The Pilgrims and the Puritans - "Leave us Alone"
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established was in 1628 for those who wanted to purify the Church of England (Puritans). Jon Winthrop in his sermon, "A Model of Christian Charity" saw Massachusetts Bay as becoming,
" a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. Soe that if we shall deal
falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw
his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the
world."
However, the Puritans themselves were intolerant to the point of intensifying their isolationism and shunning Anglicans, Quakers, Baptists ...
Additionally,the Puritans fought viciously in the Pequot War (1636-1638) and King Phillip's War (1675-1678).
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George Washington The United States' Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 was a reaction to a continental war breaking out in Europe. President Washington issued the following, "Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands of the one part and France on the other, and the duty and interest of the United States require that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers..." (Wikipedia) In his farewell address (1796), Washington again struck an Isolationist tone calling for our young nation to avoid entangling European alliances that might lead us toward a future war. | Monroe Doctrine (1823) Although it can be primarily seen as an American foray into international politics the Monroe Doctrine (1823) can also been seen as an attempt to isolate the world into hemispheres, each hemisphere closed and protected from intrusions of inhabitants from the other hemisphere. “The American continents … are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.” (Office of the Historian - US Dept. of State) | Special and Very Different Cases of Isolation There are today (2015) nearly 250,000 Amish living in the United States who isolate themselves from mainstream America in life often marked by simple living, plain dress, and a lack of modern conveniences such as automobiles or electricity. In 1918 the United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, that ended World War I, because of a part that required the United States to join the League of Nations. Opposition to joining the League of Nations centered on a requirement that all League members would be required to aid any member that was attacked. |
George Washington
President Washington issued the following,
"Whereas it appears that a state of war exists
between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and
the United Netherlands of the one part and France on
the other, and the duty and interest of the United States
require that they should with sincerity and good faith
adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial
toward the belligerent powers..." (Wikipedia)
In his farewell address (1796), Washington again struck an Isolationist tone calling for our young nation to avoid entangling European alliances that might lead us toward a future war.
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
“The American continents … are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects for future colonization by any
European powers.” (Office of the Historian - US Dept. of
State)
Special and Very Different Cases of Isolation
In 1918 the United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, that ended World War I, because of a part that required the United States to join the League of Nations. Opposition to joining the League of Nations centered on a requirement that all League members would be required to aid any member that was attacked.
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Neutrality Laws The major components of these laws were 1. No travel on the ships of belligerents (a country at war). 2. No loans to belligerents. 3. No arms sales to belligerents. The impact of these laws was lessened as we approached war with revisions popularly known as "Cash and Carry" and "Lend-Lease". | America First Committee The America First Committee was founded in 1940 and peaked at over 400,000 members. American hero Charles Lindbergh was a spokesperson for the America First Committee. The America First Committee believed, "The United States must build an impregnable defense for America.
| Nye Committee The Nye Committee blamed United States' entry into World War I on international banking interests based in the United States and munitions makers ("merchants of death"). The Nye Committee reports aided in fostering isolationism in the United States and in the passage of some of the Neutrality Laws. |
Neutrality Laws
1. No travel on the ships of belligerents (a country at war).
2. No loans to belligerents.
3. No arms sales to belligerents.
The impact of these laws was lessened as we approached war with revisions popularly known as "Cash and Carry" and "Lend-Lease".
America First Committee
"The United States must build an impregnable defense for America.
- No foreign power, nor group of powers, can successfully attack a prepared America.
- American democracy can be preserved only by keeping out of the European war.
- "Aid short of war" weakens national defense at home and threatens to involve America in war abroad."
Nye Committee
The Nye Committee reports aided in fostering isolationism in the United States and in the passage of some of the Neutrality Laws.
