What is American ism (what is the ideological root of American isolationism)

"Isolationism" has always been a hot topic in American history. "Isolationism" almost covers the diplomatic characteristics of the United States from the19th century to the early 20th century. What is the connotation of isolationism? Where it came from and why it played an "important role" in the major policies of the United States had a great impact on the whole World War II. This issue will take you to understand the unique existence in the hearts of Americans: "isolationism."

American isolationism

To study the problem, we should trace back to the source, explore isolationism and start with "clarifying its origin" It is generally believed in academic circles that the clear definition of isolationist diplomacy began in john adams. The treaty plan 1776 drafted by him is considered as "putting forward the main topics of American foreign policy" and "clarifying the ideal of trade expansion and political isolation ...". On this basis, the connotation of isolationist diplomacy has been supplemented three times and finally implemented as a specific policy.

John Adames

First, the difference between permanent alliance and temporary alliance. Washington pointed out in his farewell speech: "Our real interest is to dissolve all permanent alliances with any part of the outside world." This difference enhances the flexibility of isolationist diplomacy. Secondly, the concept of "entanglement alliance" is put forward. Jefferson pointed out in his inaugural address 180 1 that in diplomacy, the United States should "live in peace with other countries, do business with each other, treat each other friendly, and have no entangled alliances."

This further deepened the definition of the connotation of non-aligned policy and became the standard expression of the concept of alliance by isolationists, which was widely used in the19th century. Third, it broke away from the traditional concept of "balance of power" (the concept of "balance of power" is the traditional British artistic ability). Many early American politicians usually had the traditional concept of "balance of power" in Europe. Many early politicians realized the existence of European balance of power and its importance to American security to some extent. This is reflected in john adams, Jefferson and others.

Jefferson

1783, Adams said in a conversation with Richard Oswald, the representative of the British peace talks: "Obviously, the European powers have been playing tricks on us and luring us into their actual or imaginary balance of power. When calculating their own strength, they all want us to be a complementary weight. ..... but I think non-intervention should be the principle we follow; The principle that European powers should follow should be that they don't want us to get involved. If they can do it, they may not even allow us to intervene. " Galatin, who later became US Secretary of State, pointed out in the parliamentary debate of 1 March 1998 1,1that the balance of power in Europe is only the cause of many useless wars, "... We are not interested in this balance of power. We should forget it completely and ignore it. "

Richard Oswald and john adams.

In the end, J·Q· Adams completely abandoned the ideological basis of balance of power. He pointed out in his speech on 182 1 Independence Day: "No matter where the banner of freedom and independence is and will be displayed, there is her (American) heart, her blessing and her prayer. But she won't go abroad to find the devil and destroy it.

The United States sincerely hopes that the world will enjoy freedom, but it will only fight for itself ... Once she stands under other flags instead of her own ... she will be caught in a war of interests and intrigue, a war of personal greed, jealousy and ambition ... The basic principles of her policy will unconsciously change from freedom to violence ... She may become a dictator of the world. "

This abandonment is embodied in the Monroe Doctrine of 1823. Later, President Polk reiterated this view in his annual speech on February 2, 1845, and President Wilson also reiterated this view in his annual speech on February 22, 19 18 10. Therefore, as far as its connotation is concerned, isolationist diplomacy should begin in1early 1920s.

John Quincy Adams

1823, President Monroe expounded a principle that the political systems of European countries are different from those of the United States, so all attempts by European powers to transplant their political systems anywhere in the western hemisphere will be regarded by the United States as "endangering the security of the United States." The publication of the Monroe Declaration marked the development of early isolationism to a new stage, which profoundly affected the political situation in the United States for more than 100 years.

Throughout American history, the most "serious" period of isolationism was the 1930s. Of course, there are many "reasonable reasons" behind the prevalence of isolationism for the United States.

President Monroe (james monroe)

From 1920 to 1932, three consecutive presidents were * * * and Republicans (isolationism was mostly concentrated in * * * and the party). The isolationists who dominated the ruling party have long instilled this idea into the American people. Because of its special geographical position, the United States can stay out of European affairs. They believe that the United States has the ocean as a barrier and strong economic strength, and any external danger will not threaten the security of the United States.

Secondly, most Americans still believe that in 19 18, their country was rewarded for helping Britain and France, which only gave them the nickname "Uncle Sherlock": World War I did not bring people the desired peace, nor did it become a powerful guarantee for western democratic politics. The demagogic propaganda of the British, the lobbying of American arms dealers and the greed of bankers made the United States desperate in the war, and the Americans shed blood and sacrificed.

Therefore, the United States can no longer intervene in European wars because of wrong idealism and be used by European powers. Several opinion polls after the outbreak of the European War showed that more than 90% of the American people opposed the United States' participation in the war. Domestic isolationism is based on pacifism. They are interdependent and form a powerful force, forcing more and more people to hold high the banner of isolationism.

1920- 1923 three American presidents

After World War I, the United States actively participated in the construction of the League of Nations, an international organization for "resolving international disputes and safeguarding world peace". However, after the establishment of the League of Nations, under the influence of isolationists, the US Congress refused to approve the government's bill to join the League of Nations. Ironically, as one of the founding countries of the League of Nations, the United States itself could not participate in the League of Nations.

At subsequent international conferences, the US government repeatedly refused to undertake corresponding international obligations and denied President Roosevelt's idea of actively participating in international affairs. According to the uncooperative attitude of the United States, there are factors of contradictory struggle between imperialist countries, and at the same time, it has poured cold water on stopping the aggression of fascist countries through close international cooperation, so that the efforts to maintain normal international relations and safeguard world peace after World War I have come to nothing.

American League of Nations

In addition, although the United States has implemented the so-called "economic diplomacy" represented by the Dawes Plan and the Young Plan since the 1920s; But European economic diplomacy is not a denial of isolationism. First of all, whether it is the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan, or the massive investment in Europe, especially Germany, although it has the purpose of helping to restore the balance of power in the European continent, the first priority is to protect American overseas trade and investment and ensure the recovery of war debts.

In America, from the 7th Pan-American Conference in Montevideo in 1933, the United States formally promised to give up interfering in the internal affairs of Latin American countries. In Asia, the open door policy is only a diplomatic gesture, and successive governments from 1899 to 1939 are unwilling to take concrete actions to support China's open door policy. Even its initiator admitted in a conversation with the Russian ambassador to the United States: "The United States has no intention of using force to defend China's territorial integrity."

During the period of 1920- 1937, the United States successively recognized the "special status" of Russian and Japanese in the northeast of China. A circumstantial evidence that the United States adopted an isolationist foreign policy during this period was the reminder of Hitler by Hans Tickhoff, the German ambassador to the United States. He said: "The United States will not pursue' isolationism' forever, nor can it have any illusions about it." But Hitler believed that "the United States is just a weak, non-interventionist country."

Dospland

From 1939 on the eve of the European War to19412 Pearl Harbor incident, the nominal policy of the United States has actually gradually parted ways with the real policy. On the one hand, the American government insists on not intervening in overseas conflicts, but in fact it is intervening step by step. Roosevelt explicitly condemned isolationism in his Charlotte speech, which marked the real turn of American nominal foreign policy. Subsequently, American involvement in the war gradually strengthened.

However, Roosevelt, who was committed to reversing the atmosphere of "isolationism", still faced great resistance. However, with the development of the situation, "isolationism" finally proved to be a "wrong choice", although it was "correct" in a short time.

Roosevelt

When 194 1 65438+February 7th, the Japanese fighter group appeared on the radar of the US military, followed by a huge engine roar and deafening explosion. In an instant, Pearl Harbor was in flames!

The American "dream of peace" was blown to pieces by the Japanese. Although 65438+February 7th was regarded as a shameful day by Americans, it was also the starting point for the American people to win. Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the joint fleet of Japanese navy, once said, "I'm afraid that the attack on Pearl Harbor only awakened a sleeping giant and forced him to take action." Obviously, his prediction is correct.

Japanese troops attacked Pearl Harbor.

Generally speaking, although isolationism reflects the American people's desire to oppose war and pray for peace to a certain extent, it objectively plays a role in condoning the aggression and expansion of fascist countries.

The Neutrality Act promulgated by the U.S. government in 1930s is also the product of isolationism in the new situation, and it is a copy of British appeasement policy in the United States. Not only did it fail to make the United States realize its desire to avoid intervening in the fascist war of aggression, but it also planted its own bitter fruit and was finally forced to fall into the abyss of war. Therefore, we can't say that "the United States is fully involved in World War II" has declared the end of "isolationism" unless the United States continues its big policy of "strongly intervening in the international situation" after the war.

American isolationism

In fact, it did: On June 1948, 1 1, the United States Senate passed Resolution No.239, suggesting that the President can "gradually establish regional and other collective arrangements for individual or collective self-defense in accordance with the purposes, principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations". This is considered to be the first time that the US Senate has publicly recognized the alliance with other countries in peacetime. 1949, the United States established and joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, thus making the alliance scope break through the Americas.

At the same time, the United States maintained an unprecedented number of troops in Asia and Europe. At this point, except for promoting business, all other isolationist policies and measures have come to an end. Therefore, the establishment of NATO and the all-round development of the "Cold War" completely declared the end of "isolationism".

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

References:

American foreign policy and its influence on the world Walter Russell Meade

History of American foreign policy.

An analysis of American traditional foreign policy in 1930s-the development of isolationism and its application in diplomacy.

History of World War II Wang Zhende Zhu Guisheng

An Analysis of American Isolationist Foreign Policy in 1930s