Lesson Report:
# Lesson Report: The Evolution of U.S. Foreign Policy from World War I to the Early Cold War
### Synopsis:
In this lesson, the class examined key shifts in U.S. foreign policy from World War I through the early years of the Cold War. The discussion focused on the ideological and strategic changes in American diplomacy, beginning with Woodrow Wilson’s internationalist stance, through the interwar period and World War II, and culminating in the immediate postwar era, where ideological tensions with the Soviet Union set the foundation for the Cold War. The class explored major historical events such as Wilson’s League of Nations, the Great Depression, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Blockade, and the formation of NATO. The session ended with an analysis of Cold War conflicts like the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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### Attendance:
– One student not in attendance was mentioned at the beginning of class.
– Hamdam joined the session online.
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### Topics Covered:
#### 1. **Woodrow Wilson and the Shift in U.S. Foreign Policy**
– Recap of early U.S. foreign policy (isolationism, neutrality, Monroe Doctrine).
– Wilson’s ideological stance: liberal internationalism.
– The belief that democracy is a universal good and that the U.S. has a moral duty to spread it abroad.
– Connections to the concept of Manifest Destiny—American exceptionalism.
#### 2. **The United States Enters World War I**
– Wilson’s rationale for U.S. entry: “Make the world safe for democracy.”
– American reluctance turned into interventionism after key events:
– *Lusitania* sinking by German submarines (1915).
– The *Zimmermann Telegram*, in which Germany promised Mexico U.S. territory in exchange for alliance.
– The U.S. role in the war and Wilson’s push for a postwar international framework.
#### 3. **The League of Nations and the Interwar Period**
– Wilson’s advocacy and the proposal of the League of Nations.
– U.S. Congress rejection due to domestic opposition and non-interventionist sentiment.
– The League’s failure to prevent future conflict.
– The Treaty of Versailles and the harsh economic penalties imposed on Germany.
#### 4. **The Interwar Years and the Great Depression**
– Aftermath of World War I: U.S. withdraws into economic focus and domestic issues.
– The Great Depression (1929) and its impact on U.S. foreign relations.
– Rise of radical ideologies (communism, fascism) in response to economic instability.
#### 5. **World War II and the U.S.’s Emergence as a Global Power**
– U.S. neutrality in the early war years.
– Entry after Pearl Harbor (1941) and the shift toward full-scale military mobilization.
– Economic revival due to wartime production.
– Roosevelt’s influence and increasing international involvement.
#### 6. **The Beginnings of the Cold War (1945–1947)**
– Yalta and Potsdam Conferences and tensions between the U.S. and USSR.
– U.S. concern over Soviet ambitions for communist expansion.
– The origins of containment policy: belief that the USSR would only respond to force.
– Truman Doctrine (1947) and financial aid to Greece and Turkey.
– The Marshall Plan (1948): U.S. effort to rebuild Europe and prevent communism’s spread.
#### 7. **The Division of Europe and Escalating Tensions (1948–1949)**
– The Berlin blockade (1948) and U.S. airlift response.
– 1949: Two key events solidifying Cold War tensions:
– Formation of NATO as a military alliance against Soviet expansion.
– Establishment of the Warsaw Pact in response.
– The Korean War (1950–1953): First “hot” conflict of the Cold War.
#### 8. **The Middle Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)**
– The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis: Discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
– The 13-day standoff and negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev.
– Avoiding direct military confrontation through diplomacy.
– Aftermath: The height of Cold War nuclear fears.
#### 9. **Vietnam War and U.S. Public Opinion (1965–1975)**
– The Vietnam War as a test of containment theory.
– U.S. military superiority failing to secure political victory.
– Erosion of trust in government and a nationwide antiwar movement.
– Long-term impact: skepticism towards interventionist policies.
#### 10. **Détente and Cold War Strategy Reevaluation (1970s)**
– Nixon’s shift in strategy: less military intervention, more economic/military aid.
– SALT I treaty and arms control agreements.
– Recalibrating relations with China to counterbalance the USSR.
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### Actionable Items:
#### **For Next Class (Wednesday)**
– **Assigned Reading:**
– *George Kennan’s X Article on Containment* (to analyze Cold War rhetoric in policy).
– *Excerpts from Henry Kissinger* (25 pages, posted online).
– Students should at least skim the readings before class.
#### **General Notes**
– Future classes will revisit U.S. Cold War foreign policy through specific case studies, including Vietnam, Cuban Missile Crisis diplomacy, and mechanisms of policy formation.
– The professor emphasized understanding Cold War rhetoric’s long-term influence on foreign policy.
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This summary ensures a chronological and detailed record of the lesson’s progression, with emphasis on key themes and concepts.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
No explicit homework assignment was given during this lesson. The professor mentioned that they would be posting a 25-page reading from Henry Kissinger for students to review before the next class, but this was not framed as an assignment with specific tasks or submission requirements (e.g., “Please do your best to have at least scanned through that before class on Wednesday”). Therefore, this does not constitute an official homework assignment.