Section Outline

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

I. Foreign Policy Through World War II

II. The Cold War

III. Today’s Challenges

IV. Leading the War on Terrorism

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American Foreign PolicySection 1: What is Foreign Policy?

Main Idea

To achieve important foreign-policy goals, the

United States uses tools such as diplomacy,

foreign aid, and intelligence.

Key Terms

• Aggression

• Deterrence

• Diplomacy

• Summit meeting

• Foreign aid

• Sanction

• Intelligence

Goals of Foreign Policy

1. To Ensure National Security

2. To Stop Terrorism

3. To Promote World Peace

4. To Promote Trade

5. To Guarantee Human Rights

6. To Promote Democracy

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American Foreign PolicySection 1: What Is Foreign Policy?

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American Foreign PolicySection 1: What is Foreign Policy?

Tools of Foreign Policy

1. Defense— Deterrence

2. Alliances

3. Diplomacy— Relations and communications carried out between countries

4. Foreign Aid— Giving military and economic help to other countries

5. Trade Measures— Sanction: stopping or limiting trade with other countries

6. Intelligence

The Executive Branch

• The President— Shapes foreign policy as commander in chief of the armed forces and the

nation’s chief diplomat

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American Foreign PolicySection 2: Making Foreign Policy

• The Department of State— Advises the President on foreign policy and carries out foreign policy— The Secretary of State is assisted by experts on different parts of the world, and

experts on foreign policy.— The Department of State has 16,000 officials working in other countries, called

foreign service workers.

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American Foreign PolicySection 2: Making Foreign Policy

The Executive Branch (continued)

• The Department of Defense— Advises the President concerning what weapons to make and where to place

military bases and troops

• The National Security Council— Advises the President on the nation’s safety

• Other Executive Departments and Agencies— The President may seek advice from other departments and agencies.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Main Idea

American foreign policy has changed over time

and will continue to change in response to

international events and the actions of other

nations.

Key Terms

• Isolationism

• Neutrality

• Containment

• Détente

Foreign Policy Through World War II

• Early U.S. Foreign policy was one of isolationism and neutrality.— Isolationism: A foreign policy that seeks to limit our relations with other countries

as much as possible— Neutrality: A policy of not taking sides in wars between other countries— This policy was set by George Washington, and it allowed America to trade with

both sides during a war.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

• The Era of Expansion— As America expanded west during the 19th century, conflict occurred with

countries that claimed land in North America: Spain, France, Mexico, Great Britain, and Russia.

— American business also expanded into Central and South America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

— Isolationism did not apply to any part of the world where America had economic interests or concerns over national security.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Foreign Policy Through World War II (continued)

• World War I and the Return to Isolationism— President Woodrow Wilson tried to keep the United States out of the war, but

eventually German aggression left Wilson little choice but to enter World War I on the side of France and Britain.

— After the war, Wilson helped create the League of Nations to ensure global peace.

— Congress was eager to return to isolationism and refused to approve American membership in the League of Nations.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Foreign Policy Through World War II (continued)

• World War II: The End of Isolationism— The League of Nations failed to keep peace. The fascist governments in Italy,

Germany, and Japan managed to drag the world into World War II.— Initially, the United States was neutral in the war; it only joined when the Empire

of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Adolf Hitler declared war on the United States.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Foreign Policy Through World War II (continued)

•When the war ended in 1945, the U.S. had finally decided to play a role in keeping world peace.

• The United Nations was founded shortly after.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

The Cold War

• The end of World War II marked the beginning of the Cold War.— A competition involving military and political confrontations between Soviet Union-

led communist nations and American-led democratic nations

•The American Cold War policy was defined by a term called containment.

— A policy of using military power and money to prevent the spread of communism

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

The Cold War (continued)

• Cooperation— By the 1960s and 1970s, there was a period of détente, or loosening of tensions,

between the United States and the Soviet Union.

• Collapse— As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s, several communist governments collapsed.— By 1991, every Soviet Republic had declared independence; the Soviet Union

ceased to exist.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

The Cold War (continued)

• Eastern Europe— Dramatic changes took place in Eastern Europe as the Soviet empire collapsed.— The United States began helping establish democratic governments in Poland,

Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

• Relations With China— Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, China is still ruled by a communist

government.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Today’s Challenges

• Economic Challenges— Foreign competition

• Challenges in Latin America— Political instability

• Challenges in Eastern Europe— Ethnic unrest

• Challenges in the Middle East— This region has a long history of religious and political conflict.

• Challenges in Africa— In the 1990s, civil wars raged in Sudan, Rwanda, the Congo Republic, and

Algeria.

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American Foreign PolicySection 3: Foreign Policy in Action

Leading the War on Terrorism

•The United States emerged from the Cold War as the world’s strongest economic and military power.

• The threat from another superpower no longer exists.

• In its place, the threat of terrorism has emerged.— The United States has vowed to work with allies to halt future terrorist attacks

and to stop the flow of money to terrorist organizations.

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