In the first two chapters of The Tragedy of American Diplomacy, Williams provides a history of American diplomacy that teaches the reader about its causes and effects. In chapter 1, "Imperial Anticolonialism," Williams explains how America’s love of expansionism, rooted in the Monroe Doctrine, perpetuated colonial feelings of entitlement. He explains that at the beginning of America, colonial Americans thought that acquiring more land would solve all of their problems. He then demonstrates that this belief is at the root of America’s destructive influence on others, like how Americans forced Indigenous people off of their own land, and on themselves, like in the economic panic of the 1890s. To solve the domestic economic problems of the late 1890s, Americans looked toward global expansion. International interference led to debates about imperialism, and the development of imperial anticolonialism.

Williams ends the first chapter by explaining how all this debate let do the Open Door Policy, and he breaks down important aspects of the policy that he feels should be understood. He explains that it is important to recognize that the policy was designed to “win the victories without the wars,” and that it was also designed to expand America’s economic influence and spread a pro-American ideology. He also notes that the policy was practical for its time, but certain to produce foreign policy crises.

Chapter 2, “The Imperialism of Idealism” picks up where chapter 1 left off and explains how the imperialist ideologies of the Open Door Policy began to define twentieth century American foreign policy. Williams emphasizes how Americans exercised a “moral and ideological superiority” rooted in the concept of Manifest Destiny, that expansion was their God-given right. He explains how within this overarching ideology of superiority, there were clashes between religious and secular goals, and how they were brought together by economic goals. Essentially, this chapter explains how Americans caused fundamental, destructive change in other societies. For example, Americans forced Morocco out of agrarian society and into the industrial era. Williams stresses that Americans attempted to control international change according to their own preferences, which contributed to intense global opposition and often violent resistance.

The points discussed in these chapters are important to know because they help people better understand how America got to where it is today in terms of foreign policy. It also is important to study history like this to understand what countries should and should not do in the future to avoid crises.