Final answer:
The cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Carter administration was human rights, guiding key initiatives such as improved relations with China, ending support for authoritarian regimes, and the Camp David Accords.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Carter administration was human rights. President Jimmy Carter believed that foreign policy should reflect the nation's moral principles and values. This focus on human rights led to several key foreign policy moves, including improving relations with China, ending military support to Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, and facilitating the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978. While nuclear disarmament and economic policies were also significant aspects of Carter's foreign policy, as evidenced by Carter's role in the SALT II talks with the Soviet Union and his creation of the Department of Energy, it was the emphasis on human rights that defined his approach to international relations.
Consequently, human rights became an overriding theme that guided the administration's international affairs, influencing decisions such as ceasing support for authoritarian regimes that violated human rights and advocating for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Carter's commitment to moral values in foreign affairs ultimately distinguished his presidency and reshaped the United States' role on the global stage.