C H A P T E R 17

Foreign Policy and National Defense

C H A P T E R 17 Foreign Policy and National Defense

SECTION 1Foreign Affairs and National Security

SECTION 3American Foreign Policy Overview

SECTION 4Foreign Aid and Defense Alliances

S E C T I O N 1Foreign Affairs and National Security

•What is foreign policy?

•How can we differentiate between isolationism and internationalism?

•How does the Department of State function?

•How do the Department of Defense and the military departments function?

Isolationism to Internationalism

•For the first 150 years, the American people were chiefly concerned with domestic affairs, events at home (westward expansion, etc).

•Foreign affairs, or the nation’s relationships with other countries, were of little or no concern.

•Isolationism, the purposeful refusal to become involved in the affairs of the rest of the world, was American policy during this time (Foreign affairs a British thing).

•Since World War II, however, U.S. policy has featured a broadening of American involvement in global affairs (“one world”, superpower).

“one world” “global village”

• We live in a “global village.” Ultra rapid travel, instantaneous communications, economic conditions, terrorism, drug cartels, chemical and biological weapons, civil wars and the behavior or “rogue states” like North Korea.

• In the interconnected yet divided world world of today only foreign policies that protect and promote the security of all nations can assure the well-being of the United States.

Foreign Policy Defined

•A nation’s foreign policy is made up of all the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries (treaties, nuclear weapons testing, disarmament negotiations, oil imports, immigration, fishing rights, economic sanctions, exports, etc.).

•The President, the nation’s chief diplomat and commander in chief of its armed forces, has traditionally carried the major responsibility for both the making and conduct of foreign policy.

The State Department

•The State Department is headed by the secretary of state, who ranks first among the members of the President’s Cabinet. First created of the 15 executive departments. T.J. was first under G.W. Today the State Department is made up of 25,000 employees, with posts around the world.

Department of State Cont’d

•Under international law, every nation has the right of legation – the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives.

•An ambassador is a personal representative appointed by the President to represent the nation in matters of diplomacy. The U.S. has embassies in more than 180 countries. (encourage trade, gather information, advise person seeking to enter U.S., aid American citizens abroad, etc.)

•Another job of the State Department is to issue passports, certificates issued to citizens who travel or live abroad.

•Diplomatic immunity is usually applied to ambassadors and means that they are not subject to the laws of state to which they are working. (There is understanding that they will not abuse this right).

Christopher Stephens was U.S. Ambassador to Libya – Killed by Al-Qaeda terrorists Sept. 11 2012

The Defense DepartmentThis chart shows the chain of command of the American military

services.

The Military Departments

The Department of the Army

•The army is the largest and the oldest of the armed services.

•The army consists of standing troops, or the Regular Army, and its reserve units—the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

The Department of the Navy•The navy’s major responsibilities are for sea warfare and defense.•The U.S. Marine Corps, a combat-ready land force, are under the auspices of navy command.

The Department of the Air Force•The air force is the youngest branch of the armed services.•The air force’s main responsibility is to serve as the nation’s first line of defense.

Chuck Hagel is current Secretary of Defense – Heads the Pentagon

Section 1 Review

1. United States foreign policy might consist of any of the following EXCEPT

(a) intrastate energy disputes.

(b) protection of overseas interests.

(c) international trade policy.

(d) sending diplomats to global conferences.

2. Under the principle of civilian control of the military,

(a) the military acts as an independent and autonomous body.

(b) military generals have unrestricted control of the armed forces.

(c) mandatory service is used as a means of recruitment.

(d) an officer of the people has ultimate control of the armed forces.

S E C T I O N 3American Foreign Policy Overview

•What were the themes in American foreign policy through World War I?

•How did the two World Wars affect America’s traditional policy of isolationism?

•What are the principles of collective security and deterrence?

•How did the United States resist Soviet aggression during the cold war?

•How can we describe American foreign policy since the end of the cold war?

Foreign Policy Overview

“History is bunk.” -Henry Ford

He was a great automaker, but was very wrong.

Why study history?

“History is our social memory, Our memories tell us who we are, where we belong, what has worked and what has not worked, and where we seem to be going.”

- Historian Robert Kelly

Foreign Policy From Independence Through World War I

In his farewell address in in 1796, George Washington declared that “our true policy” was “to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

So, for 150 years the U.S. followed his advice, taking on the foreign policy of isolationism.

Isolationism Until WWII

• The Monroe Doctrine (1823) warned Europe to stay out of the affairs of North and South America and established the United States as the only power of the Western Hemisphere. Not really a policy of isolationism within our own hemisphere.

• James Monroe stated, “any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety.”

• Monroe Doctrine was seen as a selfish policy by most Latin Americans, designed to protect political and economic of the United States.

Isolationism Until WWII

• By the 1900’s problems arose within the hemisphere. T. Roosevelt sent troops to quell revolutions. In 1903, the U.S. built the Panama Canal. In 1917, the U.S. purchased the Virgin Islands. These acts were resented by many in Latin America. They complained of the “Colossus of the North” and “Yankee Imperialism.”

• The Good Neighbor Policy (1930’s) Franklin Roosevelt worked to “win friends” to the South. By a policy of non-intervention and non-interference in domestic affairs of Latin America.

Brazilian President Getuilo Vargas with FDR

Isolationism Until WWII

• By the late 1800’s the British, French, Germans, and Japanese were were wanting to take slices of the Chinese coast as their own exclusive trading preserves.

• The Open Door Policy (1899) Secretary of State John Hay insisted on an “open door” policy to trading with China. That doctrine promoted equal trade access for all nations, and demanded Chinese independence and sovereignty.

• Those other major powers accepted the American policy, although reluctantly.

World War I and World War II

World War I

•The United States entered World War I after continued disruptions of American commerce due to German submarine warfare.

•After the defeat of Germany and the Central Powers, the nation retreated back to a policy of isolationism.

World War II

•The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 signaled the United States entry in World War II.

•World War II led to a historic shift away from isolationism to an increased role in global affairs by the United States “superpower.”

Two New Principles

Deterrence

•Deterrence is the policy of making America so militarily strong that their very strength will deter—discourage, or even prevent—any attack.

•Truman initiated deterrence as relations with the Soviet’s worsened. Every President since Truman has continued the strategy.

Collective Security

•Collective security, involves a world community in which most nations would agree to act together against any nation that threatened the peace. The U.S. took the lead in creating the United Nations – to maintain international peace and security. WWII saw up to 70 million people die.

•It soon became clear, however, that world peace would rely on the relationship between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

Resisting Soviet Aggression

The cold war was a period of more than 40 years during which relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were tense, but did not result in direct military action between the two.

• Truman Doctrine (1947) Established the policy of containment. Policy lasted through the 1980’s. Goal was to contain communism around the world and not let it spread so it would collapse from within.

• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Soviets were building missiles on Cuba that could hit America. JFK ordered naval blockade to prevent further delivery. U.S. threatened to attack Cuba. Soviets backed down.

• The Korean War (1950) Fought when communist North invaded South. Pitted U.S. and S.K. vs. Soviet armed N.K. Eventually the invasion turned back and S.K was preserved.

• Vietnam War (1965) Communists began civil war in South Vietnam supplied by Soviets. The U.S. invaded. By 1973, 58,000 America had withdrawn. The south was overrun by communists.

Détente Through the Present

•Following the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, the Nixon administration embarked on a policy of détente.

•Détente is a French term meaning “relaxation of tensions. Idea was to improve relations with USSR.

•Nixon would become the first U.S. President to visit mainland China in 1972. He also visited Moscow during his administration.

•The cold war came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Section 3 Review

1. For much of the United States first 150 years, its foreign policy was one of

(a) internationalism.

(b) isolationism.

(c) imperialism.

(d) commercialism.

2. Collective security refers to(a) the goal of most of the nations of the world to act together to maintain the

peace.

(b) a free market ideal aimed at creating new markets for American goods.

(c) a policy of tariffs and duties to protect American industries.

(d) the goal of the United States to expand its borders.

S E C T I O N 4Foreign Aid and Defense Alliances

•What are the two types of foreign aid?

•How can we describe United States foreign aid policy?

•What are the major security alliances to which the United States belongs?

•What is United States policy in the Middle East?

•What role does the United Nations play, and what problems does it face?

Foreign Aid

•Foreign aid—economic and military aid to other countries—has been a basic feature of American foreign policy for more than 50 years.

•Most aid has been sent to those nations regarded as the most critical to the realization of this country’s foreign policy objectives.

•Most foreign aid money must be used to buy American goods and products.

Security Alliances

Other Alliances

•The United States is also part of the Rio Pact with Canada and Latin America, the ANZUS pact with Australia and New Zealand, as well as other pacts in the Pacific region.

•The United States has also taken an active interest in the actions that unfold in the Middle East, although America is not part of any formal alliance in the region.

NATO

•The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to promote the collective defense of Western Europe.

•Today, NATO’s purpose has changed. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO’s goals have broadened to include peacekeeping roles, and establishing a continued relationship with Russia.

The United Nations

•The United Nations was formed following World War II to promote peace and security across the globe.

•The General Assembly acts as “the town meeting of the world.”

•Oversight and maintenance of international peace is delegated to the UN Security Council, of which the United States is a permanent member.

•Peacekeeping missions, international aid to children and women, and investigations and aid for world health services are all examples of current United Nations functions.

Section 4 Review

1. All of the following are examples of foreign aid EXCEPT

(a) the United States sending supplies to a region struck by an earthquake.

(b) the use of the military in overseas peacekeeping missions.

(c) block grants to States for immigration reform.

(d) monetary aid to rebuild the economies of Europe.