How would the world look today?
What would the world look like today if America had chosen differently? If America had been more of an isolationist like they were before World War II, what could have changed? How much of an influence does American foreign policy really hold on planet Earth? These are all questions that presidents and leaders take into consideration making every single decision. There is a lot of power and affects that can result in deciding one way verses the other. America has consistently come to the aid of struggling countries. We have also contained and even gone to war against others. The world may look and act completely different if we could have chosen to allow the world to run itself.
Looking all the way back to our early days as a country, we were weak and poor. There wasn't a lot happening for America at the moment and we were trying to get on our feet. Breaking away from England during the Revolutionary war was something that really set in stone our values and goals. We established a democracy, inalienable rights, and other laws that would give the voice to the people. Everything at the time was focused on us and how we were going to begin our country. Isolationism was our only choice because we just didn't have the means or interest in stepping out on the world stage. Had we not been reserved, Anyone could have destroyed us. We would have been looked upon as arrogant and immature. This would hurt trading relations and many people may have taken advantage of us. Who couldn't afford to be those people everyone was annoyed with.
Up to World War I, this strategy had worked. We did everything we could to stay away from the war taking place in Europe. It wasn't until we got wrapped up in trade with Britain that our ship was sunk by the Germans. We decided that that was a step over the line, and we declared war on Germany. What if we had let it go though? The Germans sinking our ship was a shove to America and I'm sure there were leaders in Germany trying to predict how we would react. Many probably believed we would not retaliate. Had we not their opinion of America would be so. America was no one to be threatened by, that we were soft and anyone could do as they please with us. Going through out, Germany may have persisted in their push across Europe and many people could have died. The rest of Europe would be asking where America was. Why hadn't we done anything to stop this regime.
World War II was quite the same. We tried everything we could to stay out of Europe's problems but our trade with them was pulling us in. We fought it and successfully avoided being drawn in the same way we had in World War I. Pearl Harbor was the final straw that rallied the support of most Americans in support of getting involved. Japan had done what Germany had done earlier and shoved America expecting a response. We entered the war and pushed back Germany through D-Day and Island hopped to pay revenge on Japan eventually ending the war with two Nuclear bombs. What if we had not done anything? If America had accepted that shove the world would look extremely different today. Russia would still have held its ground, but Germany wouldn't be fighting a two front war. Russia probably would have struck a deal to split up Europe for themselves with Japan. Europe would be ruled by four super powers; Russia, Germany, China, and Japan. Not to mention the existence of the Jews would practically be extinct. The Holocaust would have continued, Israel would have never been created, and the only Jewish population would be of the escaped Jews that came to America. The world may not even be recognizable.
The Cold War against Russia was one that shaped America the most. The division of Eastern and Western that represented the divide between our ideologies truly shaped the world as a whole. We held our ground in Western Germany and we vowed to contain Communism to the East. We fought with ideas, technology, and our ability to build up arms against the enemy. If we had chosen to return home and leave Europe in their own hands, Russia would without a doubt be consumed by communism and Russian influence. Our Western democratic views would be obsolete and our chances of getting a foothold economically and politically would be very slim. Had we not put up our fight, the advancements in satellite technology and weaponry would not be there. The cell phones, internet, and military technology may not have been created or discovered had we not explored them during the Cold War. It is entirely possible that our exploration to the moon would have been pushed back or might not have ever happened. Its also within a stretch to say Russia would have been the first to the moon and the first to create the internet and cell technology required to go to the moon. Our daily lives and the way we view the rest of the world would definitely not be the same.
Fairly recent history has shaped America drastically. The Korean War called our containment into question as communist North Korea decided to spread south. Troops of the North Koreans People's Army backed by our enemy the Soviet Union marched towards South Korea to reunite all Koreans. Fighting began at the 38th parallel and many casualties were inflicted on both sides. This was not just a war to protect the Democratic south, but to fight the spread of Communism. If America had let the North reclaim their once land, how would America look today? Obviously there would be no North and South Korea. This means that the influence of Democracy would be limited in the Pacific. Trade would be less and our relationship with Japan may not be so strong. The economy and protection we send to the Pacific also helps the surrounding countries as well as South Korea itself. Today, there would be no threats against the United States by Kim Jong Un. There would not be much tension between us and the continued cease fire at the 38th parallel would not exist. We would not have troops and as many diplomats in Korea and we possibly may be able to spread our resources elsewhere. There's really no way to know whether Communism would have stopped in Korea or whether our intervention stopped Communism in it's tracks. Most likely Communism would not have spread much beyond that. Paranoia and how anti-communism America was forced us to play our hand.
Currently today, the war is continuing in the Middle East. We are watching and trying to adjust to decisions and reactions. Leaders are collapsing under the Arab spring and the hostility is very high. Decisions are made daily that effect the lives of soldiers and civilians. Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu have been working together to protect the Jewish state and to also defend Democracy in a culture so against it. Terrorism is high and hatred for America seems to be as well. Israel and America are watching the Nuclear programs of Iran deciding whether they are bluffing or their intent to destroy Israel entirely off the map. Stress runs high in every decision and there are so many factors to think about. The chapter is still being written so we currently ask our selves without know the future, What if? If we chose this way or that way what can happen? Whats best for the future? When should we act? These questions are easy to answer after the fact, but in the heat of the moment when leaders are wild cards, mistakes are made. Foreign policy helps keep us going in the direction America needs to go. It takes some human emotion and factors out of the equation and this is why it is so important to develop and learn from every decision.
Looking all the way back to our early days as a country, we were weak and poor. There wasn't a lot happening for America at the moment and we were trying to get on our feet. Breaking away from England during the Revolutionary war was something that really set in stone our values and goals. We established a democracy, inalienable rights, and other laws that would give the voice to the people. Everything at the time was focused on us and how we were going to begin our country. Isolationism was our only choice because we just didn't have the means or interest in stepping out on the world stage. Had we not been reserved, Anyone could have destroyed us. We would have been looked upon as arrogant and immature. This would hurt trading relations and many people may have taken advantage of us. Who couldn't afford to be those people everyone was annoyed with.
Up to World War I, this strategy had worked. We did everything we could to stay away from the war taking place in Europe. It wasn't until we got wrapped up in trade with Britain that our ship was sunk by the Germans. We decided that that was a step over the line, and we declared war on Germany. What if we had let it go though? The Germans sinking our ship was a shove to America and I'm sure there were leaders in Germany trying to predict how we would react. Many probably believed we would not retaliate. Had we not their opinion of America would be so. America was no one to be threatened by, that we were soft and anyone could do as they please with us. Going through out, Germany may have persisted in their push across Europe and many people could have died. The rest of Europe would be asking where America was. Why hadn't we done anything to stop this regime.
World War II was quite the same. We tried everything we could to stay out of Europe's problems but our trade with them was pulling us in. We fought it and successfully avoided being drawn in the same way we had in World War I. Pearl Harbor was the final straw that rallied the support of most Americans in support of getting involved. Japan had done what Germany had done earlier and shoved America expecting a response. We entered the war and pushed back Germany through D-Day and Island hopped to pay revenge on Japan eventually ending the war with two Nuclear bombs. What if we had not done anything? If America had accepted that shove the world would look extremely different today. Russia would still have held its ground, but Germany wouldn't be fighting a two front war. Russia probably would have struck a deal to split up Europe for themselves with Japan. Europe would be ruled by four super powers; Russia, Germany, China, and Japan. Not to mention the existence of the Jews would practically be extinct. The Holocaust would have continued, Israel would have never been created, and the only Jewish population would be of the escaped Jews that came to America. The world may not even be recognizable.
The Cold War against Russia was one that shaped America the most. The division of Eastern and Western that represented the divide between our ideologies truly shaped the world as a whole. We held our ground in Western Germany and we vowed to contain Communism to the East. We fought with ideas, technology, and our ability to build up arms against the enemy. If we had chosen to return home and leave Europe in their own hands, Russia would without a doubt be consumed by communism and Russian influence. Our Western democratic views would be obsolete and our chances of getting a foothold economically and politically would be very slim. Had we not put up our fight, the advancements in satellite technology and weaponry would not be there. The cell phones, internet, and military technology may not have been created or discovered had we not explored them during the Cold War. It is entirely possible that our exploration to the moon would have been pushed back or might not have ever happened. Its also within a stretch to say Russia would have been the first to the moon and the first to create the internet and cell technology required to go to the moon. Our daily lives and the way we view the rest of the world would definitely not be the same.
Fairly recent history has shaped America drastically. The Korean War called our containment into question as communist North Korea decided to spread south. Troops of the North Koreans People's Army backed by our enemy the Soviet Union marched towards South Korea to reunite all Koreans. Fighting began at the 38th parallel and many casualties were inflicted on both sides. This was not just a war to protect the Democratic south, but to fight the spread of Communism. If America had let the North reclaim their once land, how would America look today? Obviously there would be no North and South Korea. This means that the influence of Democracy would be limited in the Pacific. Trade would be less and our relationship with Japan may not be so strong. The economy and protection we send to the Pacific also helps the surrounding countries as well as South Korea itself. Today, there would be no threats against the United States by Kim Jong Un. There would not be much tension between us and the continued cease fire at the 38th parallel would not exist. We would not have troops and as many diplomats in Korea and we possibly may be able to spread our resources elsewhere. There's really no way to know whether Communism would have stopped in Korea or whether our intervention stopped Communism in it's tracks. Most likely Communism would not have spread much beyond that. Paranoia and how anti-communism America was forced us to play our hand.
Currently today, the war is continuing in the Middle East. We are watching and trying to adjust to decisions and reactions. Leaders are collapsing under the Arab spring and the hostility is very high. Decisions are made daily that effect the lives of soldiers and civilians. Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu have been working together to protect the Jewish state and to also defend Democracy in a culture so against it. Terrorism is high and hatred for America seems to be as well. Israel and America are watching the Nuclear programs of Iran deciding whether they are bluffing or their intent to destroy Israel entirely off the map. Stress runs high in every decision and there are so many factors to think about. The chapter is still being written so we currently ask our selves without know the future, What if? If we chose this way or that way what can happen? Whats best for the future? When should we act? These questions are easy to answer after the fact, but in the heat of the moment when leaders are wild cards, mistakes are made. Foreign policy helps keep us going in the direction America needs to go. It takes some human emotion and factors out of the equation and this is why it is so important to develop and learn from every decision.