The Birth Of Foreign Policy In The Early U.S.A.

Terms for Column B Select the one that fits: Sanctions Mediation Treaty Military Force Negotiation Isolationism Internationalism

U.S. Seal Outlines Hopes Unfinished pyramid = endurance Eagle = national power Eagle holds olive branch for peace & arrows for war

Olive Branch or Arrows? Involvement= Potential for war Isolationism= These are perfect symbols for our early foreign policy choice. The U.S. could become actively involved in the affairs of other countries, risking war. Or, the U.S. could stay out of the conflicts of others hoping for peace. Involvement= Potential for war Isolationism= Hope for Peace As these are two extremes, just like having zero friends or being very popular, many foreign policy decisions happen between these two ideas.

Major Policy: The First 5 Presidents George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe

1. George Washington Summed up his policy in his farewell address: “It is our true policy,” he declared, “to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the world.” Isolationism the foundation of U.S. foreign policy Stay neutral between GB and France (1793 war) Neutrality = not taking sides. We are like a teenager between two fighting parents. We owe France from our Rev, but stay out of it!

Why? We are vulnerable! Our army weak from the American Rev A new army costs $ and a forced army takes away liberty GB still has Canada & parts of the Ohio Valley Spain in control of the South and West (see map p. 162)

2. John Adams Tried to stay neutral, but difficult with France! 1. Jay Treaty Ordered GB out of Ohio. France angry as hoped U.S. would go to war over this and attacked U.S.ships. 2. XYZ Affair Adams sends representatives to Fr to end the attacks. Secret Fr agents, “Mr. X, Y, & Z” interfere with peace talks. U.S. outraged!

Adams sends a peace mission to France Napoleon now in charge End of taking U.S. ships, end of alliance with France, U.S. stuck with the bill! A small price for peace?

3. Thomas Jefferson Big problems with pirates in Europe & the Mediterranean By 1803, Fr & GB at war again. Both sides take U.S. ships! “England a den of pirates & France a den of thieves.” Impressment- GB kidnaps U.S. sailors and forces them into their navy! Piracy- Also a major problem in North Africa, “Barbary States”

TJ’s Solution (?) Embargo Act of 1807 Government order to block trade. No foreign ships could enter our ports and U.S. ships can only trade in U.S. ports. Goal to hurt Europe, but hurt U.S. merchants. “Oh-grab-me” = Embargo spelled backwards.

4. James Madison Pressures on high seas continue & pressures at home By 1809 U.S. western border getting into politics U.S. relations with Native Americans are HORRIBLE & GB even arms them Tecumseh leads united Native American tribes against advancing white settlers

Pressures of war unbearable Pressures of war unbearable. Could GW, Adams, or TJ done any better in keeping U.S. neutral? *Mixed opinions: -Doves= Pro peace. Hawks = Pro War -New generation of political players: War hawks- John C. Calhoun & Henry Clay. Hot to secure the West from the Brits -This also divides our young country into not just the North & South, but also the West

War of 1812 Hath Begun June 1812, war against GB declared! Our first war as an independent nation. We had stayed out of the GB/Fr conflict for 20 yrs, but are now sucked in the middle of a war between the two most important countries to us! At this point Napoleon is busy with Russia, so at least we know the war is almost over.

The War of 1812 lasts 3 yrs, to 1815 Neither side really wins. However, this is a great moment in our adolescence, proving our independence from GB! Details: North/Canada- A classic naval war on the Great Lakes and high seas. We beat the GB navy! South/Baltimore- GB bombs Ft. McHenry but by “the dawn’s early light our flag was still there”. Francis Scott Key writes a poem, and later a very famous song.  GB goes for our capitol city and burns D.C. Burns the president’s mansion! First and last time our capital has been captured in war.

Later, in 1814 ,GB hits hard with New Orleans New Orleans is the key to controlling the West Defended by frontier men- Andrew Jackson “Old Hickory” Jan 1815, Jackson wallops GB! Arranges his men in three rows. Each row would fire and duck, causing a continuous attack on GB (“sea of blood”) This battle changes the whole mood of the U.S.!

After The War of 1812 Jackson a future president William Henry Harrison, another war hero, also a future president Huge surge of national pride & manufacturing/ industrial growth Native American resistance in the NW weak after Tecumseh’s death Federalists very unpopular due to their opposition to the war

5. James Monroe Tries to return U.S. to isolationism However, from Mexico through South America, new Latin America countries began to emerge as they revolted against Spain What is the U.S. role in our own “backyard”? Monroe asks TJ and Madison for advice. Should the U.S. support new Latin American countries?

Monroe Doctrine 1823 speech put into policy States European powers can’t reconquer former colonies This “hands off” the Americas sends a BOLD message With isolationism, the Monroe Doctrine key to our foreign policy

Oh, my! What a ton of information! Now what? Activity Draw a political cartoon for any of the major issues presented. Use color and add a caption. Show your cartoon to an adult and explain the the historical background. Then, write a paragraph that explains his/her interpretation of your cartoon. Cartoon ideas: Isolationism v. Involvement; XYZ Affair; Impressment or Piracy; Embargo Act; War of 1812 (any aspect); Monroe Doctrine.