Bear with me here (Lincoln)

ucanefan

Joined Apr 2012

746 Posts | 0+

Asheville/Charlotte NC

Discussion Starter
• Oct 13, 2012

• #1

So I'm wondering how older presidents that couldnt/didnt travel to other countries viewed them. More specifically Abe Lincoln. What was his foreign policy like? Italy wasn't the same as it is today correct? And then how would Abe act today with our foreign policy? Thanks

 

tjadams

Joined Mar 2009

25,361 Posts | 13+

Texas

• Oct 13, 2012

• #2

One would have to frame their answers with saying Lincoln had
absolutely no previous experience with foreign affairs, he let
Secretary of State William H. Seward take those tough reigns
with Europe or even Mexico.
Lincoln's entire term as president was consumed with the Civil War.
Most president's have to deal with domestic issues more so than
international ones and we'd never know how Lincoln would have
been in a peaceful nation. Would he even have had a second term?

 

Rongo

Joined Dec 2011

5,683 Posts | 5+

Ohio

• Oct 13, 2012

• #3

In the old days, America was isolationist. For the most part Presidents, and the American people, wanted as little to do with foreign countries as possible. Lincoln in particular was focused on preserving the Union. His foreign policy decisions were all centered around that.

The only President of that era that I can think of that had an interest in foreign policy (other than trying to shut it out) was Jefferson.

 

ucanefan

Joined Apr 2012

746 Posts | 0+

Asheville/Charlotte NC

Discussion Starter
• Oct 13, 2012

• #4

Good point. Can anyone think of others?

 

tjadams

Joined Mar 2009

25,361 Posts | 13+

Texas

• Oct 13, 2012

• #5

Rongo said:

.The only President of that era that I can think of that had an interest in foreign policy (other than trying to shut it out) was Jefferson.

Click to expand...

From Jefferson to Lincoln, that's a pretty wide era!
Would Madison, Jackson and Polk not count in having issues
with foreign powers?

 

ucanefan

Joined Apr 2012

746 Posts | 0+

Asheville/Charlotte NC

Discussion Starter
• Oct 13, 2012

• #6

I guess you can say that about everyone up to jackson

 

Rongo

Joined Dec 2011

5,683 Posts | 5+

Ohio

• Oct 13, 2012

• #7

tjadams said:

From Jefferson to Lincoln, that's a pretty wide era!
Would Madison, Jackson and Polk not count in having issues
with foreign powers?

Click to expand...

My impression of Madison's foreign policy is mostly that it was forced upon him, rather than him actively pursuing it, but I could be wrong there. No doubt Polk had foreign policy issues, but it seems to me that was all centered around grabbing more land for the U.S. Land issues aside, it doesn't seem to me he had any interest in foreign policy. And I'm drawing a blank on Jackson's foreign policy?

 

Jax Historian

Joined Jul 2012

5,182 Posts | 494+

Right Here

• Oct 13, 2012

• #8

There was that little matter of annexing a foreign territory called Florida. That would be Monroe (c. 1819-1821) although interest in it went back to at least Jefferson.

 

tjadams

Joined Mar 2009

25,361 Posts | 13+

Texas

• Oct 13, 2012

• #9

Guess I erred with Jackson, I meant more when he was a soldier than president.
My bad.