| Early U.S. Foreign Policy Essay Questions |
|---|
| www.studenthandouts.com ↣ U.S. History ↣ Westward Expansion ↣ Worksheets |
 |
    |
|
Click here to print this sheet of essay questions on early U.S. foreign policy. Answers will vary. Questions: 1. Describe the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was the 1803 acquisition by the United States from France of approximately 828,000 square miles of territory west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. This landmark deal, negotiated by President Thomas Jefferson, nearly doubled the size of the nation, secured vital shipping routes, and opened the vast continent to westward expansion, profoundly shaping America's geographic and political future. 2. What was the Monroe Doctrine? The Monroe Doctrine was a cornerstone U.S. foreign policy declared by President James Monroe in 1823. It stated that the Western Hemisphere was closed to future European colonization and that any interference in the affairs of independent nations in the Americas would be viewed as a hostile act. In return, the U.S. pledged not to interfere in existing European colonies or in the internal affairs of European powers. 3. Explain the concept of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined by God and history to expand its dominion across the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This ideology justified territorial acquisition, such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War, promoting the spread of American democracy and civilization while often disregarding the rights of Native inhabitants and other nations. |
| www.studenthandouts.com ↣ U.S. History ↣ Westward Expansion ↣ Worksheets |
