In the Service of Liberty: Understanding American Military Actions Abroad (1783-1860)
Marion Smith /
There is quite a lot of debate over America’s proper role in the world at the moment.
Some believe that America should return to an earlier, simpler, and more isolationist foreign policy. Perhaps this frame of mind makes it easier to advocate for significant cuts to military spending. To advance this position, some national figures claim that the Founding Fathers embraced an isolationist, or non-interventionist, foreign policy approach. But as is often the case, things aren’t quite so simple.