"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" were the "unalienable Rights" centered when the founders of the United States declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.
In the 250 years since, US governments have claimed that preserving the ideals of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms are the main motivators of the country's foreign policy. The Charters of Freedom, or three foundational documents of the United States, are the US Constitution (top, written in 1787), the Declaration of Independence (center, 1776) and the Bill of Rights (bottom, 1789)Image: Valentyn Semenov/Shotshop/picture alliance
Americans, however, have growing doubts about whether the United States has lived up to its founding values. In 2024, 72% of Americans surveyed agreed with the statement that democracy in the United States "used to be a good example, but has not been in recent years."
DW examined how the country's foreign policy objectives and tactics have changed over 250 years — showing how US governments have increasingly pursued goals through military force rather than diplomacy.
US prioritizes military power over diplomacy
