Using your knowledge of the time period AND the documents provided, analyze this statement:  "United States foreign policy evolved from internationalism to isolationism during the period 1875 to 1925."

Document A
Source: Lodge Reservation to Article X, November 1919

The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integration of any other country of to interfere in controversies between nations- whether members of the League of not- under the provisions of Article X, or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any article of the treaty for any purpose, unless in any particular case the Congress, which, under the Constitution, has the sole power to declare war or authorize the employment of the military or naval forces of the United States, shall by act or joint resolution so provide.

Document B
Source:  Kirby, World Journal Tribune, 1920

Document C
Source: Theodore Roosevelt, The "Roosevelt Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, 1904

It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it nee fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may lead the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing of impotence , to the exercise of an international police power. If every country washed by the Caribbean Sea would show the progress in stable and just civilization which with the aid of the Platt amendment Cuba has shown since our troops left the island, and which so many of the republics in both Americas are constantly and brilliantly showing, all question of interference by this Nation with their affairs would be at an end. Our interests and those of our southern neighbors are in reality identical. They have great natural riches, and if within their borders the reign of law and justice obtains, prosperity is sure to come to them. While they thus obey the primary laws of civilized society they may rest assured that they will be treated by us in a spirit of cordial and helpful sympathy. We would interfere with them only in the last resort, and then only if it became evident that their inability of unwillingness to do justice at home and abroad had violated the rights of the United States or had invited foreign aggression to the detriment of the entire body of American nations. It is a mere truism to say that every nation, whether in America or anywhere else, which desires to maintain its freedom, its independence, must ultimately realize that the right of such independence can not be separated from the responsibility of making good use of it.

In asserting the Monroe Doctrine, in taking such steps as we have taken in regard to Cuba, Venezuela, and Panama, and in endeavoring to circumscribe the theater of war in the Far East, and to secure the open door in China, we have acted in our own interest as well as in the interest of humanity at large. There are, however, cases in which, while our own interests are not greatly involved, strong appeal is made to our sympathies.... In extreme cases action may be justifiable and proper. What form the action shall take must depend upon the circumstances of the case; that is, upon the degree of the atrocity and upon our power to remedy it.

Document D
Source:  Having Their Fling, The Masses, September 1917

Document E
Source: Bartolomeo Vanzetti condemns Judge Thayer (1927)

 ... But my conviction is that I have suffered for things that I am guilty of. I am suffering because I am a radical and indeed I am a radical; I have suffered because I was an Italian, and indeed I am an Italian; I have suffered more for my family and for my beloved than for myself; but I am so convinced to be right that if you could execute me two times, and if I could be reborn two other times, I would live again two other times, I would live again to do what I have done already.

Document F
Source:  Louis Dalrymple, Puck, "The Big Stick" 1904

Document G
Source: Albert J. Beveridge, "The March of the Flag" (1898)

The Opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their consent. I answer, the rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self government. We govern the Indians without their consent, we govern our territories without their consent, we govern our children without their consent. How do they know that our government would be without their consent. Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, humane, civilizing government of this Republic to the savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion from which we have rescued them.

Document H
Source: The Espionage Act of May 16, 1918

Sec. 3 Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements, or to say or do anything except by way of bona fide and not disloyal advice to an investor.....publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States.....urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production in this country of any thing or things...necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war... and whoever shall willfully advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both...

Essay

During the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the United States’ foreign policy changed from the philosophy of internationalism to that of isolationism. This was due to many factors including political and social upheaval.

The United States started taking an active interest in the Monroe Doctrine. In 1889, a weak organization was formed in Washington. The Pan-American Congress was signed by nineteen nations. In 1904, the Roosevelt Corollary was added to the Monroe Doctrine. It states, "that the United States feels... as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare... If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency... it need fear no interference from the United States."(Doc C). Roosevelt followed through with his corollary with his words, "Speak softly, but carry a big stick" as seen in Doc. F. An example of this is the support of the revolution in Panama. The Spanish-American War in 1898 was the epitome of American intervention. At the end of the war, the United States gained such territories as Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba among other islands. The American public was in full support of the war because of publishers like Pulitzer and Hearst and their "yellow journalism," and their slogan, "Remember the Maine!" People throughout the country supported Albert J. Beveridge’s thought’s, "Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, humane, civilizing government of this Republic to the savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion from which we have rescued them."(Doc G). Therefore, the American foreign policy was interventionist during this time.

The United States foreign policy began to translate from internationalism to isolationism because of attitudes of the people and events around the world. During World War I, the people experienced a schism reflecting support of the War. As shown in Doc. D, many different groups of people throughout the country supported the war for their own gain. Others, such as the Ku Klux Klan, were rampant throughout the country supporting "moral values" and nativism. The government passed two Acts, the Sabotage and the Espionage Acts, to promote loyalty to the country. "Whoever... publishes any disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive language about the form of government of the United States... shall be punished (Doc H). Thus, WWI provided a transitionary period for U.S. foreign policy to internationalist to isolationist.

After WWI, foreign policy was extremely nationalistic. The Treaty of Versailles was never ratified by the Senate, as shown in Doc B. The public had turned away from the war to problems at home. The irreconcilable, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, directed the movement against the treaty. In Doc A, Lodge states, "The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integration of any other country of to interfere in controversies between nations." Along with the rejection of the treaty, the Senate would not approve joining the League of Nations. In the election of 1920, the winning candidate, Warren G. Harding, had the slogan, "Return to Normalcy." This shows to what extent the people had withdrawn from international events. The Red Scare was in full effect. The KKK’s marches and the Palmer raids demonstrated the fervor of nativism. In Bartolomeo Vanzetti’s execution speech, he says, " I am suffering because I am a radical... I have suffered because I was an Italian." Isolationism was an apparent idea in United States culture.

Indubitably, the foreign policy from 1875 to 1925 evolved from internationalism to isolationism. This occurred because of social and political change that happened in the country and throughout the world.