Throughout most of American history, the United States embraced a isolationist agenda, preferring to let other nations control their own spheres of influence, while the U.S. would dominate the western hemisphere through the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was less of a formal policy embraced by the United States, and more of a mindset that the leaders of the United States would simply follow, a unwritten code as it were.

This isolationist mentality would enable the United States to focus on building it’s power, it economy, and focusing on how to build its nation to power. America was able to consolidate power in its hemisphere, and would go on to become the modern world’s first hegemon. A hegemon is a state that has reached a level of power so far above the other states within it’s sphere of influence that they cannot compete and pose no threat.

Currently the United States of America is comprised of 50 states, as well as sixteen territories. The United States has held a large number of territories, more than just the current sixteen, but for one reason or another these are no longer protectorate’s of the US.

The past several years has seen a sharp decline in the United States influence around the globe, whether it be in the form of lost territories, or in 2013 when then Secretary of State declared the era of the Monroe doctrine over, a doctrine that allowed America to control it’s sphere of influence without concern of foreign interference, and so become a powerful actor on the world stage.

Further evidence of the decrease of America’s global influence, aside from the amount of terrorist attacks carried out abroad, as well as within the American heartland, in October of this year, Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte declared his “separation” from the United States, and moves to align himself with China. The Philippines are a chain of islands, and former US territory, now moving to align with one of the US’ few competitors for power.