Working out the Kinks: George Washington Addresses the Nation
In "Washington's Farewell Address", Washington suggests that the leaders of the United States should consider ideas of isolationism when discussing foreign policies: "Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies" (cited in Avalon Project). This idea circulated the entire country, specifically impacting those responsible for the new government. The United States remained local, not inferring with the world's problems.
"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible"
-- George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796
Ideas of Isolationism are made prominent and become a focal point in US Politics.
Washington, George. "Washington's Farewell Address 1796." 1796. Yale Law School,
2008, avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp. Accessed 14 Dec. 2017.
Speech.
-- George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796
Ideas of Isolationism are made prominent and become a focal point in US Politics.
Washington, George. "Washington's Farewell Address 1796." 1796. Yale Law School,
2008, avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp. Accessed 14 Dec. 2017.
Speech.
America Wants to Expand
Soon, Americans grew tired of sitting around. Some expansionists believed it was the United States' destiny to rule the continent of North America. The idea of Manifest Destiny was born. The level of expansion varied: Some wanted to conquer Mexico, Canada, and the entire Western Hemisphere, while others were satisfied with just the coast of California (Sound Smart).
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Historian Matthew Pinsker speaks on the impact, background, and development of Manifest Destiny.
"Sound Smart: Manifest Destiny | History." YouTube, History.com, 6 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHemd90ZdsU. Accessed 14 Dec. 2017. |
To explore more about westward expansion and the impact it had, click the button the below.
James Monroe and the Monroe Doctrine
In the Monroe Doctrine, James Monroe warned European powers to stay away. He did not say, however, that the United States would set out on a conquering mission to control the Western Hemisphere, but rather to protect it from invaders (Avalon Project). This was the first step towards the United States becoming a world power: Making themselves known and telling others they won't back down.
"We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety."
– Monroe Doctrine
The United States claims that any attempt made by Europe to intrude in the Western Hemisphere will be taken very seriously and the US will not tolerate any attempt to intrude on their isolationism. This was the United States' first step towards becoming a world power.
Monroe, James. "Monroe Doctrine." 2 Dec. 1823. Avalon Project, Yale Law School,
avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.
– Monroe Doctrine
The United States claims that any attempt made by Europe to intrude in the Western Hemisphere will be taken very seriously and the US will not tolerate any attempt to intrude on their isolationism. This was the United States' first step towards becoming a world power.
Monroe, James. "Monroe Doctrine." 2 Dec. 1823. Avalon Project, Yale Law School,
avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.