Crucible of Power: A History of American Foreign Relations from 1897

by Howard Jones

Crucible of Power is an updated, revised version of Howard Jones's classic text Quest for Security: A History of U.S. Foreign Relations from 1897. This book, available again for use in the classroom, presents a straightforward, balanced, and comprehensive history of American international relations and the major events in the nation's foreign affairs from 1897 to the present. Crucible of Power demonstrates the complexities involved in the decision-making process that led to the rise and decline of the United States (relative to the ascent of other nations) in world power status. The book focuses on the personalities, security interests, and expansionist tendencies behind the formation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and highlights the intimate relationship between foreign and domestic policy. The author also examines the historical antecedents of the nation's twentieth-century foreign policy. This volume relies on the natural chronology of historical events to organize and narrate the story as the nation's leaders saw it. Using this narrative approach, the tangled and often confusing nature of foreign affairs is uncovered without the illusion that in the past, American foreign relations took place in a well-ordered fashion. From this history, students will understand the plight of present-day policymakers who encounter an array of problems that are rarely susceptible to simple analysis and ready solution. A companion volume to this book, Crucible of Power: A History of American Foreign Relations to 1913 is also available. Crucible of Power is an indispensable core text for American diplomatic history courses and courses on twentieth-century American foreign policy.

Genres: History, American History

555 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2001

About the author

A specialist in the history of American foreign policy, Howard Jones was Distinguished University Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama.

Reviews

[Steven Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful History of U.S foreign relations.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book forever changed what I thought I knew about the history of US Foreign Policy. It was the beginning of learning the true history of US that is rarely taught outside of college. It made me angry to realize that what I had learned in High School was a very glossed over and romanticized American history. All the many arguments I have had with Foreigners on the topic and it turns out I was ill-informed and they were right.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

good stuff. extraordinarily thorough, but written clearly enough to make it enjoyable. It hits upon all the important events of the twentieth century.

[Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent resource! Using this as a reference for a university history essay on US foreign policy during the period of the late 19th Century through to 1914.