Presidential Policies

United States Presidents have used the power of their office to establish policies to achieve a goal for the nation. One of the first major national goals achieved was Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War, declaring all “slaves within any State, or designated part of a stare…then…in rebellion… shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free”. The proclamation conferred liberty …

…acquiring colonies. He wanted treaties that would facilitate the success of United States business. In diplomatic affairs, Roosevelt believed that it was important to “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick,” which implied that effective control could be exercised without the formality of colonial rule. The “Big Stick” often meant the threat of war, and while it was seldom used against powerful nations in Europe or Asia, Roosevelt’s administration did pressure Latin American countries.