Member-only story

National Security from George Washington to Joe Biden: A History of American Defense Policy

Terry Bell

·9.2k Followers· Follow

Published in Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U S National Security From George Washington To Joe Biden

6 min read · 3 weeks before

33 View Claps

5 Respond

Save

Listen

A Photo Of The Book 'National Security From George Washington To Joe Biden' Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U S National Security From George Washington To Joe Biden

The United States has a long and complex history of national security policy. From the time of George Washington to the present day, the country has faced a wide range of threats and challenges to its security, and its leaders have developed a variety of policies to address these threats. In this book, we will explore the evolution of American national security policy, from its origins in the Founding Fathers' vision of a republic to the challenges of the 21st century.

The Founding Fathers and National Security

The Founding Fathers of the United States were deeply concerned with the issue of national security. They had fought a long and bloody war for independence from Great Britain, and they were determined to create a new country that would be strong enough to defend itself against future threats. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that all men are endowed with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He also argued that governments are instituted among men to secure these rights, and that when any government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. These principles formed the foundation of American national security policy for generations to come.

Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U.S. National Security from George Washington to Joe Biden

by Aiden Warren

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2483 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	330 pages

The Early Republic and the War of 1812

In the early years of the republic, the United States faced a number of threats to its security. These threats included attacks by Native American tribes, piracy, and the expansionist ambitions of European powers. The War of 1812 was a particularly challenging time for the United States. The British invaded the country from Canada, and they burned the White House in Washington, D.C. However, the United States was able to defeat the British and emerge from the war as a stronger nation.

The Monroe Doctrine and the Rise of American Power

In the 1820s, the United States adopted the Monroe Doctrine, which declared that any attempt by European powers to colonize or intervene in the Americas would be considered an act of aggression against the United States. This doctrine helped to protect the United States from foreign threats and allowed the country to expand its influence in the Western Hemisphere. Over the course of the 19th century, the United States became a major world power. It fought a war with Mexico in 1846-1848, which resulted in the annexation of Texas and California. It also acquired Alaska from Russia in 1867 and Hawaii in 1898.

The Spanish-American War and the Rise of Imperialism

The Spanish-American War of 1898 marked a turning point in American national security policy. The war resulted in the United States acquiring control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This marked the beginning of the era of American imperialism, which saw the United States expand its influence around the world. The United States also intervened in Latin America and the Caribbean, and it played a major role in the First World War.

The Cold War and the Rise of Superpowers

The end of the First World War marked the beginning of a new era in international relations. The rise of communism in Russia and the subsequent Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union shaped American national security policy for the next half century. The United States adopted a policy of containment, which aimed to prevent the spread of communism. This policy led to the United States' involvement in a number of conflicts, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The Post-Cold War Era and the War on Terror

The end of the Cold War in 1991 marked the beginning of a new era in American national security policy. The United States no longer faced a single existential threat, and it had to adapt its policies to a more complex and uncertain world. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 led to the United States launching the War on Terror, which has been a major focus of American national security policy for the past two decades.

The Challenges of the 21st Century

The United States faces a number of challenges to its national security in the 21st century. These challenges include terrorism, climate change, and the rise of new great powers such as China and Russia. The United States must adapt its national security policy to meet these challenges and ensure the security of the country for generations to come.

The evolution of American national security policy has been shaped by a wide range of factors, including the Founding Fathers' vision of a republic, the challenges of the early republic, the rise of American power, the Spanish-American War, the Cold War, and the post-Cold War era. The United States faces a number of challenges to its national security in the 21st century, and it must adapt its policies to meet these challenges and ensure the security of the country for generations to come.

Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U.S. National Security from George Washington to Joe Biden

by Aiden Warren

5 out of 5