Change and Continuity in US Foreign Policy (1890-1941)

During the closing years of the 19th century, the United States experienced a surge in imperialist sentiment. This was driven by an economic desire for new markets, as well as the belief in the cultural superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race (also known as the White Man’s Burden).
This manifested itself in the annexation of Hawaii in 1898, the Spanish-American War of 1898, where the US acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and the Open Door Policy in China, which confirmed the US interest in the region.
The construction of the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914, showcased both America’s growing engineering prowess and its willingness to exert influence over Central and South America.

Initially, the policy of neutrality was favoured by President Woodrow Wilson in response to the outbreak of World War I, largely reflecting the isolationist sentiments within the US populace.
However, German submarine warfare against commercial shipping and the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram gradually swayed American opinion. In 1917, President Wilson led the United States into the war with the goal of making the world “safe for democracy”.
The Fourteen Points announced by Wilson in 1918 outlined a vision for a just and lasting peace. It included open diplomacy, free trade, national self-determination, and a league of nations.

Following World War I, the United States retreated back to a policy of isolationism. The Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles or join the League of Nations, proposed by President Wilson, fearing it could drag the US into future European conflicts.
In response to the international turmoil of the 1930s, congress passed a series of four Neutrality Acts, intended to prevent the US from becoming entangled in foreign conflicts.
However, the bombing of Pearl Harbour by Japan in December 1941 provided a stark end to American neutrality, leading to its entry into World War II.

During this period, President Franklin D. Roosevelt also introduced the Good Neighbour Policy towards Latin America, marking a shift from earlier interventionist approaches.
This policy emphasised cooperation and mutual respect, and led to the withdrawal of troops from Haiti and Nicaragua, and the negotiation of settlements with Mexico.

Throughout this period, the US built its strength as a global economic power, becoming the world’s largest credtor nation by the end of World War I.
The roaring twenties saw a period of rapid economic growth, only to be followed by the Great Depression in 1930. This global economic crisis drastically highlighted America’s economic influence abroad.