American Foreign Policy Purpose

The purpose of American foreign policy, theoretically, is to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the global community. Throughout history individuals could argue whether this has necessarily been the case. Have political representatives elected by the people, for the people, used their political connections and influences in the best interests of United States citizens? In 1895 the Cuban revolution in Spain began. The United States media used newspapers to portray the excessive suffering that Cubans were enduring under the control of the Spaniards. The media also depicted President McKinley as a coward for not intervening to assist the Cubans. (Module 22: War with Spain)
The United States initially attempted to distance themselves from the war. When the Germans were losing hold of the war on land and took to the sea the United States was having more difficulty maintaining neutrality. The sinking of our tankers by the German U-boats took the United States one step closer to war. (Norton, 637) Early 1917 the German’s threatened the security of the United States. The British intelligence intercepted the Zimmerman telegram that was sent to the German minister in Mexico that reflected the attempt to get Mexico to rise up against the United States. The Zimmerman message went on to say that Germany would help Mexico recover the territories that they had lost in 1848. Although the telegram content later was found to be untrue it stiffened President Wilson’s resolve. (Norton, 638) The reality of the situation ultimately forced the United States to join in the battle of WWI because they feared Germany victory which would destroy free enterprise and government by law. (Norton, 633) They also wanted the right to seas to be able to control this access of foreign trade at their
Many people were arrested, prosecuted, and found guilty of making “false statements” as defined by these Acts. The government did not want citizens talking against the war or the draft and made examples of many individuals that tried to share beliefs that did not align with the current administration. It was a clear violation of the 1st Amendment, but it worked to gain peoples support by keeping many individuals in opposition quiet. They needed the Espionage and Sedition Acts in place to help promote and support the war. They wanted to win and didn't care what toll it was taking on the