George Washington's Farewell Speech

We learn that Washington’s Farewell Address, addressed the importance on isolation. In other words the importance on keeping the U.S. united and far from conflicts that did not concerned the U.S. Apparently, George Washington was fully aware of European history. He had seen how most of the wars in Europe and their colonies started out as a dispute between two powers, but they quickly dragged in their allies into the fight, who had nothing to do with how it started. This was called the Grand Game in European diplomacy, that sought to build interlocking alliances in such a way that would balance out the opposite powers, but often failed, resulting in large casualties and repeated wars. Washington did not want the United States to be dragged into someone else’s. But this is how the world runs, every nation play its own part of the game. And being Isolated it depends on the “pros and cons” that each war or each move will bring to each nation. …show more content…
The answer is, depending on the conflict and relation with other nations. It also depends upon resources from other countries. The Soviet Union and Cuba did not survive isolationist policies, the same happened with Spain under Franco, who eventually was related to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Historically, nearly all ancient civilizations, kingdoms and city-states engaged in foreign/international trade. In recent history, isolationist policies tended to be connected to nationalist movements, these policies do not last.

Before WWII, United States demonstrate its isolationist policy by avoiding alliances and other international relationships. One of the causes for that behavior was the U.S. intervention in WWI and the large number of American casualties during that war and the economy devastation.

With this reasoning it is understandable that in order to avoid casualties the U.S. chose to not get involved in foreign conflicts.