A “Savior of Isolation”: The Interrelationship between American Isolationism and the Idea of “Manifest Destiny” and Its Embodiment in Pre-World War I Diplomacy

Abstract

Isolationist ideology made the United States at the beginning of its development more of an island encircled by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans than a New World. However, after the formation of the American nation, “Manifest Destiny” became deeply embedded in the national beliefs based on Protestant culture over time. The former laid the foundation for the American position on internal and external affairs, while the latter determined the way Americans interacted with the outside world. At least until they took center stage on the world stage after World War I, isolation seemed to be the golden rule for Americans. Did “manifest destiny” put an end to isolationism, or did isolationism give rise to “divine destiny”? Or did the two complement each other and finally play a role in specific foreign policy decisions? These are the questions that accompany the history of the establishment and development of the United States and are worth exploring.