Peace Movements
The rise to power of United States in the international scene
barely began in 1823 with Monroe Doctrine as a national policy which states
that further attempts to colonize US territory and obstruct domestic affairs
would be viewed by the federal government as an act of aggression, hence, would
be acted upon by the US government. However, it was in the 1890s that United
States began its improvements on military which then only amounted to 28,000
soldiers.
The United States has also been involved in the liberation of
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine Islands from the Spaniards. They
have fought for its main reason, freedom for all. Nevertheless, issues on US
imperialism took charge of the scene, and it is only after the Teller Amendment
which recognized Cuban independence, thus, leaving Cuban people to govern its
own nation. A different scenario erupted in the Philippines after its
liberation from the Spaniards. The United States viewed military occupancy in
the Philippines would be a great opportunity to create a stable American
presence in the Far East. This move of the United States created a long two
years of war against the Filipino insurgents. Furthermore, radical movements
which include the Anti-Imperialist League were established in 1898. The
movement believed that any form of imperialism was in great contrary with the
founding ideals of the US nation.
During the outbreak of World War I, United States place itself in
its neutral grounds with the belief that there is no enough reason to enter the
country into the war. In regards to this, the United States was able to
intensify its economic development through providing the combatants the
military supplies and war materials. However, despite the formation of various
anti-war movements, the United States still engaged on World War I. Moreover,
the Espionage Act of 1918 was passed which prohibits its citizens to speak out
or act against the governments war policy.
At the start of World War II between England and France as allies
and Germany as their nemesis, United States was able to pass the Neutrality Act
of 1939 which allowed the sale of armaments and war materials to other nations
on a pay-first basis. However, the continuance of the Act did not cover the
involvement of the United States to the war. The America First Committee
together with the Keep America out of War Committee was the one asking for the
non-involvement of the United States to the war. Nonetheless, the attack of the
Japanese army on December 7, 1941 to Pearl Harbor led the United States in
World War II. The United States, together with its allies found themselves on
adverse war against the Axis (Germany, Japan and Italy).
After World War II, United States found a new nemesis, the Soviet
Union, which countered all the ideals and principles they have been supported.
The conflict between these two superpowers was regarded as the Cold War.
Avoiding military confrontation, both nations found themselves supporting small
nations and both have created nuclear arsenals. Moreover, new peace movement
was formed. Founded in 1948 as an anti-war party, the Progressive Party was the
known peace movement during the time. The party was then labeled as communist
sympathizers. The party, in reality, had communist sympathizers elements but they
have contained more pacifist and anti-war activist.
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