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===The founding fathers and sovereignty===

===The founding fathers and sovereignty===

[[File:George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, 1797.jpg|thumb|250px|[[George Washington]], like the other founding fathers, highly valued American sovereignty and autonomy in world affairs]]

[[File:George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, 1797.jpg|thumb|250px|[[George Washington]], like the other founding fathers, highly valued American sovereignty and autonomy in world affairs]]

The [[founding fathers]] of the [[United States]] cared deeply about preserving national sovereignty, since a sovereign U.S. government would serve the American people alone and protect their [[unalienable rights]], and let them govern themselves.<ref name="Groves2010">Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). [http://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-does-sovereignty-matter-america Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America?] ''The Heritage Foundation''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In fact, they chose to declare independence because [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was not respecting their right to self-government.<ref name="Groves2010"/> In [[George Washington's Farewell Address|his farewell address]] in September 1796, [[George Washington]] warned his fellow Americans against becoming entangled in international treaties and alliances, as he knew it would end American sovereignty:  

The [[founding fathers]] of the [[United States]] cared deeply about preserving national sovereignty, since a sovereign U.S. government would serve the American people alone and protect their [[unalienable rights]], and let them govern themselves.<ref name="Groves2010">Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). [https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-does-sovereignty-matter-america Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America?] ''The Heritage Foundation''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In fact, they chose to declare independence because [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was not respecting their right to self-government.<ref name="Groves2010"/> In [[George Washington's Farewell Address|his farewell address]] in September 1796, [[George Washington]] warned his fellow Americans against becoming entangled in international treaties and alliances, as he knew it would end American sovereignty:  

{{cquote|...a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. ...

{{cquote|...a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. ...