The Evolution Of American Principle Of Maritime Navigation And Its Influence On The Development Of US Navy (US Founding - The End Of World War

The pursuit of freedom of navigation at sea is a significant part of U.S. foreignpolicy. While this pursuit is embarked on from the founding of the States, the contentand position of America’s freedom of navigation are changing with the developmentof the nation. The content change is always in accordance with U.S. national interest,while the changing attitude reflects the pragmatic character of American foreignpolicy. The pursuit of freedom of navigation also exerts multiple impacts on U.S.naval power, providing not only economic foundation but also driving force,developing opportunity and theoretical direction.From the founding of the States to the end of War of1812, neutral trading rightshad been America’s main pursuance when promoting freedom of navigation. In thisperiod of time, America sometimes fought for the freedom of navigation, sometimesmade compromises and concessions. After signing Jay’s Treaty, America had totemporarily give up the principle of free ships making free goods. Sea trade, based onfreedom of navigation at sea, not only provided the economic infrastructure of U.S.naval force, but also became the internal impetus of naval development.From the War of1812to the pre-WWI period, the content of America’s freedomof navigation was enriched and American position on it was hardened. The U.S. putforward the idea of immunity of private property at sea and then assimilated the SeaPower Theory of expansionism to inject military substance into the principle offreedom of navigation. As for its position on the freedom of navigation, the U.S.resorted to the principle of free ships making free goods again and devoted greatereffort to promote the freedom of navigation in international society. In order to protectfreedom of navigation, the U.S improved the quality and quantity of its fleets, built upseveral overseas squadrons and took up multiple strategically vital lines ofcommunications. Thus, freedom of navigation principle provided driving force andtheoretical direction to the development of the U.S. naval force.During the period of WWI to the end of WWII, the League of Nations was giventhe power to determine the freedom of navigation by President Wilson’s Fourteen Points. Nazi’s challenge to the freedom of navigation was regarded as a threat toglobal security by the government of Roosevelt. Enriched with political and securityimplications at that time, the freedom of navigation principle was linked to America’spolitical ideal and its need for global security. But in practice, the U.S. had to makecompromises with its usual position on freedom of navigation, sometimes evendeviate from it. After joining the WWII, the U.S. thoroughly turned from the ideal ofabsolute freedom of navigation to a more realistic one. To protect freedom ofnavigation, the U.S. got involved in the two World Wars, which became anopportunity to develop its own naval force. During the period of two World Wars, theU.S. navy strengthened its control on maritime lines of communications and navalbases in order to protect and restore the freedom of navigation. After two World Wars,the battle-tested U.S. Navy has become strong enough to dominate the world.