Protest march to prevent American involvement in WWII.

Isolationism, the diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations, has had, according to some, a long history in the United States. Thomas Paine is generally credited with instilling the first isolationist ideas into the American body politic; his work Common Sense contains many arguments in favor of avoiding alliances. These ideas introduced by Paine took such a firm foothold that the Continental Congress struggled against forming an alliance with France and only agreed to do so when it was apparent that the war for independence could be won in no other manner. · No Entangling Alliances- The US should make any agreements with other countries that could get us in trouble or war. ... · No Entangling Alliances- The US should make any agreements with other countries that could get us in trouble or war. ... Isolationism is a diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations. ... Jump to: navigation, search Thomas Paine Thomas Paine (January 29, 1737–June 8, 1809), intellectual, scholar, and idealist, is widely recognized as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. ... The term common sense (or as an adjective, commonsense) describes beliefs or propositions that seem, to most people, to be prudent and of sound judgment, without dependence upon esoteric knowledge. ... The Continental Congress was the legislature of the Thirteen Colonies and later of the United States from 1774 to 1789, a period that included the American Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. ...

George Washington's farewell address is often cited as laying the foundation for a tradition of American isolationism: George Washingtons Farewell Address was an address by George Washington to the people of the United States at the end of his second term as President of the United States. ...

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. 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 and collisions of her friendships or enmities.

Many historians and political scientists, however, have long argued that to describe Washington's policy as isolationism is actually a misnomer. What Washington was actually advocating, according to this interpretation, is American freedom of action, better known as unilateralism. These commentators argue that unilateralism—rather than isolationism—was the dominant founding policy in American foreign affairs.¹ Look up Misnomer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Unilateralism, an antonym for multilateralism, is the affection for or relevant concern of only one party. ...

President Thomas Jefferson extended Washington's ideas in his inaugural address: "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." Jefferson's phrase "entangling alliances" is, incidentally, sometimes mis-attributed to Washington. Jump to: navigation, search Thomas Jefferson (April 13 (April 2 O.S.), 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the third (1801–1809) President of the United States, second (1797–1801) Vice President, first (1789–1795) United States Secretary of State, and an American statesman, ambassador to France, political philosopher, revolutionary, agriculturalist...

In 1823, President James Monroe articulated what would come to be known as the Monroe Doctrine, which some have interpreted as isolationist in intent: "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." 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search James Monroe (April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) was the fifth (1817–1825) President of the United States. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Monroe Doctrine, expressed in 1823, proclaimed that the Americas should be closed to future European colonization and free from European interference in sovereign countries affairs. ...

Indeed, the United States managed to maintain a state of political isolation from Europe throughout the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century. Few nations have been able to maintain such a stance for such a lengthy period of time. Historians have posited that this is largely due to a geography that is both detached and distant in relation to that of Europe. American intervention in Central America and the Caribbean was extensive however and partially made explicit by the Monroe Doctrine. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ... ... Jump to: navigation, search The Monroe Doctrine, expressed in 1823, proclaimed that the Americas should be closed to future European colonization and free from European interference in sovereign countries affairs. ...

The beginning of the 20th century saw German and Japanese imperialism challenge and later largely put an end to feelings of content isolationism enjoyed by the United States. The acquisition of the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American War put U.S. interests in to the western Pacific Ocean, squarely in the sights of Japan. The U.S. failed to perceive threats made against its unencumbered position. It took Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I to shake the neutral stance that the U.S. had cherished for so long. When the war ended, the U.S. was quick to leave behind its "entangling alliances"; both the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations found little congressional support. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Jump to: navigation, search A cartoon portraying the British Empire as an octopus, reaching into foreign lands A cartoon showing the U.S. growing up and growing girth. ... The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands and these make up the archipelago. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... Jump to: navigation, search World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... Jump to: navigation, search The treaty was an International affair The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was the peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allies and Germany. ... Jump to: navigation, search The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the First World War at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. ...

The time between the World Wars saw a resurgence in isolationism in the United States. After the war broke out in Europe, such Americans as Charles Lindbergh, Gerald P. Nye and Rush D. Holt prominently advocated U.S. neutrality. U.S. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's efforts to aid countries against Nazi Germany's and Imperial Japan's aggression through economic aid and embargoes made American political isolationism solely military in nature. Jump to: navigation, search Image:Lindbergh. ... Gerald Prentice Nye (1892-1971) was an United States legislator and political activist, serving in the U.S. Senate from the 1920s to the 1940s Nye worked in journalism as a young man, serving as first editor and later owner of several newspapers. ... Rush Dew Holt, Sr. ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882–April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States, the longest-serving holder of the office and the only man to be elected President more than twice, was one of the central figures of 20th century history. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Flag of Japan adopted 1870, official 1999 Japanese Naval Ensign adopted 1889, re-adopted 1954 The Empire of Japan (大日本帝国; Dai Nippon Teikoku) was the official title of Japan before the end of World War II. The names Imperial Japan and Japanese Empire are also used. ...

Japan's 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor effectively dashed any hopes of the U.S. further maintaining military isolationism, as suddenly it put the U.S. into World War II. The sanguine effects of geopolitical alliance did not evaporate with Allied victory: in contrast, the developing Cold War would make them more desirable than ever. Today, the United States is far removed from its history of isolation. Through the United Nations, defensive agreements are in place with forty-four sovereign states. Jump to: navigation, search 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search The Imperial Japanese Navy made its attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. ... Jump to: navigation, search World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that... Jump to: navigation, search For the generic term for a high-tension rivalry between countries, see cold war (war). ... Jump to: navigation, search The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945. ...

The John Birch Society has often promoted isolationist themes, specifically withdrawal from the United Nations. The John Birch Society (JBS) is a conservative organization that was founded in 1958 to fight the perceived threat of Communism in the United States. ...

A number of individuals in the contemporary U.S. are active in promoting a return to an isolationist foreign policy. These include progressives such as Ralph Nader, conservatives such as Pat Buchanan, and libertarians such as Justin Raimondo. Progressivism or political progressivism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Jump to: navigation, search Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American activist lawyer who opposes the power of large corporations and has worked for decades on environmental, consumer rights, and pro-democracy issues. ... Conservatism is a major political philosophy supporting traditional values or an established social order. ... Jump to: navigation, search Patrick Buchanan Pat Buchanan (born November 2, 1938), is an American author, syndicated columnist, and television commentator. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about libertarianism, a liberal individualist philosophy favoring private property (the most common meaning of the term today in most English-speaking countries). ... Justin Raimondo (November 18, 1951- ) is a libertarian author and the editorial director of the website Antiwar. ...

Notes

• Note 1: Albert K. Weinberg, in his 1935 study of Manifest Destiny, wrote that "the principle of independent political action (now known under the misnomer of isolationism) ... was given its classic formulation by Washington" (p. 453). John Lewis Gaddis also calls isolationism a misnomer, and writes that Washington's Farewell Address and the Monroe Doctrine were actually part of the American diplomatic tradition of unilateralism (p. 24).

Jump to: navigation, search This painting (circa 1872) by John Gast called American Progress is an allegorical representation of Manifest Destiny. ... John Lewis Gaddis is the Robert A. Lovett Professor of Military and Naval History at Yale University (though he teaches neither military nor naval history). ...

References

• Gaddis, John Lewis. Surprise, Security, and the American Experience. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2004.
• Weinberg, Albert K. Manifest Destiny: A Study of Nationalist Expansionism in American History. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1935.
• Doenecke, Justus D. "The Literature of Isolationism, 1972-1983: A Bibliographical Guide," The Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. VII, No. 1 (Spring 1983) http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/7_1/7_1_10.pdf