One of the main factor that drove US foreign policy between 1877 and 1973 was the United States’ desire to become a global power. Evidence of such yearning for power is seen throughout history. There were some great, but also not so great, measures taken by the U.S. between this time period to make the country a world leader.
On May 6, 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was signed by President Chester Arthur to forbid Chinese immigration and citizenship. The Chinese were not allowed to migrate to the United States for ten years.1 It was not until 1943, that the law was abolished by the Magnuson Act. China became a U.S. ally against Japan during World War II, and that was the only reason the law was repealed.2
The U.S. wanted to expand and gain …show more content…
In 1953, the popularly elected Iranian government of Mohammed Mosaddeq was thrown out by the CIA for demanding the Iranian people’s right to nationalizing their oil fields, and was instead replaced by Shah. A similar incident occurred in Guatemala. Arbenz Guzman, a Guatemalan man who started a regime to stop countries like the U.S. from feeding off his country’s huge plantations, was overthrown by Eisenhower and John Dulles in 1954. The CIA replaced Guzman with Colonel Castillo Armas. The coups that occurred in Iran and Guatemala were solid evidence of the powerful and corrupt US government in the …show more content…
Diem was assassinated. President Robert F. Kennedy knew all about the coup, but that was not apparent to the public until later. When Lyndon B. Johnson was reelected in 1964, he increased U.S. engagement in Vietnam. In that exact year, the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” was passed by the U.S. congress, which gave LBJ the power to select as many military force as he saw best fit. Many African Americans and college students wanted an end to the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King was outspoken against the war in Vietnam. MLK did not think it was wise to spend all that money and resources on wars when the U.S. could spend it on more meaningful matters, such as jobs and education for minorities.9 In 1968, MLK and Kennedy were assassinated. In that same year, the North Vietnamese organized the Tet Offensive, which were attacks on South Vietnam.10 As a result of the Tet Offensive, America began to slowly withdraw from the war. Both sides involved in the war ended up declaring victory, and Johnson looked bad for his wrong assessment. Johnson decided not to run for reelection, and the fate of the U.S. rested in the newly elected Richard Nixon who promised an end to the Vietnam war, but really had other motives in mind. The Vietnam war was actually going to end before he became president, but he slowed down the process.11 In 1972, robbers were caught trying to wiretap phones and steal
On May 6, 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was signed by President Chester Arthur to forbid Chinese immigration and citizenship. The Chinese were not allowed to migrate to the United States for ten years.1 It was not until 1943, that the law was abolished by the Magnuson Act. China became a U.S. ally against Japan during World War II, and that was the only reason the law was repealed.2
The U.S. wanted to expand and gain …show more content…
In 1953, the popularly elected Iranian government of Mohammed Mosaddeq was thrown out by the CIA for demanding the Iranian people’s right to nationalizing their oil fields, and was instead replaced by Shah. A similar incident occurred in Guatemala. Arbenz Guzman, a Guatemalan man who started a regime to stop countries like the U.S. from feeding off his country’s huge plantations, was overthrown by Eisenhower and John Dulles in 1954. The CIA replaced Guzman with Colonel Castillo Armas. The coups that occurred in Iran and Guatemala were solid evidence of the powerful and corrupt US government in the …show more content…
Diem was assassinated. President Robert F. Kennedy knew all about the coup, but that was not apparent to the public until later. When Lyndon B. Johnson was reelected in 1964, he increased U.S. engagement in Vietnam. In that exact year, the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” was passed by the U.S. congress, which gave LBJ the power to select as many military force as he saw best fit. Many African Americans and college students wanted an end to the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King was outspoken against the war in Vietnam. MLK did not think it was wise to spend all that money and resources on wars when the U.S. could spend it on more meaningful matters, such as jobs and education for minorities.9 In 1968, MLK and Kennedy were assassinated. In that same year, the North Vietnamese organized the Tet Offensive, which were attacks on South Vietnam.10 As a result of the Tet Offensive, America began to slowly withdraw from the war. Both sides involved in the war ended up declaring victory, and Johnson looked bad for his wrong assessment. Johnson decided not to run for reelection, and the fate of the U.S. rested in the newly elected Richard Nixon who promised an end to the Vietnam war, but really had other motives in mind. The Vietnam war was actually going to end before he became president, but he slowed down the process.11 In 1972, robbers were caught trying to wiretap phones and steal