United States Foreign Relations 1900-Present - Essay Example

United s Foreign Relations 1900-Present Both Wallace and Luce were in very different careers whereby theformer was the US’ Vice president and the latter an editor. Though representing diverse fields, they had one thing in common, which was being liberals who strongly deemed 20Th period belonged to US in terms. This is evident in Luce’s article “The American Century” published on February 1941. Its core objective encompassed elaborating how US dominates the 20th period. According to Luce, the both 18Th and 19Th periods were marred with lots of warfare as well as bloodshed; hence yielding to massive loss of lives (Luce, 1941). However, the American Century was to be unique, instead of war the Americans were to traverse all corners of earth assisting other nations get back to their feet after decades of conflicts and war. In 1942, Wallace while the 33rd US’ VP, he echoed Luce’s article content. In his speech, Wallace stated that 21st period there would be war. However, unlike other centuries, this war will not have casualties, instead many people will benefit because America will unite with them in the war against slavery (Wallace, 1942). The main objective of the 20Th period encompassed ensuring that all states were free and able to govern themselves. This study will not only shed more light on Wallace and Luce’s speeches but also discuss how they aided in changing the history of America and the world. In May 1942, while in New York, Wallace made a speech that totally changed the way people perceived of US. The inception of his speech stated that the 21St period was to be different. This is because the period would be between war and freedom thus liberation from slavery (Wallace, 1942). He continued by saying that the Americans obtained their freedom in 1982, therefore, they were determined to fight so that all states attain their freedom. This is the fight between slavery and a free world. According to Wallace, earth ought to move from being half-free and half slave, instead change into free world. This is not achievable if people sit down and do nothing about it. In order to get out of the slavery cocoon, the world ought to rise up in unison and work together. One main thing that nations should do to overcome slavery is to embrace education (Wallace, 1942). According to Wallace, education comprised the key to all openings of success. He gave an example of Russia and China whereby these two states. These states rose from nothing to super powers the moment they embraced education and realized that through education, they too can move machines just like other nations such as US. Wallace also stated unlike the biblical days where no schools were present and people learned from one another, the 20th period would be different because there were institutions and professional tutors, hence much greater opportunity of acquiring knowledge. He said that through education, Americans can not only read and write but this has also given them freedom to make their own decisions and opinions. In addition, he contended that generation in the past among some states like Russia only one out of ten people was literate. However, within one generation, the country was completely transformed from an illiterate to literate state. This made them realize that through education comes industrial progress accompanied by massive labor movement. The war of overcoming slavery requires working in unison and this is what many states worldwide are doing. Apart from teaching each other to read and write, these people are also learning to work together, for example, involving in activities such as farming, forming unions and selling their products through these unions as well as the money made is used to educate their children (Wallace 1942). This will gradually result to states moving forward in unison hence achievement of the free world. Unfortunately, while states are making numerous efforts to move forward, some demagogues come along and attempt to disrupt the program (Wallace 1942). These people normally target states that have recently discovered themselves and have little experience in self-governance. According to Wallace, such people ought to be identified much earlier because they are individuals who are egocentric and this normally results to more harm than good for the country. He also argued these demagogues never work alone. According to him, other people who are wealthier and normally use their wealth to their benefit normally influence them. Wallace gives an example of German during the reign of Hitler. According him, Hitler was influenced by Herr Thyssen, one of the wealthiest Germans in those days. Through Hitler, Thyssen managed to disrupt the Germans by using the Nazi revolution that resulted to bloodshed (Wallace, 1942).Apart from the German revolution Wallace talked of the American Revolution in the year 1975 and other evolutions such as the French, Russia and Latin America. Apart from learning to build their own industries, people should also learn how to be productive. States should also learn to respect each other. Instead of exploiting, older states should make effort of assisting the newer nations and lead them towards the right path without imperialism. According to Wallace, the 20th century was to be the peoples century. This is because unlike the 19th century, people will embrace learning to the maximum. This will give them the ability to identify themselves and reduce level of being influenced by other people who do not have interest of the nation at heart. It is this century that the Germans ought to be freed from the hands of slavery and all those demagogues like Hitler be shown door(Wallace 1942).With educated citizens, it will be impossible for states such as Germany to develop war machines behind people’s backs. Due to education, such inventions will be made to serve all people instead of serving specific people or nations. Therefore, each and everyone has a role to play in order to achieve the new world order. Americans must be prepared to stifle anybody who will attempt to disrupt the Americas vision and mission (Wallace 1942). Just like Wallace, Mr. Henry Luce is also talks about war. He stated that the 20th century was the American Century. This is because United States will take control and guide the world towards the right direction. According to Luce,United States was capable of the leadership task, this is because they had all the requirement and knowledge needed to guide the world away from slavery which had embraced it for decades(Luce 1941). Luce saw four ways in which the United States will bring modernization to the world. His first vision was improving the economy. According to Luce, the world will receive economic boost. The fact that America is the leader of world trade is enough proof that this state has the ability to improve the economy of other states. Luces second vision was that the United States would send its citizens to various states globally to aid in developments and offering their skills in several fields such as engineering, medicine, road builders and teachers (Lace 1941). Foreign aid was the third vision; this was achievable by America taking responsibility of feeding the world especially those who are not only destitute but also hungry after the collapse of civilization. Finally, Luces fourth vision was on assisting nations achieve their freedom hence be able to depend and govern themselves (Lace 1941). These developments will not only result to gradual economic growth but will also result to full independence of states whereby citizens will be in a position to fend for themselves and their families because there will be various job opportunities for them. Through this move, millions of people will benefit from the US donations, capital and currencies. According to lace, America will reach all corners of the world in a attempt to improve lives of people who were affected during the world war which was dominated by the European continent. Luce also said that unlike the 19th century that was dominated by the British, the twentieth century would be the American century, but their objective different from the British. This is because the Americans will not be after imperialism but their main goal will be to reach as many people as possible in a move to heal the wounds inflicted to many people by the British, a move Luce termed as Americanization (Lace 1941). Luce gives an example of China and how the US helped it achieve its glory. The US started by establishing colleges and universities. This made the Chinese become literate and as a result, more colleges and universities were constructed due to the huge number of student admissions. To date most of these universities are managed by the Chinese .Apart from education, the Americans also helped in uplifting civilization in the republic of china. This because of the large number of American missionaries, diplomats, educators, soldiers and businesspersons who visited China with an objective that china will grow to be an independent self-governing state. According to Luce, in order to achieve that free world vision, the Americans together with the British should settle the old scores and come together in unison to help the rest of the world back to its feet by acting as good Samaritans (Luce 1941). Luce says that if everybody spares a dim whenever he is purchasing ornaments, those dimes when put together can go a long way in helping other nations buy food for their citizens. Farmers should also be encouraged to grow many crops and those that remain be exported to other states that are in dire need of food. According to United States, it is more blessing to give than to receive and this is the reason why America is recognized as the world’s super power. This is because the state has a norm of giving and helping in various ways. For example, the US usually sends funds and donations such as food and shelter to states that have been affected with catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods. According to Henry Wallace, the main cause of instability in the both in the US and the world at large is that many people take advantage of the less fortunate. This is seen when Wallace states that some wealthy people usually use their wealth to influence other people by playing games with their minds (Wallace 942). While Wallace gave an example of Adolf Hitler of Germany, Luce talked of Winston Churchill of England as some of the people who were influenced into declaring revolutions against their own people. Due to wrong decisions made by such individuals, the world remained stagnant for more than two decades whereby states turned against each other. It is because of these wrong decisions that United States stepped in and declared the 20th century for the America’s. Since this declaration, the world saw massive improvements such as food and fund donations to needy states. The Americans have also been deployed worldwide to assist in the reconstruction of nations that stayed dormant for decades. Through the American aid, literacy was spread into the world. Some of the earliest beneficiaries of education were states such as Russia, India and China. As a result, these states fully embraced education and gradually the fruits of education began to emerge. For example, according to Luce, the Chinese constructed more schools and roads. In one generation, Russia was transformed from an illiterate state to literate (Luce 1941). Since the 20th century, many states attained their independence, and USA was always there to help these new states govern themselves. When the United States announced to its people that they ought to help other nations by donating anything they have, this led to creation of enormous international relations with many states around the world. The United States also went ahead and asked the British to join them in the race to see a free world, a move which Britain gladly accepted (Luce 1941). In conclusion, the 20th century, all the four visions as stated by Henry Luce were achieved. There was gradual rapid growth of the economy worldwide; nations received skills such as engineering, medicine, education and arts from the Americans who were sent to out to improve the lives of other states in need of assistance. Global foreign aid was also achieved because the United States frequently supplies food and other donations to millions of people worldwide especially during catastrophes such as famine, earthquakes and floods. Finally, the fourth vision of ensuring that all states obtain freedom was also achieved. References Luce, H. (1941). The American Century. Retrieved on 2nd march 2014 from Wallace ,H. (1942). The Price of Free World Victory. Retrieved on 2nd March 2014 from Read More