The point that Alan Brinkley makes in his essay, “The Idea of an American Century”, was that the American people intended to use their nation’s great power following WWII in order to spread the American Model to other nations. The American people sought to use the United States new superpower status to push their way of life to the entire world even if that meant by force. The Vietnam War was the best example of this. The American people wanted not only to stop Communism, but also to install their own form of government upon the Vietnamese people. After coming out victorious in both World Wars, Americans felt that they would use their newfound power to spread their way of life onto others. The idea of the American Century was a possibility, …show more content…
“Above them all and weaving them all together into the most exciting flag of all the world and of all history was the triumphal purpose of freedom” (Course Slides p. 4), this adds to the proof that the idea was to make America seem better than anyone else and instill the idea into their people that we need to spread our way of life to the world. Brinkley even goes as far as to state that the events of 2001 might have brought back this idea of the American Century: “The example of the comparable efforts of a half century ago, therefore, can be seen both an inspiration and as a warning” (Brinkley p. 17). This warning could be that history is being set up to repeat itself after WWII. Also, comparing this statement to Vietnam, we have entered at first a very popular war in the Middle East in order to bring down the terrorist that committed that devastation on 9/11/2001, and years later in 2014 just like years after the War in Vietnam popular opinion has swayed and a call for the end of the war rings loudly. Just like how President Nixon ran for office on the notion of ending the War in Vietnam so too did President Obama in a way and so too has he failed. The mood of the nation after WWII and 2001 were similar, with huge popular support for the government and a yearning to instill upon others our way of life. Just like after WWII, when the mood turned to displeasure thanks in part to the Vietnam War and other actions, so too has the mood today in the continuing War in the Middle East and possible threats from North Korea and
As the Reconstruction Era ended, the United States became the up and coming world power. The Spanish-American war was in full swing, and the First World War was well on its way. As a result of the open-door policy, England, Germany, France, Russia, and eventually Japan experienced rapid industrial growth; the United States decided to pursue a foreign policy because of both self- interest and idealism. According to the documents, Economic self- interest, rather than idealism was more significant in driving American foreign policy from 1895 to 1920 because the United States wanted to protect their foreign trade, property and their access to recourses. While the documents also show that Nationalistic thought (idealism) was also crucial in driving American foreign policy, economic Self- interest prevailed.
...untry to war at anytime and anywhere in the world. Because of this, the American people want to have confidence in its leader’s abilities. Plus, the actions of the President and his staff have a direct influence on the thoughts and perceptions of the people towards interference in foreign countries. Most people did not find the threat of Vietnam falling to communist rule as justification for the number of lives that were lost.
As stronger nations exercise their control over weaker ones, the United States try to prove their authority, power and control over weaker nations seeing them as unable to handle their own issues thereby, imposing their ideology on them. And if any of these weaker nations try to resist, then the wrath of the United States will come upon them. In overthrow the author Stephen Kinzer tells how Americans used different means to overthrow foreign government. He explains that the campaign & ideology of anti- communism made Americans believe that it was their right and historical obligation to lead forces of good against those of iniquity. They also overthrew foreign government, when economic interest coincided with their ideological ones (kinzer.215). These factors were the reasons behind America’s intervention in Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam and Chile to control and protect multinational companies as well as the campaign against communism with little or no knowledge about these countries.
The wars that America fought was primarily for that reason. The formation of the European Union was a key strategy by United States to ensure that European countries are consolidated under one umbrella that controls the political and economic affairs of the region. United States’ economic mighty, political and cultural appeal and strong military has helped maintain the status as the only truly global power. U.S. used its power to promote democracy and support countries under siege both from internal and external aggressions, a strategy that they also used to promote the interests of American companies and its people. The U.S. foreign policy through the 20th century was meant to take the lead in creating effective international institutions and arrangements to handle new challenges especially those rising from Europe, Asia and Latin America. The U.S. wanted to lead not only because it alone could have helped the international community overcome its problems, but feared that it is most likely to be hurt if it does not act. Following the victory in World War II, the U.S. led the efforts to create United Nations and NATO and also facilitated formation of new regimes in some countries to promote democracy, economic recovery, development, and prosperity which benefited those countries and their people and
All of the history of the United States, foreign policy has caused many disputes over the proper role in international affairs. The views, morals and beliefs of democracy in Americans, makes them feel the need to take leadership of the world and help those countries whom are in need. The foreign policies of President Eisenhower will eventually led to the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. President Eisenhower’s role with these policies were based on his military type strategies to safeguard a victory in the Global Cold War. President Eisenhower’s foreign policies led to an effective involvement in the Cold War and enviably the Vietnam War from an American perspective. President Eisenhower’s foreign policies when implemented would facilitate the goal of containing communism, and also
As the United States developed into a world economic power, it also became a military and political power. Certain things led Americans to become more involved in world affairs, such as territorial growth. There were also consequences to the nation’s new role, like conflict between citizens and people of power. United States government and leaders had to learn the “hard way”, the challenges and negativity that they would face, such as loss of money and lack of control between certain nations, and the positive effects such as expansion of territory and alliances.
...y twentieth-century was both a continuation and a departure from previous United States expansionism. The countries remarkable evolution from a quiet, small country with a great idea (expansionism) to a large, amazingly successful (economically and politically) and not despotic country is truly supported and based by expansionism and imperialism. The U.S. has both strayed from its previous ideas through the "new" expansionism (the navy, the new foreign policies (Roosevelt Corollary, and Monroe Doctrine, etc.) and stayed true to the founding ideals (God, the belief in Manifest Destiny, etc.). The imperialistic ideals and highly effective policies and notions of both the "new" (1880-1914) and "old" (1776-1880) expansion periods are what truly allowed the United States to succeed, thrive, and grow into the amazingly prosperous, large, successful country that it is today.
No one could have realized that what seemed as an insignificant gesture to partake in training South Vietnamese armies and America’s involvement in Southeast Asia would one day have the impact it did on America. Although at the time when Eisenhower was trying to stop of the spread of communism it seemed the right thing to do, the repercussions of that decision and the war it eventually led to was devastating to America politically, socially, and culturally.
During the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidential administration, both those policy makers who supported America’s involvement in Vietnam and those who opposed the war were part of the “containment generation.” They had reached political maturity during World War II and the early years of the Cold War and had experienced the intense anticommunism of the McCarthy era of the early 1950s. These leaders understood and applied the lessons of American nationalism, which had the primary message that the U.S. was the dominating nation that had to embrace its responsibility to aid and improve nations in America’s image. Therefore, when they saw that there was a threat of the spread of communism to areas of Southeast Asia, a majority of the politicians were in favor of the war, which was the most costly U.S. foreign policy intervention during the Cold War. President Johnson and others considered Vietnam a crucial Cold war battleground where an American loss would trigger dire domestic and international repercussions. This view led him to decide to enter the Vietnam War, which was a condemnable action considering that there were intensifying domestic issues that he neglected because he was engrossed in the Vietnam situation. Anti-War protesters, a few politicians, and even the South Vietnamese all pointed out that this war was immoral and was resulting in destruction. Ultimately, Johnson’s decision resulted in a huge price paid on America’s part for its determination to prevent the spread of communism through this war and in the deaths of more 50,000 in an overseas war that was extremely difficult to win and that deepened divisions at home.
The imperialist spirit of the United States was inherited from England after the U.S. broke away from its mother country in 1775. The young country wanted to spread its ways of living across its landscape, creating defined boarders on both sides that separated it from its English predecessors. Thus America’s New Frontier was born. America built up its imperialistic nature throughout the 19th century and on into the 20th century, flexing its muscles and establishing itself as a new world superpower. The modern United States no longer finds land to claim, but instead is involved with a Cultural Imperialism, which has affected how other countries around the world feel about the United States.
Vietnam is a time in American history that most of us would like to forget, but really, we must learn from it. Vietnam is a time where we didn't look at the whole picture, it was 'perceived through the lens of Cold War politics.' (MP:420) With the new ?domino theory,? Americans feared for their safety and the safety of the 'free world.' If they didn't step in, they would inevitably lose the world to communism.
Throughout the Nineteenth Century, America’s territory had continued to expand toward the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, many American leaders had become intrigue with Europe’s imperialist power and expansionism. Historian Paul Kennedy has called the emergence of the U.S. as player on world stage the most decisive change in late Nineteenth Century. America saw herself with a “special moral endowment” and felt justified in projecting influence beyond her borders. (“Imperialism and War,” n.d.). With Europe’s influence, American citizens adopted...
The government of the United States of America is very unique. While many Americans complain about high taxes and Big Brother keeping too close an eye, the truth is that American government, compared to most foreign democracies, is very limited in power and scope. One area American government differs greatly from others is its scope of public policy. Americans desire limited public policy, a result of several components of American ideology, the most important being our desire for individuality and equal opportunity for all citizens. There are many possible explanations for the reason Americans think this way, including the personality of the immigrants who fled here, our physical isolation from other countries, and the diversity of the American population.
...it was in the 20th century but there are still times when America feels as if it is our mission to do. For example, after the attacks of 9/11 President George W. Bush declared, “We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it…We defend not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear.” There are still those who highly believe that the United States and the American people are in a higher standard than everyone else in the world. They believe that their duty as Americans is to offer hope for humanity around the world, which can be done so by instilling in them our ideals of personal and economic freedom.
There was nothing that affected America in 20th century like the vietnam war,It tore the nation apart .It was a costly war which took three million lives . The main reason it has so much impact on america was that some people were for the war but so many were against it .The younger nation ,especially the young men who were drafted ,did not...