The New Empire? – U.S. Foreign Policy at the Turn of the 20th Century

 

Motivations for US Foreign Policy  – “The Four D’s”

 

A.     DUTY

 

It is the DUTY of the United States to defend democracy and to defend U.S. values against the corruption and aristocracy of the “Old World” [Europe]

 

It is the DUTY of the United States to “civilize” and “Christianize” heathen peoples in order to improve their living conditions. This becomes known as the “White Man’s Burden” and helps cultivate a revived sense of masculinity among American men.

 

B.    DESTINY

 

Just because the western frontier has closed, does not mean that the United States can forsake its “manifest DESTINY” to be the world’s leading nation and force for good.

 

This is linked to the theories of Social Darwinism – the strong will inevitably dominate the weak. It is DESTINY that the “fittest” system will expand.

 

This takes DUTY a step further. Not only must the United States pursue expansion, it has no choice but to do so – that is its DESTINY.

 

By making the outcome “inevitable” (i.e. DESTINY), it becomes easy to rationalize bad behavior à the ends justify the means.

 

C.    DEFENSE

 

The United States must provide for its own DEFENSE around the world if it is to become a great nation.

 

This entails engaging in competition with the other Great Powers which demands a projection of American power (both economic and military) through establishing bases and coaling stations, and building a large navy to protect U.S. strategic and economic interests.

 

D.    DOLLARS

 

The 1893 Depression convinced policy makers that the way to avoid future depressions was to increase U.S. exports so that American manufacturers would have markets for their goods and would take in enough DOLLARS to pay their workforce and make a profit. Since the non-industrialized world would be the best market for U.S. manufactured goods (because they don’t manufacture their own goods), America should pursue those markets. (i.e. selling shoes to the Chinese)

 

The United States must also have access to cheap raw materials that U.S. manufacturers can import.  Access to cheap raw materials will lower the price of U.S. manufactured products and make U.S. companies competitive at home and on the world market.

 

The “promise” or “potential” of these markets remained largely unfulfilled. The majority of U.S. trade was with the countries of Western Europe.