“The recorded progresses of mankind, the send of the civilization we aspire to maintain, and the welfare of now living and hereafter to be born, all hold us to an interest in all the world... but we seek no part in directing the destinies of the Old World. We do not mean to be entangled... We can select our path and establish our own direction.”
— President Warren G. Harding, Inaugural Address, 1921
Which of the following best describes the foreign policy approach advocated by President Harding in this excerpt?
- AA commitment to collective security through active membership and leadership in the League of Nations
- BAn isolationist policy that completely terminated all trade and economic agreements with foreign powers
- A unilateral approach that maintained political independence while permitting international economic cooperationAnswer
- DA policy of direct military intervention and colonization in Latin America to enforce the Monroe Doctrine
Answer
A unilateral approach that maintained political independence while permitting international economic cooperation
The correct option is correct because the foreign policy of the 1920s, as expressed by Harding, is best characterized as unilateralism. The United States desired to maintain political independence and avoid binding treaties (such as the League of Nations Covenant) while continuing to engage in international trade, investment, and disarmament agreements.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Interwar foreign policy of unilateralism and independent internationalism