Exploros | History of U.S. Foreign Policy

Overview

In this experience, students view a list of recent military conflicts and predict in which ones the United States were involved. Then they trace how the United States adopted non-intervention as its main foreign policy through the nineteenth century. Next they analyze the shift to interventionism during World War II and the Cold War. Finally students draw a continuum from isolationism to interventionist superpower and locate four events on the line.

Objectives

Define the policy of isolationism.
Describe how U.S. foreign policy has evolved over its history.

Engage

The American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas inspired other revolutions around the world. The French Revolution (1789–1799) overturned the feudal system in favor of a system built on liberal democratic ideals. The Haitian Revolution (1781–1804) was a slave uprising that led to the founding of a state that was ruled by non-whites and former slaves. Many more revolutions began across the Americas, as other colonies began to demand their independence. As a young nation, the United States was involved in its own problems and could not participate in what was happening around the world. In this lesson, you will learn about a gradual shift that occurred in U.S. foreign policy.

Objectives

Define the policy of isolationism.
Describe how U.S. foreign policy has evolved over its history.

poster showing U.S. soldiers raising the American flag at Iwo Jima

Poster showing U.S. soldiers planting the flag at Iwo Jima, Japan, during World War II

The following military conflicts took place around the world over the past fifty years. In which of these conflicts do you think that the United States was involved in any capacity? Consider whatever you may know about each case and make a prediction.

A) Syrian civil war (since 2011)
B) Somali civil war (since 1988)
C) Iraqi civil war and the Kurdish uprising (2004–11)
D) Kosovo civil war (1998–99)
E) Chile’s military coup against socialist Salvador Allende (1973)
F) Philippine’s overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos (1986–90)

The United States sent troops or military advisors to most (or maybe all) of the conflicts listed above:

Syrian civil war: The United States has sent limited armed forces to support the rebel troops; it has also provided anti-government forces with political and logistic support.

Somali civil war: The United States led the U.N. peacekeeping force.

Iraqi civil war and Kurdish uprising: The United States led an international coalition force against the Iraqi regime; the United States provided support for the Kurdish rebels.

Kosovo civil war: The United States led NATO troops in supporting the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army.

Chilean coup d’état: Although it has long been suspected that CIA operatives were involved in the coup, no direct evidence has been found.

Philippine overthrow: The United States had supported dictator Marcos as an anti-Communist leader; the United States had military bases in the Philippines but did not provide soldiers. As public opinion shifted, the U.S. diplomats encouraged Marcos to step down and provided an airplane to fly him and his family to safety in the United States.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.