Foreign/Domestic Policy

Foreign/Domestic Policy

Introduction

"As the 1900's gave way to the new millennium, it became increasingly clear that a new era in American (and world) history had begun. The old era had been dominated by the Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. The new era was defined by the rise of a new global economy...the ways in which the world's peoples lived, worked, and governed themselves. Global communication, trade, and capital flow all grew rapidly..." (Griffith, Baker 531). The United States rose to being the most powerful military supremacy nation in the world due to Reagan and Bush's destruction of the Cold War, bridging the 80's into the new 90's.

Foreign/Domestic Policy

George Bush's CIA and ambassadorial experience provided Americas key to our foreign policy negotiations, aiding in our nations leadership over the world. This defeat and new era caused our domestic and social society within America into a state of confusion and caused Americans to question what role they would play in this new society. "Not only did the Cold War define America's stance in the world, dictating foreign policy choices from southeast Asia to Latin America; it defined the contours of domestic politics as well," (Chafe 549). How can we believe now after September 11, that we still or always have had leadership or supremacy in this world? How could the heart of our country be damaged so much affecting our nation as a whole? This recent tragedy damaged the core of our patriotism changing foreign and domestic policy after the 90's. During the 90's, a time of new cultural expression and power, the US was willing to use any economic, political, or military force necessary to uphold the new global system. After the Reagan legacy, President Bill Clinton created the "New Democrats," which, "sought to replace the party's older industrial and agricultural bases with a new, if unwieldy, coalition of women, minorities, social liberals, and technological progressives," (Griffith/Baker 533). In looking at Chapter 14 in Griffith/Bakers Major Problems in American History Since 1945 and Chapter 16 and the Epilogue in Chafe's The Unfinished Journey, we will consider the new goals and values of both the US's domestic and foreign policies, and find that although positive changes have taken place since 1945, the US still is yet to live in a society free of homelessness, poverty, and crime reflected by the tenacious power of race, class, and gender blocking the path toward independent freedom.

Throughout American history, the issue of freedom has always prevailed and equality of everyone wasn't brought up until the early to mid 1900's. The peoples dependence and underlying trust within the government to withhold and protect has put our society on a roller coaster of trust, distrust, and betrayal.

"...the Nixon presidency and his foreign policy breakthroughs with China and Russia had barely taken hold before the devastating constitutional crisis of Watergate occurred, threatening to undermine the very structure of the American political system and people's confidence in it. Followed quickly by the nations first ...