Part One, American Government and U.S. Constitution

Lesson 24: Avoid Entangling Alliances

(Principle 25)	Name: _______________________

Part II: The Founders' Basic Principles –	28 Great Ideas that Changed the World

Lesson 24 Time: 50:22 [for Sunday, August 24, 2014]

The 5000 Year Leap: 25th Principle, Reading Assignment: (pages 267-278);

Avoid Entangling Alliances

Lesson objectives: As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

1. What was Thomas Jefferson's motto regarding foreign relations? (page 267)

Avoid Entangling Alliances

Thomas Jefferson

o friendly with all

2. Did the founders ever consider alliances with other nations necessary? (267)

o alliances with none

3. Which term best describes the founders' position on foreign relations, "isolationism" or "separatism"? (267- 68)

Separatism

o remain friendly but politically separate

o not isolationists

4. Which European nation has managed to follow a policy of separatism? (268)

o Switzerland

- remained politically neutral [amazingly so]

- countries come to buy, sell, bank

- not involved with war

o Policy for first 125 years

5. Describe George Washington's views on the United States as an example to mankind. (268-69)

Washington

o cultivate peace and harmony

6. What did Washington say about the advisability of classifying foreign nations as friends or enemies? (269)

o natural tendency to classify as friends or enemies

7. What's the problem with favoring some countries over others? (269-71)

Playing favorites

o illusion of common interest

o leads to concessions to '"favored" nation

o gives impression others are enemies

o "most-favored" status (quote)

-jealousy must be impartial

- see danger only one side

- China and Russia on "most-favored" list by State department

8. According to Washington, what should our foreign policy be? (271-73)

Founders' Advice

o commercial relations yes, political connections, no (quote)

o Europe has different interests (quote)

- frequent controversy

- different beliefs

- different destiny

9. What was the founders' underlying reason for wanting to remain separate from other nations? (273-74)

o Commerce -

- by gentle means

- no force

Monroe Doctrine

o foundation of American Foreign Policy

- we will stay out of Europe

- Europe will stay out of Americas

Manifest Destiny

- all American nation become self - governing

- example to the whole world

10. Explain how "internationalism" has replaced "separatism" in U.S. foreign policy. (274-76)

Internationalism

o replaces Separatism

o How best to change America?

- get America involved in war

- become part of world government

World War I

o Congressman Charles A. Lindberg [flight over Atlantic-fame]

- greatest good we could do is stay out (quote)

- didn't accomplish one thing

11. Describe J. Reuben Clark's dream of America as a world peacemaker. (276-78)

World War II

o J. Reuben Clark

- America = the great neutral

- sympathies to every oppressed people

- accomplish much more if do not join the butchery of WWII