Was Harry Truman an isolationist

Answer 1

Yes, John Adams in Fact was an Isolationist. He was the 2nd President of the United States and vowed to continue the peace in which George Washington had worked hard. After leaving office, John Adams stated one of his greatest achievements as President, was keeping peace with the United States. Even after France pressuring him to enter a "pirate war" with the English. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

　

　

　

　

Lafayette Square is directly across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, and contains four statues honoring foreigners who had key roles in the American Revolution.

Many isolationists use quotes from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to claim they represent the Founders' viewpoint. This was also the tactic of the America First organization in its campaign to keep the nation neutral in World War II. At every large rally they displayed Washington's portrait, and even though the Nazi's controlled all of Europe, they claimed America would never be attacked by the "Axis of Steel." They went out of business the day after Pearl Harbor.

Today the isolationists are against all foreign alliances, want to disband NATO, the American system of collective security, as well as breaking many treaties. They hold this view even though isolationism resulted in World War II. It was a conflict which could have been easily avoided if Britain, France, America and other powers had reacted during the nightmare years of the 1930s.

The quotes the isolationists use are from Washington's 1796 Farewell Address and Thomas Jefferson's 1801 first inaugural which advocated "entangling alliances with none." The advice was excellent for their time, but not for all time, and the Founders fully understood the importance of foreign alliances. With substantial foreign assistance, the Founders were able to take a disorderly, outnumbered and ill-equipped army, and to defeat the greatest empire on Earth at the time.

More than anyone, they knew that without foreign alliances, America would have remained a British colony. The Continental Army initially had only 3% of the country's support, was completely under-funded by its own people, but not by France and other allies.

Numerous foreigners embarked for America as soon as the Declaration of Independence was published. Pierre L'Enfant (who designed Washington, D.C.) and the Marquis de Lafayette both enlisted in 1776.

The war cost France one billion livre tournois, and the first American Congress listed a $13 million war debt to France. This is equivalent to $164 billion today, and the war debt greatly contributed to the French financial crisis. It was a major factor in the French Revolution which overthrew the monarchy in the same year Washington was inaugurated. Ironically, Britain, not France, became America's major trading partner after the war.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

A Foreign Alliance Won The War

The American Revolution was won at Yorktown but there were more French soldiers than American. There were 29 French warships in the Chesapeake Bay, but no American vessels (we only had two). George Washington's Chief of Staff was Major General Baron von Steuben of Prussia. He was also the Inspector General of the Continental Army.

When Washington arrived at Yorktown, the Marquis de Lafayette was already there. He was by this time a Major General in the Continental Army. It was Lafayette's strategy that won the war. General Washington had been trained by the British to fight in straight lines, but that tactic proved to be disastrous and there were numerous early losses including the city of Philadelphia. Lafayette convinced Washington to change to guerrilla hit and run tactics. His strategy was to scout, raid and evade, and thus to avoid defeat.

Statues of Lafayette and Von Steuben are now in Lafayette Square across from the White House. Also there is Lt. General Rochambeau, the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force. He was later Marshall of France.

Good Advice Then, But Not Now

The George Washington and Thomas Jefferson quotes are well known, but the Founders were not isolationists. Washington's advice was wise for the years after the French Revolution and before the War of 1812. This was a time when France and Britain were finishing a century of conflict.

Washington was correct in urging his countrymen not to choose sides between France and Britain, which was the focal point of the campaign when the first president left office. Jefferson was sympathetic to France, while John Adams was favorable to Britain.

Today America is the world's only military superpower, but in 1796 we were one of the weakest nations.

The Founders Confronted Terrorists

The Founders did not have to deal with al-Qaeda members flying airliners into skyscrapers, but terrorism was been a problem since the beginning of the republic. Thomas Jefferson had to battle the Barbary Pirates in what is today Libya. The U.S. Congress never formally declared war on the pirates, although some , claim that the founders would have insisted on a declaration is wrong. Jefferson's most prominent opponent, former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton said a formal declaration was not required, and the Congress agreed with him. The Congress did pass a joint resolution similar to the authorization of force George W. Bush received in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jefferson did make a mistake when he initially acted and dismantled the U.S. Navy against the advice of John Adams. It was an error he later corrected.

　

　

George Washington

In his Farewell Address, Washington also advised against the creation of political parties, which he called factions. All of the Founders thought campaigning was wrong. The 6th president, John Quincy Adams, said a gentleman would not seek the office.

The Constitution allowed slavery until 1866 and poll taxes and other forms of voting discrimination were not abolished until 1965. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920. The American population of Washington's time was 20 percent slave, 50 percent (women) had no say in government, and many white males were disenfranchised by property requirements until 1850s. We have a different outlook from the time when Washington spoke in 1796. The geopolitical considerations of two centuries ago are not relevant to the problems we face today.

Washington would never have agreed with the advocates of a $1 trillion reduction in the Pentagon budget which would be devastating. In his 1793 fifth State of the Union Address, Washington outlined a two-part formula for peace through strength. He said first be ready for war and second let it be known that we are ready. Isolationists always want America to ignore evil and have no sense of morality. General Washington did not agree and said "Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."

Are The Iraq and Afghan Wars Justified?

Some may also believe the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are not justified. Washington again would not have agreed with them, and would have urged our citizens to support the American military. Washington said: "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

Is It Contained in the Constitution?

Some may also falsely claim they represent the united views of the Founders. Many say "With regard to foreign policy, we must follow the Founders and the Constitution and mind our own business." The 1776 generation rarely agreed on anything. They were divided into two distinct camps from the beginning.

Some may also have a response to many government initiatives as "Show me where it is in the Constitution." The Constitution does not mention many things.

It is only four pages and does not include words such as an Air Force, Border Patrol, Immigration, Political parties, the Electoral College, Executive orders, etc. Unlike today's Isolationists, the strict constructionists of the founding generation were flexible. Thomas Jefferson was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase, but the Constitution has no express grant of power to the Federal Government to purchase new territory.

　

　

　

　

　

　

A Claim That No One Will Attack America

The acknowledgement of Afghanistan's responsibility for 9/11 and the admitted Saddam Hussein invasion of Kuwait happened , but in both instances Isolationists wanted to do nothing in response. They ignore all the state sponsors of terror.

Isolationists would repeat insistence that "There is no risk of somebody attacking us" is just what the isolationists of the 1930s believed, right up until Pearl Harbor. They did attack us: 1993 (World Trade Center I), 1996 (Khobar Towers), 1998 (African Embassies), 2000 (USS Cole), and 2001 (WTC/Pentagon).

Their Isolationists logic was to keep America neutral in World War II and their policy remains "non-intervention." The isolationists also did not want America to help West Berlin (1948), South Korea (1950), Grenada (1984) or Kuwait (1990).

The Founders Acted For All Nations

The United States had the first democratic revolution, and many of the founding fathers acknowledged they were acting for all nations. Thomas Paine said: "We have it in our power to begin the world over again." America inspired the French Revolution of 1789 which began at the Bastille. The key to this prison was presented to the greatest revolutionary of that era, General George Washington.

If George Washington were alive today, he would be attacked for being an isolationist.

Yet the foreign and economic policies which he and his colleagues supported were matters of common sense. Defend America if it is attacked, but do not join other nations' wars. Encourage private commerce with all peoples. Establish friendly political relations with countries, whether they be constitutional monarchies, autocratic empires, or revolutionary republics. Allow American citizens to travel and trade freely.

This was not isolationism, but the best sort of internationalism. Peace and prosperity were America's international guideposts. The preservation of America's constitutional system of ordered liberty was the government's most important duty. Americans circled the globe, but to explore and trade, not to meddle and invade.

The battle today is not between internationalists and isolationists. Today's self-identified internationalists are not internationalists at all, but believe in imposing Washington's agenda on the rest of the world. They believe internationalism means intervention and war, political meddling, government bribes in the name of aid, and state capitalism and mercantilism. In contrast, those *commonly* accused of being isolationists are the true internationalists. They believe in respecting the interests of others around the world. They do not believe that initiating death and destruction is the best way to help other nations or peoples. For these supposed "isolationists," internationalism represents peaceful cooperation, free trade, cultural exchange, travel and tourism, private investment, and charitable assistance. In fact, the highest form of internationalism is private action -- voluntary cooperation and exchange -- rather than government intervention.

Americans should be involved in the world. But they should reclaim America's tradition of nonintervention. Peace and prosperity should be Washington's goal. Promoting them represents genuine internationalism.

　

　

　

　

Answer 3

No Truman was not isolationist, it was during his presidency where you see America emerging as a world police. Truman was at the forefront when dealing with Japan, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson was an isolationist. He did not want to enter into agreements with other countries, but felt the US was best served by keeping its distance.

Answer 5

He believed in it because he didn't want his country to fall apart from it.