US Isolationism: selfish or selfless? Mr W J Molyneux (CR, History Department) It is quite the irony that the term ‘isolation’ can refer to rather contrasting circumstances. The current limitations posed on our ability to make contact with our friends and family is certainly founded on the belief that isolating ourselves brings benefits to our whole society. That is to say, isolation keeps both you and me safe from the potential transmission of this deadly disease – bonum commune communitatis (common good of the community). However, what is interesting is how removed this is from another type of isolation, one that many of you lucky enough to have had yours truly as a Remove History teacher will be fully aware of: American isolationist foreign policy. This mindset, that the United States should devote its efforts to its own advancement by isolating itself from world affairs is clearly grounded in the assumption that isolation makes me better at your expense – bonum commune hominis (common good of a man). So, how and why did America undertake this foreign policy approach? ‘In God We Trust’ became the motto of the United States in 1956, signed into law by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Whilst there were many iterations of the county’s motto prior to this, Thomas Jefferson in his inauguration speech of 1801 sought: ‘commerce with all nations, alliances with none.’ This view followed firmly on from the principles laid out by America’s founding President, George Washington, who detailed in his final speech: ‘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.’ It is here that we find potentially the first concrete advocacy for limiting the country’s involvement in foreign affairs. Whilst Jefferson defended the principle of international trade, hence supporting ‘commerce’, he argued that the country should prohibit itself from ‘entangling’ treaties with other states. In doing so, the Union could focus on its own political affairs, use its funds for its own internal economic interests, and avoid the inevitable engagement in European wars.
August 2020 by Mr E.F.J. Twohig
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