Term Papers on Isolationism

Term Paper Title	Isolationism
# of Words	1429
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.72

Isolationism

Isolationism is a policy of maintaining a nation's rights and interests without alliances.
Isolationism was present in many different places before the United States adopted this policy. Japan, before its pact
with Great Britain in 1902, lived without allies for a thousand years, during the last half of the century in which it
grew to world power. Great Britain lived from 1822 to 1902 in isolation with only temporary allies, except for a
dormant traditional alliance with Portugal. The United States stayed successfully in isolationism from 1796 to 1917
or even until 1941.
Isolationism was first introduced to the colonies by Thomas Paine a liberal English isolationist and recent immigrant
to the colonies at this time. In his famous pamphlet Common Sense, written in 1776, he said, "Any submission to or
dependence upon Great Britain tends directly to involve this country in European wars and quarrels and sets us at
variance with nations who would otherwise seek our friendship and against whom we have neither anger nor
complaint."
At the outset of the Revolutionary war the Continental Congress resisted any commitment with France that would
bind the two nations. Nevertheless the need for military assistance during the revolution caused the alliance. The
Franco-American alliance of 1778 tied the United States in France's commitments with other allies like Spain during
both the peace negotiations of 1782 and the wars of the French Revolution. These alliances caused some statesmen
to become unfriendly after independence was declared.
President George Washington was a chief supporter of isolationism. In his famous Farewell Address of 1796 he
said, "The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have
with them as little political connection as possible." In this he is suggesting that in the future the United States
should avoid political relations with other countries but remain trading and other economic relations with these
countries. Washington went on to say, "Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very
remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to
our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary
vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations or collisions of her friendships or enmities." Washington
has been said to lay the ground for the isolationist foreign pol!
icy of America. Many presidents after him used this policy.
President Thomas Jefferson agreed with Washington's policy of isolationism when in his inaugural address he said, "
. . . peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." In this he expresses
how he wants to keep peace with as many nations as possible and not creating alliances that may cause
entanglements with other countries. President James Monroe also agreed with Washington's policy in his famous
message to Congress of Dec. 2, 1823, known since 1852 as the Monroe doctrine. In this message (doctrine) he
declared, "In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken part, nor does
it comport with our policy, so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced that we resent
injuries, or make preparations for our defense." In this he explained that the United States would not interfere with
any wars occurring in Europe unless our own security was threatened.
The United States considered its rights to neutrality invaded by France in 1796 through 1798 and had set up defenses
to the extent of being ready to go to war with France. Even at this time both Congress and President John Adams
refused to make an alliance with France's enemy Great Britain. From 1806 to 1812 the United States had considered
these same rights invaded by Great Britain when they began their impressing seamen, and had g...

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