United States has employed foreign policy as a means to achieve national objectives, and as a voice to respond to a foreign situation. Mainly, the United States has responded to nations through diplomatic means, economic sanctions as well as economic aid and through military force. Primarily, American foreign policy provides for the nation's defense, advancement for the economy, and promotes democracy to other nations. In history the principles of American foreign policies have evolved from isolationism, to providing military and economic needs to developing nations. .
After the birth of our great nation, the concept of isolationism was advocated by the political leaders such as George Washington. As expressed by Washington himself, isolationism meant that there should be no permanent alliances, and to keep as little "political" connection as possible with foreign nations. Although, the United States still continued to expand and trade with other nation. In the 1800s, the Monroe Doctrine reinforced this concept when it stated that the United States will not get involved in European affairs with nation in the Western Hemisphere. The concept endured until the 1940s when the Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. As a result of the attack, United States was forced to enter World War II and thereafter, isolationism gradually started to disappear. Afterwards, the United States became involved in many organizations, most notably the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations.
After becoming a world super power, the United States became more involved in world affairs through the United Nations which was created to preserve world peace. American politicians highly proclaimed and placed large of amount of emphasis on the US involvement in the United Nations. Eventually, the United States became a key player in the United Nations. Despite growing cooperation, the senate passed the Connally reservation which stated that treaties formed in United Nations cannot be enforced in the United States without the consent of the senate because of the fear of international organizations infringing on national sovereignty.
