Question

Throughout most of the 1800s, the United States was a fairly isolationist nation especially in regards to not intervening in European affairs. Contrast the arguments made by leading isolationists and interventionists (expansionists) in the U.S. from the 1890s to the 1960s. Which side made the best argument overall and why? Should the U.S. have intervened in the conflicts it did (i.e. Spanish-American War, PhilippineAmerican War, World War I, World War II, and Vietnam) or not?

Answer 1

ANSWER-

Main arguments in the debate between isolationists and interventionists -

The interventionists believed America should aid free countries in the fight against fascism. The isolationists wanted to keep the U.S. out of involvement in another European war.

The first significant foreign intervention by the United States was the Spanish-American War, which saw the United States occupy and control the Philipines.

The War of Europe divided the American people into two distinct groups: non-interventionists and interventionists. The basic principle of interventionist logic was the fear of German invasion. By the summer of 1940, France had fallen to the Germans, and Britain was the only democratic stronghold between Germany and the United States. After this war the intervenors were afraid of a world, a world where they would have to work together with the fascist power of Europe. In a 1940 speech, Roosevelt argued, "There is, in fact, still a somewhat clear illusion that we can ... safely allow the United States to become a lonely island ... by force." In a world influenced by philosophy. "A national survey found that in the summer of 1940, 67% of Americans believed that a German-Italian victory would endanger the United States,

Ultimately, the rift between the ideals of the United States and the goals of the fascist powers was at the core of interventionist logic. “How can we sit as spectators of war against us? Author Archibald McLeish questioned. The intervening people said that we could not co-exist with the fascist powers because it was not due to economic pressures or deficiencies in our armed forces, but because the goal of the fascist leaders was to destroy the American ideology of democracy. In an address to the American people on December 29, 1940, President Roosevelt stated, "... the Axis not only accepts, but declares that there can be no final peace between his government and the philosophy of government." "

After WWII, US foreign policy was characterized by interventionism, which meant that the US was directly involved in the affairs of other states.

Interventionism policies

After WWII, the United States adopted a policy of intervention to have communist influence abroad. Such forms of intervention included assisting European nations to rebuild, play an active role in UN, NATO, and police operations around the world, and involve the CIA in a number of coup in Latin America and the Middle East. The US was not only non-secessionist (ie America was not just abandoning the policies of separatism), but was actively intervening and leading world affairs.

Abandon separatism

As the world was quickly drawn into WWII, the secessionist policies of the United States were replaced by greater intervention. In part, this foreign policy shift was sparked by Euro-American relations and public fears.

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland; Britain and France later declared war on Germany, the start of World War II. In an address to the American people two days later, President Roosevelt assured the nation that he would do all he could to keep them out of the war. However, even though it was based on neutrality as the official policy of the United States, it echoed the dangers of staying out of this war. He warned the American people that their willingness to avoid war at all costs would not affect the security of the country.

The War of Europe divided the American people into two distinct groups: non-interventionists and interventionists. Both sides argued over America's involvement in this Second World War. The basic principle of interventionist logic was the fear of German invasion. By the summer of 1940, France had fallen to the Germans, and Britain was the only democratic stronghold between Germany and the United States. The interventionists feared that if Britain fell, their security as a nation would immediately shrink. A national survey found that in the summer of 1940, 67% of Americans believed that a German-Italian victory would endanger the United States, that if such an event 88% supported "hand [ing] teeth." But at any cost is going to be "ready for any trouble"

Ultimately, the ideological rift between the ideals of the United States and the goals of the fascist powers formed the core of the interventionist argument.

Foreign intervention by the United States.

• A year after independence from Spain, in 1811, repeated America's intervention in Chile.
• 1898: The short but decisive Spanish-American War sees the US victory over the sea and against the Spanish Empire overwhelmingly. The US military, heavily relying on volunteers and state militia units, invaded Spanish-controlled Cuba and later granted it independence. The peace treaty saw Spain hand over control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States of the Philippines to their colonies. [5] The US Navy established coal stations there and in Hawaii.
• 1899 to 1902: The Philippine-American War saw Filipino revolutionaries revolting against American rule after the Spanish-American War. The US Army deployed 100,000 (mostly National Guard) troops under General Alwell Otis to the Philippines, leading armed and poorly trained rebels to break into armed bands. The rebellion collapsed in March 1901 when leader Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by General Frederick Funston and his McCabe allies.
• 1917 to 1918: America intervened in Europe during World War I. Over the next 18 months, 116,708 people were killed and 204,002 injured in the US. The US military also intervened in the Russian Civil War against the Red Army through the Polar Bear campaign.