Foreign Policy :: essays research papers

Progressive era irrelevant policy was motivated by a variety of factors including racial and national superiority, business and sparing interests, strategic concerns, and idealism. Excerpts from For the temper provide various examples supporting the concerns that led to Americas foreign policy.The idea of national superiority was evident in the belief of manifest destiny. This doctrine basically stated that America was a superior nation that was designed to plump out. The nationalist argument is best depicted in Albert Beveridges The March of the Flag which states, The rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from the try for of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-government.(For the Record p.117) This supports Americas superior views that it could govern a country better than the countrys native citizens. Frederick capital of Mississippi Turner further enhanced the feeling of national superiority in, The Frontier in American Histor y. His writing explained that the frontier had been essential in establishing American freedom and individualism. He also claimed, The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization.(For the Record p.49-50) The implication that expansionism leads to positive Americanization further displays the superior mindset. Racial superiority was overt in the White Mans Burden. This suggested that it was the responsibility of the American people to spread democracy and Christianity to civilize the savages and inferior races those people included anyone of color.Business and economic interests were also a driving force in foreign policy. The March of the Flag epitomizes the American viewpoint. It explains the problems of overproduction in the country Today, we are making much than we can usethere are more workers than there is work there is more capital than there is investmentwe need more circulation.(For the Record p.117) All of these factors contributed to Americas need t o expand to foreign markets. By establishing trade with other countries, America could import natural resources in order to take manufactured goods at cheaper costs. This expansion of the economy would provide a market for the overproduction of goods and also increase jobs.Additionally, strategic concerns were contributing factors in expansionism. Since the U.S. wanted to expand and trade with foreign countries, it ensured that other countries were stable and open to trade. This was demonstrated in China and the Open-Door market. There was also the belief that Europeans would dominate the market if America did non become involved. Finally, Americans used their involvement in wars with foreign countries to build the U.