History 204

Foreign Affairs

Name

Amy Obszarski

History 204

26 June 2014

American foreign affairs were a large part of the beginning of the 20th century when the U.S. started to become a world power. World War I was the first big test for U.S. foreign policy. Before becoming a full participant in the war, the United States helped supply the Allied Powers. Although the U.S. again tried to avoid getting involved, eventually they were drawn into World War II. Soon after World War II the Cold War with the Soviet Union began and lasted for over 40 years. After World War II the U.S. thought that there would be peace but North Korea invaded South Korea which started the Korean conflict which technically is still going on to this day. The United Nations, led by the United States joined on the side of South Korea and China joined on the side of North Korea. The Vietnam War put U.S. democracy directly against communism. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union, China and other communist allies and the government of South Vietnam was supported by the United States. Eventually the war lost the support of the public. On September 11, 2001 the U.S. was attacked by terrorist and that started the War on Terror. The United States and its Allies sought to eliminate al-Qaeda and all terrorist organizations and to defend the country against all terrorist.

President Wilson promised to make the world safe for democracy when he led the U.S. into WWI (Ambrosius, L.E.2007). President Wilson felt it was God's will for the U.S. to get involved in the war. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, President Wilson wanted to found the League of Nations. The League of Nations was central to President Wilson’s foreign policy. The peace settlement President Wilson sought to establish after World War One needed the League to protect the countries against any aggression. In his advocacy of the League, he emphasized modern liberalism as the foundation for enduring peace (Ambrosius,...