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Washington's Farewell Address was delivered at the end of his presidency in 1796. In this address, he expressed his vision for the future of the United States, which was to remain as isolated as possible from the rest of the world. He didn’t believe external connections were necessary, and showcased this by expressing the United States capability to remain independent and self-sufficient.

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John Quincy Adams, Speech in Congress in celebration of Fourth of July (July 4th 1821) 

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John Quincy Adams, Speech in Congress in celebration of Fourth of July (July 4th 1821) 

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Adams Fourth of July speech celebrated the United States ability to remain isolated from the rest of the world. He expresses this by saying "She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations, while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings." Adams speech retains and reiterates Washingtons initial vision for the United States.

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Monroe Doctrine, Presidential Address (1823)

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Monroe Doctrine, Presidential Address (1823)

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The Monroe Doctrine was delivered as a warning to European powers. He tells them to avoid colonizing any American territory, as they are now entirely separate nations. Monroe states that as long as Europe doesn't interfere with the United States, they can remain peaceful. If they did otherwise, their relationship would quickly turn unfriendly.

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Monroe Doctrine, Presidential Address (1823)

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The Mexican American War was a battle starting in 1846 for land along the West Coast and Texas. The United States believed they were entitled to this land in order to go from sea to sea. The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, which gave the United States land such as Texas, California, and Arizona.

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American Opinions on the Mexican American War (1846-1848)

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American Opinions on the Mexican American War (1846-1848)

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Americans had highly varying opinions on the Mexican American War. On one hand, Southern Americans highly supported it; they saw it as an expansion of slavery and believed Manifest Destiny was coming to fruition. However, the North disagreed with Americans actions, criticizing the expansion of slavery to the West Coast.

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American Opinions on the Mexican American War (1846-1848)

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Post Civil War Effects on the United States (1865 -onward)

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Post Civil War Effects on the United States (1865 -onward)

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Throughout the Civil War, the north significantly increased their industrial production. For example, they created railroads, armaments, and factories. After the Civil War ended, all of these things were still there, allowing for the United States to become a major industrial power. This industrialization also created lots job opportunities, which led many immigrants to the United States.

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Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" (1890)

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Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" (1890)

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Mayers book asserted that all great military power came from their presence on the seas. He said supremacy on the seas was necessary for a nations success. This led to America increasing their naval presence.

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Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence" (1890)

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The Spanish American war was one of the main ways for the United States to solidify power abroad. They painted themselves as an embodiment of democracy by "freeing" other countries (ex: Cuba). This war also helped the United States to establish a military presence in Latin America.

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The Teller Amendment declares that, following the Spanish-American War, the United States would not establish permanent control over Cuba. The amendment states that the United States would leave the control of the island in the hands of its people. This emphasized the United States desire to disengage from international affairs.

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The Platt Amendment stated that the Cuban government must give the United States the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. This was in order to maintain the "tthe protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the Treaty of Paris on the United States.” As well, it required Cuba to give the United States the right buy/lease land to establish naval stations.

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Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (December 6, 1904)

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Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (December 6, 1904)

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Roosevelts Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine asserts the United States right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries. It specifies for this occurrence to happen in cases of "Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society." It marks a large turning point from the U.S.'s previously isolationist stance, to a now threatening, interventionist one.

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Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (December 6, 1904)

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A Banana Republic is defined as a nation whose economy is largely dependent on exporting a limited-resource product (ex: bananas). These republics typically cause for there to be an impoverished working class, alongside extremely wealthy business, political, and military elitists. A major contributor to this phenomenon was The United Fruit Company.

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United States Hegemony in Cuba (1906, 1917-1922)

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United States Hegemony in Cuba (1906, 1917-1922)

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The United States initially decided to get involved in Cuba due to their sugar plants. They saw an opportunity for wealth gain and invested large amounts of money into the plants. Although some Americans and Cubans gained large amounts of money, many Native Cubans didn't receive any compensation. Eventually, Cubans decided that they wanted their own people to be in charged and replaced U.S. powers with native ones.

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United States Hegemony in Haiti (1915-1934)

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United States Hegemony in Haiti (1915-1934)

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In 1915, the island of Haiti was extremely divided due to ongoing political rivalry. This caused multiple coups to be formed, causing the island to become violent. The United States decided to involve themselves in the island, removing funds from the Haitian Central Bank and sending marines to fight peasant armies. Eventually, Haiti and the Dominican Republic fought alongside each other against the United States, which led them to withdraw their involvement.

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After WWI, President Wilson spread the idea for the League of Nations, which was an international organization designed to facilitate cooperation and maintain global peace. Evan though Wilson had participated in the creation of the League of Nations, Harding never allowed the United States to join. Many theorize that the United States lack of participation was a major factor for the start of WWII.

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United States Hegemony in The Dominican Republic (1916-1924)

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United States Hegemony in The Dominican Republic (1916-1924)

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The United States decided to get involved in the D.R. due to their ongoing financial disputes; they feared Europe would become involved before they did. During their occupation, the United States expanded modern cane plantations, as well as expanding marine activity across the island. The D.R. later fought alongside Haiti for independence, and a ceasefire was later called in 1922.

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United States Hegemony in Puerto Rico (1917-1930's)

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United States Hegemony in Puerto Rico (1917-1930's)

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In 1917, the Jones Act was passed, which granted all Puerto Ricans United States citizenship. During this time, the United States excluded Puerto Rico from any international politics, cutting them off from the rest of the world. The U.S. also attempted to undermine the local sentiment for independence.

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Due to the large number of immigrants passing through Ellis Island, the United States had to limit the number of people entering the country. To do so, congress instated The Emergency Quota Act the U.S. This act would "admit immigrants on a country by country basis, taking no more than the equivalent of three percent of a country’s existing U.S.-based population."

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Throughout his time in office, FDR was determined to improve the United States relationship with Central and South America. This desire to become friendly created his "good neighbor policy", which vowed that the United States would act like "the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others.” This policy led to the United States withdrawing from multiple Latin American countries, such as Haiti.

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On January 6, 1941, FDR delivered his annual message to Congress on the State of the Union. Within this speech, FDR articulated his vision for future Americans. These four freedoms were:

1. Freedom of speech.

2. Freedom of worship.

3. Freedom from want.

4. Freedom from fear.

These four freedoms shaped FDR's policies and initiatives throughout the rest of his presidency.

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Pax Americana is a term used to describe the power and impact the United States had over the rest of the world after the end of WWII. The United States had become a global superpower known for aiding other countries financially, militarily, and political.

On one hand, supporters of the Pax Americana era believe that the United States has truly helped improve the state of the world. However, detractors believe economic exploitation and political repression are attributed to Pax Americana.

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NSC-68 was a policy produced by the National Security Council on what to do about the growing Soviet threat of the spread of communism, as well as nuclear war. The paper proposed 4 options:

1. Continuation

2. Isolation

3. War

4. “Rapid build-up of political, economic, and military capabilities of the free world”; containment

Ultimately, the United States government chose to go with containment, which mainly consisted of protecting other countries from communism.

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NSC-68 was a Top-Secret report written by Paul Nitze of the US State Department's Policy Planning Office. Presented to President Harry Truman on April 14, 1950, the document concluded that, following the end of WWII, revived Russian expansionism required the United States to embark upon a massive political, economic, and military build-up to contain the Soviet threat and expansion of Communism. This included developing tactical nuclear weapons as well as pursuing research and development of the hydrogen bomb. Excerpts from the report's conclusion can be viewed below.

Conclusion

The foregoing analysis indicates that the probable fission bomb capability and possible thermonuclear bomb capability of the Soviet Union have greatly intensified the Soviet threat to the security of the United States. This threat is of the same character as that described in NSC 20/4 (approved by the President on November 24, 1948) but is more immediate than had previously been estimated. In particular, the United States now faces the contingency that within the next four or five years the Soviet Union will possess the military capability of delivering a surprise atomic attack of such weight that the United States must have substantially increased general air, ground, and sea strength, atomic capabilities, and air and civilian defenses to deter war and to provide reasonable assurance, in the event of war, that it could survive the initial blow and go on to the eventual attainment of its objectives. In return, this contingency requires the intensification of our efforts in the fields of intelligence and research and development.

Allowing for the immediacy of the danger, the following statement of Soviet threats, contained in NSC 20/4, remains valid:

The gravest threat to the security of the United States within the foreseeable future stems from the hostile designs and formidable power of the USSR, and from the nature of the Soviet system.

The political, economic, and psychological warfare which the USSR is now waging has dangerous potentialities for weakening the relative world position of the United States and disrupting its traditional institutions by means short of war, unless sufficient resistance is encountered in the policies of this and other non-communist countries.

The risk of war with the USSR is sufficient to warrant, in common prudence, timely and adequate preparation by the United States.

Soviet domination of the potential power of Eurasia, whether achieved by armed aggression or by political and subversive means, would be strategically and politically unacceptable to the United States.

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In the light of present and prospective Soviet atomic capabilities, the action which can be taken under present programs and plans, however, becomes dangerously inadequate, in both timing and scope, to accomplish the rapid progress toward the attainment of the United States political, economic, and military objectives which is now imperative.

A continuation of present trends would result in a serious decline in the strength of the free world relative to the Soviet Union and its satellites. This unfavorable trend arises from the inadequacy of current programs and plans rather than from any error in our objectives and aims. These trends lead in the direction of isolation, not by deliberate decision but by lack of the necessary basis for a vigorous initiative in the conflict with the Soviet Union.

Our position as the center of power in the free world places a heavy responsibility upon the United States for leadership. We must organize and enlist the energies and resources of the free world in a positive program for peace which will frustrate the Kremlin design for world domination by creating a situation in the free world to which the Kremlin will be compelled to adjust. Without such a cooperative effort, led by the United States, we will have to make gradual withdrawals under pressure until we discover one day that we have sacrificed positions of vital interest.

It is imperative that this trend be reversed by a much more rapid and concerted build-up of the actual strength of both the United States and the other nations of the free world. The analysis shows that this will be costly and will involve significant domestic financial and economic adjustments.

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In summary, we must, by means of a rapid and sustained build-up of the political, economic, and military strength of the free world, and by means of an affirmative program intended to wrest the initiative from the Soviet Union, confront it with convincing evidence of the determination and ability of the free world to frustrate the Kremlin design of a world dominated by its will. Such evidence is the only means short of war which eventually may force the Kremlin to abandon its present course of action and to negotiate acceptable agreements on issues of major importance.

More Historical Resources:

The full text of the document can be accessed here.

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National Security Council Paper 68 (NSC-68) - Nuclear Museum

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NSC-68 was a Top-Secret report written by Paul Nitze of the US State Department's Policy Planning Office. Presented to President Harry Truman on April 14, 1950, the document concluded that, following the end of WWII, revived Russian expansionism required the United States to embark upon a massive political, economic, and military build-up to contain the Soviet threat and expansion of Communism.

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Pablo Neruda's "The United Fruit Company" (1950) 

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Pablo Neruda's "The United Fruit Company" (1950) 

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Pablo Neruda's poem "The United Fruit Company" was a piece intended to shed light on the harmful wrongdoings of The United Fruit Company and other large fruit corporations. The poem also gives insight on the relationships between Latin American Dictators and corporations in the United States. Neruda describes both parties as "blood thirsty flies", painting their relationship as greedy, transactional, and disregardful to their employees.

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The Korean War initially started due to the communist control of Korea. The United States wanted to "save" Korea from communism, so the UN forces launched offensive north, which gained control of a lot of Korea. Then, North Korea pushed away UN forces with the help of the Chinese military. The war concluded with Armistice being signed, creating both North and South Korea.

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The Cold War began due to tension between the United States and the Soviet Union after WWII. Although it's technically deemed as a war, this battle expanded far beyond war territory. The Cold War mainly revolved around one country trying to assert dominance over the other, with each trying to prove they had a stronger military, better economy, greater influence over the rest of the world, and more.

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Throughout the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union had rising tension surrounding the possibility of nuclear war. Because of this, the United States Government spread the idea of "duck and cover." If a nuclear bomb were to drop, kids were instructed to duck under their desks and cover their heads, just like a turtle.

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McCarthyism, originally articulated by Joseph McCarthy, was the campaign to end communism within the United States. McCarthy believed that if the government were to become corrupt or destroyed, it will be due to internal activity rather than overseas. This led to an extreme "reconstruction" of the American people, destroying the lives of those who has any ties to communism, no matter how insignificant those ties were.

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The Vietnam War was an unofficial war started to prevent the spread of communism in Vietnam. The war was very intense, often consisting of guerrilla warfare and violent bombing. The American people were extremely divided over the war, with some believing it was unnecessary and overly violent, while others believed it was for the best.

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Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16th-28th, 1962)

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Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16th-28th, 1962)

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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13 day period where there was serious threat of nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union. This was due to the Soviet Unions placement of nuclear weapons in Cuba, roughly 90 miles from the coast of Florida. In the end, the Soviet Union agreed to remove missiles from Cuba, as long as the United States removed its missiles from Turkey and wouldn't invade Cuba.

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 7th, 1964)

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 7th, 1964)

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The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was an order passed in August of 1964 which allowed President Johnson to take any action necessary to repel Southeast Asian troops from attacking the United States. This allowed for U.S. military involvement to expand during the Vietnam war without officially declaring war. This led to the Vietnam war escalating.

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 7th, 1964)

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During the Vietnamese Holiday of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), the United States and other enemy forces declared a cease-fire. However, despite the declaration of temporary peace, Viet Cong broke the cease-fire by initiating surprise attacks at strategic locations throughout the country. The United States was able to quickly respond, but the Tet Offensive sent a message to the American public that the Vietnam War was un-winnable.

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During the Chilean Coup, many military leaders refused to comply with the ban on spontaneous executions. However, the United States justified their actions by saying the executions only happened when they were deemed necessary. This included cases of enemy threats and illegal airstrike.

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The Chilean coup was when the military overthrew President Allende. This coup ended Allende's presidential term, but caused Chile to be under harsh military rule. It is heavily believed that he committed suicide after his farewell speech.