U.s Entry Into The 1898 And 1917 War

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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The military history of the United States and the relationship between the country and the outside world shows that United States had refrained from engaging with the rest of the world militarily after gaining independence from European countries. For a long time after the country gained her independence, her relationship with the rest of the world especially military wise had been regulated by the Monroe doctrine. Under the Monroe doctrine, United States had advised European powers to refrain from any interference with the Western Hemisphere and in return, United States would not interfere with what was happening in Europe. This means that after independence, United States adopted a noninterventionist approach to world affairs especially in affairs that had to do with European powers. The country was devoted to solving her own problems and developing her own civilizations that soon became the wonder of the world. No public money, no arms, no aids or troops that were used on interfering with external affairs. Monroe doctrine became the guide for the American republic but this was not to stay for long..
Towards the end ...
... of the 19th century, the disagreements that had overridden the Monroe doctrine were soon to spill over. There was growing discontent about the isolation policy that had been adopted by the United States and fear of threat of war and disability somehow rendered the country voiceless in world affairs. Since it was enacted in 1823, the Monroe doctrine was finally broke with the U.S entry in 1898 war with Spain. It was the first time United States went into war with a foreign enemy in the age of modern warfare. However, this could not be considered a full interference with the European affairs as was outlined in the Monroe doctrine because the war was still fought in the Western hemisphere. The complete interference with the European affairs was in 1917 entry into the First World War but this was inevitable if the United States had to protect her territories.
Under the Monroe doctrine, the United States adopted an isolationist policy and in a way, it can be argued that the Monroe doctrine straddled the diplomacy of realism. In realism perspective, the Monroe doctrine represented a unique fundamental interest in preserving the United States position as the predominant force in the hemisphere. Therefore, the Monroe doctrine was rendered effective by the realities of powers and interest especially in the Atlantic world. This implies that realistic was the main purpose of Monroe doctrine as it prevented the establishment of a rival power in the hemisphere and therefore United States required neither war nor threat of war in order to protect here vital interests. However, in idealistic perspective, the Monroe doctrine was viewed as a broad declaration of liberal principles. Idealists argued that United States promoted less nation’s interests than liberty of the Latin America region. Since the doctrine attacked American purpose to universal democratic ideals, it was viewed as utopian by European masters of Realpolitik. This is because the doctrine diminished U.S economic and security interests and also diminished European influence of the Western hemisphere.
The shift from neutrality under the Monroe doctrine to war with Spain presented shift in foreign policy. This is noted as a turning point in American foreign policy because it marked the beginning of involvement with world affairs. It appeared that no longer were Americans entering into war to protect their own interest and security but the country fought for a cause. Although there were economic and security issues that were given for involvement in the war, Americans were also fighting to stop oppression of the Cubans by Spain and this can be considered as a cause. Americans did not enter the 1898 was just to protect Americans economic and security interest but there appeared to be America’s sense of pride, duty, and freedom aimed at stopping Spain from brutal suppression of revolution in the colony of Cuba.
The shift in the foreign policy, from realistic under Monroe doctrine to idealistic was mainly agitated by the changing external and internal environment. From a country that was developing socially and economically during the signing of the Monroe doctrine, United States was a rising giant that needed to protect other countries from brutal oppression by European powers. Politicians had real goals and objectives that not only looked at the American economic and security interests but to other causes. The American public supported politicians by presenting realistic objectives with idealistic statements that were underlined by idealistic sentiments. Although the reason given for entering the 1889 wars as the sinking of the USS Maine, there ware underlying idealistic factors that lead to entry into the war. The idealistic factors that lead to the United States entry into the war were motivated by the sufferings that Cubans were undergoing under the hands of the Spanish army. This means that United States had the responsibility to act in order to stop these sufferings. In a way, it can be argued that this idealistic goal had been fortified in the American ideals since the foundation of the republic.
The entry of United States into the First World War was based on Woodrow Wilson idealism. In 1917, when he convinced the congress to declare war against Germany, President Wilson promised that the Great War was to the war to end all wars. His was an idealistic view that the isolation of the United States in the international affairs had hurt her interests in a great way and the best way to regain that would be ending the continuing wars. However, this was an idealistic promise that could be delivered. Since the publication of the Monroe doctrine and the consequently commitment by the congress to safeguard the doctrine, it appeared that most Americans had been leading on idealistic approach to foreign policies rather than the realist approach that sought to commit the government to improvement of the internal affairs of the American people. It appeared that idealism had been present in the American mindset since the early days of foundation of the republic but during the Woodrow Wilson White House tenure, idealism gained foot in the domestic and foreign policies.

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