A new American narrative

The Founding Fathers gave birth to an American narrative in domestic and foreign affairs. It was marked by hope and optimism, economic expansion through foreign trade and a foreign policy marked by a desire to avoid entangling alliances. Over time this narrative has shifted, especially regarding the purpose of American foreign policy and the criteria for intervening in the politics of other nations. This paper explores the two narratives and draws comparison between them. Finally the authors determine if and how the new meta-narrative recasts US foreign policy in a way more amenable to the desires of the American public.