Lesson 2: Foreign Policy

Why did American foreign policy develop and expand over time?

Foreign policy for the young republic was focused on trade relationship and maintaining neutrality. The country didn't want to get into another costly war, but it was not immune to the reality of trade conflicts becoming tangled in war strategies of countries like France and Great Britain.

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"Early Republic"

Jefferson 1801-1809

Thomas Jefferson's foreign relations was characterised by ongoing issues in North Africa and the trade blockades of the Napoleonic wars.

Foreign Affairs Early 19th Century

Foreign Policy

U.S. foreign policy was primarily focused on maintaining neutrality, asserting independence, and protecting territorial sovereignty. Early efforts, such as George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality (1793), aimed to avoid entanglement in European conflicts. The Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Monroe Doctrine (1823) demonstrated a growing emphasis on expansion and safeguarding the Western Hemisphere from European interference. The War of 1812 solidified U.S. independence and national pride while highlighting the need for a strong naval presence. This period marked the transition from cautious diplomacy to asserting the nation's interests on the global stage.

Foreign Policy in the Early Republic (paper copy)

War of 1812

Now under the executive leadership of James Madison, the country is desperately trying to regain trade with European countries, yet France and Great Britain's conflict still plagues U.S. shipping.

Madison Foreign Relations

War of 1812 APUSH

Skills Packet

"Causes of the War of 1812"

Aftermath of the War of 1812

What happened after the war?

Was the War of 1812 a turning point for the United States?

Aftermath of the War of 1812.pdf

The Monroe Doctrine

The wars are over and the aftermath of Napoleon has led to independence movements in Latin America. James Monroe takes this opportunity to make a statement to the World that the United States will not acknowledge any new colonies in the Western Hemisphere.

Monroe Doctrine

Skills Packet

"Monroe Doctrine"

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