Foriegn Policy and Expansionism

Before World War I an expansionist fever battled its way through the government after the Depression. Tension between idealism and self-interest that had trotted alongside Americas domestic history had also guided its’ foreign policy. When the Europeans came and settled, in what they believed to be India, their motives included greed, glory, and god. Similar to the intentions of the early Europeans, expansionism brought with it reflections of profit, patriotism, piety, and politics. (Nash and Jeffery 604) One of America’s main goals was to create a model society for which others would follow by example. Since the beginning of the 17th century Thomas Jefferson had begun the expansionist movement with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory in the early 1800’s. The goal of expansionism was mainly for soil rich with nutrients for agriculture but also included self-profiteering and natural resources such as coal and oil. Not until the end of the 17th century did America expand beyond Central and South America caused by increasing conflict with Europeans, and the pressure to stop imperialism and communism, took Americans over to Europe in inevitable conflicts that continue today. Despite the depression American factories produced more than enough products and even expanded their businesses so they could make their own products at cheaper rates. By the 1900’s America was number one in world manufacturing and exports tripled and was mainly traded with Europe rather than Asia. As exports increased, inflation of prices decreased, so it was opportune for Americans to increase in trade investments. Naval expansion was also important if Americans wanted to be in control of a peaceful world which coincidentally also led the United States into ... ... middle of paper ... ...c overthrow. In order to defy any invasions it was inevitable that America send troops over to the eastern half of the world to contain communism. America was forced, as a world power, into WWII. The Cold War was the defining feature of American foreign policy for decades until contemporary time. The Soviet Union was believed to be an imperialist threat to the entire world as was expected to spread the atrocity of communism throughout the world. The US and the Western half of the world needed to prevent the USSR from rolling across countries the same way they trampled across Eastern Europe after World War II. At the beginning the Cold War reinforced a sense of paranoia and the ideal that "if we don't do it first they will". The access of nuclear arms during this period had since exaggerated the notion that America was better than all other countries in the world.