Analyze major changes and continuities in the goals of United States foreign policy from the end of World War 1 (1918) to the end of the Korean War (1953) Since World War 1, one of the biggest issues the United States has had to face is foreign policy. Throughout the past century, foreign policy has changed depending on what is happening around the world. One of the largest changes in foreign policy began from the end of World War 1 to the end of the Korean War. At the end of WW1, America was frustrated, because they wanted to stay out of foreign relations. This view slowly shifted however, as the U.S. viewed itself as a protector of democracy, and became involved in foreign affairs. Immediately following WWI, the United States were strictly isolated. The war had taken a great amount of America resources and lives so American began to think it would be safer to not get involved. In the excerpt Henry Cabot Lodge explains, “The United States is the world’s best hope but if you fetter her in the interests and quarrels of other nations, if you tangle her in the intrigues of Europe, you will destroy her power for good and endanger her very existence.” (1) The United States was strong, and many people believed that if we interfere with other countries, that we would grow weaker and eventually fall apart. After WW1, the League of Nations was formed. Even though we never joined, we formed the League of Nations to help foreign countries come together to aid each other. Internally, the roaring 20’s brought non-wartime to an all time high. As seen in Document 2, this was the time where Military Spending was extremely low. Then, without warning, the Great Depression began. Now the country needed to shift their focus to rebuilding the nation back up and get it to a stable state. During this time, Japan was able to successfully invade and conquer Manchuria, without much American opposition. We came in and told the Imperial Japanese Government and the Japanese run Manchuria Government, that all previous treaties with the governments are void (3). Now the focus of foreign policy was to prevent World War 2. Man senators and congressmen had varying viewpoints on the war. Senator Gerald O. Nye states “the experience of the last war includes the lesson that neutral rights are not a matter for national protection unless we are prepared to protect them by force.” (4) We wanted to stay out, but do it in a good way, because we were still recovering from the Great Depression. With World War 2 approaching, the United States foreign policy changed from protecting itself from the war, to deciding what to do after the war. Once the war commended, in the Pacific with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States seeked foreign help to see what was to be done after the war. FDR and Joseph Stalin met at the Tehran Conference to talk about postwar relations. They concluded that “The Four Policemen,’ namely, the Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain, and China. This organization would have the power to deal immediately with any threat to the peace and any sudden emergency which requires this action.” (5) Foreign policy for the United States changed once again from wartime protection of ally nations, to the discussion with allies about what to do at the end of the war. After World War 2 to the end of the Korean War, United States foreign policy was focused on the containment of communism. The Truman Doctrine said to get involved and help against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. (6) The real issue was communism. Document 7 states “ Our position as the center of power in the free world places a heavy
