History

Americas Role in the World from 1870-1953

America first approached the world by remaining neutral and extending a lending hand to those in financial distress. Those countries that were in need looked at America as an avenue and a resource. This brought upon responsibilities that America had not experienced before. As the years continued and the standards of living and the economy began to change, America could no longer stay in neutral mode. America sought to be the world’s dominating power in both a military and an economical standpoint. America strived to be elite, have control, and provide the best not only for the people in America but for the world. National Security became the way of life for America.

The United States believed that in order to have military power it needed to govern the sea. America’s objective to become an extensive military power involved support from the American people and the economy. Such was the demand from other nations, along with America itself, that the military soared in numbers in both aspects. The relationship between the military and the economy was established. With expansion on the agenda, the military in this time period emerged. President Roosevelt stated, “Chronic wrong doing might require the intervention by some civilized nation in the affairs of others. This may force the U.S. to exercise police power”. Having a vast military to protect America and the security of other people became America’s duty.

The motives that drew the U.S. to such foreign political standards are as follows: the fear of other country’s political uprisings, and competition to become the worlds dominating power economically. The assumption that the U.S.S.R., under the rule of the communist leader Stalin, would spread to other nations created a fear for America. America felt the need to take measures to control communism from spreading and contain it from dominating the world. The relationship with other countries became fierce and grew cold as they competed for world domination.

America’s ideology in governing and spreading capitalism was based on the idea of “free peoples”. America opposed empires and the beliefs of ruling and governing the people. America believed in citizens running their nation and if called upon an uprising, the people should and could arise to the situation. The value of freedom, reform, welfare, high standards of living, and perspectives was the composure that established foreign policy.