American foreign policy

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Theodore Roosevelt’s influence on American foreign policy
The foreign policy of the United States is its strategy regarding its diplomatic dealings with other nations and the standards set to control the interactions for its corporations, organizations and the citizens. For its first two hundred years, the united states foreign policy was isolationist. The isolationist policy meant that the united states did not intervene in the affairs of other nations especially in Europe. In the 20th century, the American foreign policy began to shift from isolationism (Rossini, 49). Between the wars, American foreign policy reverted to isolationism before it started an interventionist policy, especially during the cold war. In the years leading to world war 1, America had become an industrial nation and begun to involve itself in world affairs. Of all the American presidents between 1896 and 1945, Theodore Roosevelt is the one who most defined American foreign policy.
Theodore Roosevelt came to power at a time when America had become a strong industrial nation and world. Theodore wanted to increase American influence across the globe, promote the exportation of American values, improve the national defense and reduce the isolationism that had dominated the united states in the 1800s. His approach to foreign policy was based on the fundamental principles that included: promoting American interest across the world, building a strong navy, maintaining a good relationship with Britain and maintaining a good relationship between American government and its citizens.

Theodore’s foreign policy can be seen in his actions in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
In Europe, one of Theodore’s major influence was in the arbitration between germane and France in the conflict over Morocco. Britain had supported French claim to Morocco in return for recognition of Britain’s control of Egypt. In arbitrating the conflict, America Supported France’s weak claim while still saving face for Germany which had felt excluded by the treaty. In Asia, Roosevelt helped to mediate between Japan and Russia who were fighting in East Asia in 1904. Roosevelt was awarded a Nobel peace prize for mediating the peace treaty between Japan and Russia effectively ending the Russo-Japanese war. Theodore’s expansion of American influence to Asia can also be seen in the establishment of American governance in the Philippines. In Latin America, President Roosevelt’s major foreign policy was the formulation of what has been called the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe doctrine. The doctrine was to prevent European powers from interfering with the Western Hemisphere by making the united states police the economic problems of the Latin American countries. The actions and policies by Theodore Roosevelt marked a significant advance from the isolationist foreign policy that had dominated American foreign policy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
One of the major foreign events that occurred in Theodores’ term was the independence of Panama (Rossini, 73). The united states had supported Panama’s effort for independence from Colombia which had been resistant to the united states’ effort to building the canal in central America. The independence of Panama led to another major event impacting the US foreign policy during Theodore’s term. This was the construction of the Panama Canal. The construction of the Panama Canal following a treaty signed by Roosevelt was one of his greatest foreign policy accomplishments. Additionally, the improvement US-Anglo-French ties following the arbitration of the Moroccan conflict was a great accomplishment for President Roosevelt. His resolution the Russo-Japanese war was also one of his greatest foreign policy accomplishments. These accomplishments furthered American influence in the Latin Americas, Europe, and Asia.
In conclusion, American foreign policy defines the relationship between the United States and other countries. The united states had an isolationist policy for many years. In the 20th century, American foreign policy began to shift as America rose to become a world power. Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency had a significant influence on American foreign policy in the 20th century. He arbitrated conflicts in Europe and Asia, took control of the Philippines, formulated the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe doctrine and signed the treaty leading to the construction of the Panama Canal. His policies, led to improved relations with Britain and France, protection of the interest of Latin American countries, peace in Asia and Europe and the expansion of American influence to Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Work cited
Rossini, Daniela. From Theodore Roosevelt To FDR. Staffordshire, England, Ryburn [U.A.], 1995,.