United States’ Foreign Policy Analysis

Introduction

The United States’ foreign policy has advanced and taken many shapes since the nation gained its independence from the British Empire. Initially, the founding fathers believed that the US should not be involved in international affairs, thus encouraging isolation. However, preceding political views and movements established the US as a power destined to facilitate world order and create a thriving democratic environment. Since then, the US has engaged in several global issues which have contributed to elevating its position as a superpower. Regardless, the country has faced several setbacks due to some of its approaches to foreign policy. The following essay provides an overview of USFP during the founding years of the republic, critical aspects of these policies, and the factors that weakened their implementation.

United States Approach to Foreign Policy during the Early Years

After the American Revolution, the USFP generally focused on regional issues, encouraging it to adopt an isolationist approach to foreign policy. George Washington warned American citizens to avoid any forms of foreign entanglements as European nations had complex interests. As a result, he reasoned that engaging with these nations would drag the US into unnecessary conflicts and collisions. Nevertheless, the US sustained its commercial ties with European nations and France despite the ongoing conflicts between Great Britain and the (French Walt, 2018). The US saw an opportunity in trading with all nations as it would be in their best economic interest. Thus, they aimed to live at peace with all other countries and trade in any market. In 1973, Washington and cabinet members drafted the rules of neutrality, which reinforced their initiatives toward staying neutral in the wars by disarming naval ships and permitting the passage of commercial vessels not intended for warfare (Herring, 2008). These regulations were later codified into law, allowing them to govern USFP during this period until the civil war era.

Aspects of USFP that Helped Position the US during the Period

The religious aspects of USFP during the early years of the republic had a significant impact on its positioning as it allowed the US to establish itself as the chosen nation. Many scholars and religious leaders argued that the US was destined to become a leader and lead others on the path toward peace and democracy (French Walt, 2018). As a result, the notion that the work of God would begin in the US as mentioned in the bible shaped US approaches to international affairs and spearheaded the belief that they were responsible for creating a world order.

The United States’ decision to remain neutral in the war that ravaged European countries was also critical to its development as it allowed the nation to keep its citizens safe and focus on advancements. War is a costly affair that can drain nations of their resources. Therefore, by avoiding engagement in the conflicts, the US was able to channel its resources to strengthen its military capabilities and economic stability (Herring, 2008). In the long, the approach was beneficial as it helped establish a more peaceful and democratic nation.

The isolationist ideology also played a critical role in positioning the US as it ensured that no nation interfered with its affairs. Isolationists advocated for non-entanglement and non-involvement in Asian and European conflicts and world politics. However, the US chose to protect its interests in Latin America, which was beneficial due to access to resources (Scott & Rosati, 2020). Isolation allowed the US to avoid becoming a colony of European nations, thus allowing it to establish sovereignty and govern its initiatives for positive development.

Factors the Weakened USFP during the Early Republic

One of the main issues that limited USFP after the nation gained independence is sectional differences. The northern and southern states had conflicting interests which resulted in heated arguments and disagreements. As a result, unifying the states was a difficult task as no party was willing to forego their demands (Herring, 2008). Subsequently, these issues interfered with USFP as both regions struggled to protect their interests. Similarly, America’s post-war truce with France and Great Britain alleviated potential issues as the US was forced to gradually negotiate the withdrawal of British troops and repay France’s loans and expenses incurred for support during the war (Scott & Rosati, 2020). As a result, the US had a strained relationship with both nations.

Conclusion

The US approach to foreign policy was intended to strengthen the nation and allow it to establish ground as a sovereign country. For that reason, the founding fathers and political elite during the early years of the republic spearheaded isolation and refraining from global politics as the ultimate solution to ensure development. As a result, the US took a neutral position in the conflicts but was forced to deal with its reparations due to engaging economically with European and Asian nations. Despite striving to unify and interact with other powers as one, the sectionalism in the US caused division, which limited their advancement. Nevertheless, the US was able to sustain peaceful and democratic states until the beginning of the civil war.

References

Herring, G. C. (2008). From colony to superpower: US foreign relations since 1776. Oxford University Press.

Scott, J. M., & Rosati, J. A. (2020). The politics of United States foreign policy. CQ Press.

Walt, S. M. (2018). The Hell of Good Intentions: America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of US Primacy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.