American Foreign Policy in 20th & 21st Centuries

Solution Preview

---

Please see attached response, which is presented below as well. I also attached some information to get you started on this interesting assignment.

RESPONSE:

You asked for the following:

1. I need few pages of help in analyzing American foreign policy in the 20th and 21th centuries. (From War with Spain, To Iraq) e.g. as much as information as possible, please.

An excellent place to start a research project is to formulate a tentative outline to help organize your research search and ideas as you look for relevant information to fill in the outline. One approach for me to help you with this research project is to provide a tentative outline and then look at potential information and links for you to consider for each section of your analysis. That is the approach this response is taking.

The outline is tentative, meaning it can change somewhat as you begin writing in terms of flow, but it is an important starting point. Your tentative outline might look something to the effect:

I. Introduction
II. Foreign Policy in the 20th Century
III. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century
IV. Discussion and Conclusions (sum up main points)

Now let's look at some potential information to include in each section. You have made a great start, which can be part of the introduction section of the paper.

I. Introduction

E.g. Since the Spanish American War, American foreign policy has gradually become more international as the country has become a major super power. On the other hand, deep historical tendencies have pulled the U.S. towards isolationism. World War II and The Cold War finally appeared to force the country to a full policy of international involvement. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has often been a nation in search of a foreign policy. This search has led to a vigorous debate about America's proper role in world affairs. This paper seeks to answer several questions. Is there a pattern? Do some particular issues more easily influence Americans than others? What/who drives foreign policy? What about future policy? Specifically, it analyzes American foreign policy in the 20th and 21st centuries, from the war with Spain to the war with Iraq.

The main driver of foreign policy should be the goals of foreign policy, which critics argue is not always the case:
"The officially stated goals of the foreign policy of the United States, as mentioned in the Foreign Policy Agenda of the U.S. Department of State, are "to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community." [2] In addition, the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs states as some of its jurisdictional goals: "export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware; measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business abroad; International commodity agreements; international education; and protection of American citizens abroad and expatriation."[3]. (From attached article: Overview of US Foreign Policy, which lists the references at the end of the article. Overviews are often an excellent place to start as many other sources are listed in overviews from which to also draw on).

E.g. American foreign policy has been the subject of much debate and criticism both domestically and abroad. Charges of negative influence have been levied even in countries traditionally considered allies of the United States.[4] These criticisms (see page 6 of the attached overview are discussed in more detail, which also has information relevant for the next sections).

II. Foreign Policy in the 20th Century

a. Describe specific events and wars associated with foreign policy changes E.g., War with Spain, etc.
b. Any Patterns?
c. What drove foreign policy? E.g., desire to expand explosion of the Maine, etc.
d. Did some issues have more influence than others?

Spanish-American War (1892-1902)

E.g. On April 25, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. As a result Spain lost its control over the remains of its overseas empire -- Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippine islands, Guam, and other islands (see ...