A Short History of the Department of State
NOTE TO READERS
This publication, “A Short History of the Department of State,” has been retired. The text remains online for reference purposes, but it is no longer being maintained or expanded.
Why retire “A Short History”? In mid-2016 the Office of the Historian completed a review of its online offerings and concluded that extensive resources would be needed to revise and expand this publication to meet the Office’s standards for accuracy and comprehensiveness. At the same time, the events described in the “A Short History” essays are amply covered by numerous respected secondary sources. Rather than duplicate these efforts, the Office of the Historian has decided to focus its resources on areas where it is uniquely suited to make a contribution, such as coverage of the Department of State’s institutional history. In keeping with the publication’s new status, it can now be found under “More Resources” in the site-wide menu.
Notice posted on April 8, 2018.
- Foundations of Foreign Affairs, 1775-1823
- Origins of a Diplomatic Tradition
- Diplomacy: A Key Component of the Revolution
- Diplomacy under the Articles of Confederation
- A New Framework for Foreign Affairs
- A Diplomatic Tradition
- American Diplomatic Style
- Staffing and Administration
- The Development of Foreign Policy
- Diplomatic Gains in the Early 19th Century
- Conclusion
- The Expansionist Years, 1823-1867
- Rise to World Power, 1867-1913
- The World in the mid-19th Century
- Political Interference and Corruption
- Problems in the Consular Service
- Some Diplomatic Accomplishments
- Departmental Organization—and Reorganization
- The Practice of Diplomacy
- 1898: The Birth of a Superpower
- New Policies for Latin America, Asia
- New Prestige, New Growth
- A New Professionalism
- Conclusion
- The Challenge of Global Conflict, 1913-1945
- The World in 1914
- America Enters the War; Wilson's Plan for Peace
- New Challenges for the Department
- Other Foreign Policy Advisors
- Modernization of the Department
- The Rogers Act
- Incremental Reorganization
- A Return to Isolationism
- “Interventionist” Neutrality
- Wartime Diplomacy
- Embarrassment Brings Change
- Conclusion
- Containment and Cold War, 1945-1961
- The World in 1945
- George Kennan and Containment
- The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
- Containment and Collective Defense
- A Changing Role for the Secretary
- A New National Security Structure
- NSC-68 and the Korean War
- Foreign Policy under President Eisenhower
- "Wristonization"
- New Secretary; New Quarters
- Conclusion
- Superpowers Collide, 1961-1981
- The World in 1961
- Kennedy's Foreign Policy
- The Cuban Missile Crises
- Kennedy and the Department of State
- Traditional Diplomacy Expanded
- Domestic Upheaval and a New President
- Johnson's Foreign Policy
- Management of Foreign Policy
- The Department addresses Inequality
- President Nixon and the NSC
- Nixon’s Foreign Policy
- Kissinger Becomes Secretary of State
- Carter's Foreign Policy
- Jimmy Carter and Cyrus Vance
- The Iranian Hostage Crisis
- Landmark Departmental Reform
- An End to the Hostage Crisis
- Conclusion
- The End of the Cold War, 1981-1992
- The World in 1981
- The President and Secretary Haig
- Secretary Haig and the Department
- Reagan’s Foreign Policy
- Secretary Shultz Takes Charge
- The United States in Europe
- Gorbachev and Perestroika
- Management Fails the Department
- Department Appointments Politicized
- More Change for the Foreign Service
- Embassies Subject to Violence, Spying
- President Bush and Secretary Baker
- Bush’s Foreign Policy
- The Berlin Wall Falls and USSR Dissolves
- New Global Problems Emerge
- The First Gulf War
- Conclusion