The origins of isolationism and interventionism can be traced back to the early days of nation-states and the development of international relations as a field of study. Isolationism emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries, notably in the United States, with the aim of preserving national sovereignty and avoiding entanglement in foreign conflicts.

The Monroe Doctrine, announced in 1823, symbolized this approach by proclaiming non-interference in European affairs in exchange for European non-involvement in the Western Hemisphere. This doctrine set the stage for isolationist tendencies in American foreign policy for decades to come.