free from
being taken over by others. This was different from what Roosevelt thought because Truman
wanted the U.S. to get involved in world problems. He wanted to stop communism from
spreading, and this was called containment.
One of the speech's distinguishing quotes is, "It must be the policy of the United States to
support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation." This sentence demonstrates
Truman's dedication to a proactive and involved foreign policy. Truman's America will
aggressively defend nations facing challenges, especially from communist forces, rather than
simply being a "good neighbor" and avoiding from interfering. This support was not only
ideological; Truman demanded finances and military help for Greece and Turkey, demonstrating
his dedication to the doctrine's goals.
Thus, the "Truman Doctrine" established a historic moment in Cold War politics. While
Roosevelt promoted mutual respect and non-intervention in the Western Hemisphere, Truman
considered the United States as having a global responsibility to fight the development of ideas
which was dangerous to democracy.
This way of thinking would affect how the United States
handled its foreign policy for many years.
Bibliography: (Primary sources)
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1.Roosevelt, Franklin D. "Inaugural Address." March 4, 1933. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/04599_FPS.pdf
.
Annotation:
Roosevelt's 1933 inaugural speech is a crucial document that starts the U.S.'s "Good Neighbor" policy. It highlights the president's desire to improve relationships with Latin American countries and stop getting involved in their affairs.
2.Truman, Harry S. "Address before a Joint Session of Congress." March 12, 1947. Ruhr-
Universität Bochum. https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/gna/Quellensammlung/10/10_trumandoctrine_1947.htm
.
Annotation:
Truman's 1947 address, known as the "Truman Doctrine," outlines the U.S.'s stance against the spread of communism and signifies the start of the Cold War period. It offers important information about the U.S.'s geopolitical thoughts and worries during the early days of
the Cold War.
3.Marshall, George C. "The 'Marshall Plan' Speech at Harvard University, 5 June 1947." OECD. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.oecd.org/general/themarshallplanspeechatharvarduniversity5june1947.htm
.
Annotation
: Marshall's speech in 1947 explains the strategy for helping Europe recover after World War II. It's important for understanding how the United States planned to rebuild Europe and counter the Soviet Union's influence.
(Secondary sources)
1.Immerwahr, Daniel. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States
. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019.
Annotation:
Immerwahr's book talks about how the U.S. grew in land and power and how that affected its decisions with other countries. It shows the U.S.'s journey from a country that kept to
itself to one with a big role in the world.
2.Gaddis, John Lewis. The Cold War: A New History
. New York: Penguin Books, 2006.
Annotation:
Gaddis's book explains the Cold War, including the big events and what the U.S. and
Soviet Union wanted. It helps us see the bigger picture around Truman and Marshall's speeches.
Description of your final project / plan moving forward:
For my final project, I am inclined towards crafting a traditional essay. I aim to explore the
dynamics of the Cold War era, touching upon key events such as the Vietnam War and the Cuban
Missile Crisis. These events, among others, have significantly impacted the direction and tone of the U.S.'s interactions on the global stage. I'll be delving into the reasons behind America's involvement in Vietnam and the geopolitical chess game that was the Cuban Missile Crisis, analyzing the motivations, strategies, and outcomes of these events. I believe that the structure and depth offered by this format will allow me to delve deeply into the intricacies of American foreign policy, drawing from the wealth of primary and secondary sources I've gathered. However, to ensure that my essay stands out and offers a visually engaging experience for the reader, I plan to incorporate my extensively developed mind map. This will not only provide a visual representation of the complex web of events and decisions but will also offer readers a quick reference point as they navigate through the essay. In addition, I'm considering integrating
other relevant images to further illustrate and support my arguments, making the essay both informative and visually appealing.
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