Apush Dbq Essay

How effective were these responses? How did they change the role of the federal government?

In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.

Throughout the years, the United States government had made drastic changes in its foreign policies. The few decades from 1880 to 1910, which saw five different presidents all with very distinct foreign policies, were no exception. As a country, the United States progressed from being a country only concerned with expanding its territory out west, to being a country on the verge of becoming involved in the First World War.

American foreign policy during the 1890s was based on many factors that each acted as an individual justification for our country’s behavior as a whole. Racism, nationalism, commercialism, and humanitarianism each had its own role in the actions America took against other nations.

William Howard Taft spent the majority of his presidency concerning himself with foreign policy and proving to be even more progressive than Roosevelt in terms of busting trusts. Taft was very interested in involving American politics to areas abroad, a foreign policy critics dubbed "dollar diplomacy". Along with the help of Washington, Taft encouraged Wall Street bankers to invest their superfluous money into foreign areas of strategic concern to the United States, such as the Far East and regions critical to the Panama Canal. Their investments would supposedly "strengthen American defenses and foreign policies, while bringing further prosperity to their homeland- and to themselves" (683). Taft's "dollar diplomacy", although not coinciding with the domestic progressivism norm exemplified by Roosevelt, was progressive nonetheless as it replaced the necessity of the big stick. Not only interested with matters abroad, Taft focused his eyes on the issue that made his predecessor famous, busting the trusts. In all, Taft brought 90 suits against the trusts during his four year term, largely outnumbering Roosevelt's 44 suit total in seven and half years. Taft's most famous and publicized antitrust suit was against the U.S. Steel Corporation. This suit also brought the most criticism, surprisingly by Taft's "creator", Theodore Roosevelt. Under Taft's control, trusts were

Throughout the years, the United States government had made drastic changes in its foreign policies. The few decades from 1880 to 1910, which saw five different presidents all with very distinct foreign policies, were no exception. As a country, the United States progressed from being a country only concerned with expanding its territory out west, to being a country on the verge of becoming involved in the First World War.

leader of Iraq, had Invaded Kuwait for its oil and its seaports. In a matter

President Theodore Roosevelt believed highly in a direct democracy, he favored the idea of people deciding what they want with government. Later on, the 17th amendment is ratified allowing the direct election of the senate.

Until the end of the nineteenth century, American foreign policy essentially followed the guidelines laid down by George Washington, in his Farewell Address to the American people: “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.” By avoiding

30. Early United States foreign policy was primarily a defensive reaction to perceived or actual threats from Europe. Assess the validity of this generalization with reference to United States foreign policy on TWO major issues during the period from 1789-1825. (83)

Roosevelt felt President Taft was too conservative and pro-business (Robinson, 2003). In reaction to that, he met with Progressive leaders after returning from Africa and began plotting a political comeback (Robinson, 2003).

Unlike the Dollar Diplomacy method used by president William Taft, Roosevelt’s method in foreign policy allowed for give and take between the nations where both sides could manage to benefit and avoid issues that may arise. Used in Nicaragua, Dollar Diplomacy caused revolutions against the U.S. Government and hostility in the land. The goal of this policy was to support the stability of the country and removing the dictator while it ended up achieving the exact opposite. If the “big stick” policy had been used in this situation, revolutions could have been avoided by peaceful negotiations while constantly displaying the power of America to deter the idea of opposition. By avoiding conflict with these other nations, the United States would save money on military resources and gain the respect needed to grow as a leading country of the

However, the organization of the book proved to be beneficial to Williams’ it successfully portrays why he wrote the book and how passionately he felt about its topics. The Tragedy of American Diplomacy follows and critiques the twentieth century belief that the substantial surge of growth in the nineteenth century was crucial to the opulence and security to go forward in America. He highlights the distinction between this idea and the determined quest of expansion with the belief of many Americans that this “economic intervention” would usher in wealth and tranquility to the rest of the world. The tragedy that Williams informs us about is purely ironic because, The American ideals at the time contradict with what was

Initially foreign policy during this period rested upon what was known as Dollar diplomacy referring to America's preference for a business oriented foreign policy rather than the use of force (Kegley et al, 2003: 32). The rest of this period would be marked by three world changing events, namely the First and Second World Wars and the great depression. Two important US Presidents also appeared during this period.

European intervention in Latin America resurfaced as in issue in U.S. foreign policy which became a focus of his attention in 1902 and has often been characterized as the ‘big stick’. European governments began to use force to collect debt from debt ridden countries this animosity encouraged Roosevelt to step in and issue his corollary which he tied to the Monroe doctrine. Roosevelt stated linking his corollary to the Monroe Doctrine justifies the United States in exercising ‘International Police power’ and American intervention in the western hemisphere to put an end to chronic unrest or wrongdoing in the western hemisphere. This involvement just goes to show how much influence the president has on foreign policy decision because Roosevelt was ruthless with congress and often going against their rulings to achieve his policies. Joseph Nye states ‘He succeeded in transforming the way the US was perceived and acted globally as a power but not in transforming the way the public saw their role in the world’