American Foreign Policy:

1920-1941

American Foreign Policy:

1920-1941

IB History of the Americas

GUIDING QUESTIONSGUIDING QUESTIONS

To what extent did the United To what extent did the United States adopt an isolationist policy States adopt an isolationist policy in the 1920s and 1930s?in the 1920s and 1930s?

For what reasons did the United For what reasons did the United States go from being isolationist States go from being isolationist to interventionist? to interventionist?

Supplement to this Discussion

• As we discuss how the United States as a Nation transformed from being isolationist to engaging in war, we will be reading, analyzing, and discussing the following speeches from FDR: – “I Hate War” 1936– “Quarantine the Aggressors” 1937– “Arsenal of Democracy” 1939– “Infamy” December 1941– “The Four Freedoms” January 1941

Foreign Policy TensionsForeign Policy Tensions

InterventioniInterventionismsm DisarmamentDisarmament

• Collective Collective securitysecurity

• ““Wilsonianism”Wilsonianism”

• Business interestsBusiness interests

• IsolationismIsolationism

• NativistsNativists

• Anti-War Anti-War movementmovement

• Conservative Conservative RepublicansRepublicans

DIPLOMACY IN THE 1920S: DIPLOMACY IN THE 1920S: ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT

ENTANGLEMENTSENTANGLEMENTS

Failure of the League of Nations

• The US became “unofficial observers”

• Senate voted down membership into the League, even though it was the cornerstone of Wilson’s 14 Points

Punch Magazine December 1919

Failure of the League of Nations• Collective security by the League

required nations to act against states they considered friends, and sometimes against national interests, to support states in which they had no interest. Ex. Mussolini and Ethiopia

• The League depended on the Great Powers to enforce its resolutions. Britain and France, were reluctant to use sanctions or military action on behalf of the League.

• The League's advocacy of disarmament for members while at the same time advocating collective security unwittingly deprived it of the only forceful means by which its authority could be upheld.

Moral Suasion in Punch Magazine 1920

Washington Disarmament Washington Disarmament ConferenceConference(1921-1922)(1921-1922)

Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States.the United States.

Goals Goals naval disarmament and the political situation in naval disarmament and the political situation in the the Far East. Far East.

Five-Power Treaty Five-Power Treaty (1922)(1922)

A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio: US Britain Japan France US Britain Japan France ItalyItaly 5 5 3 1.67 5 5 3 1.67 1.671.67

Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines].the Philippines].

LoopholeLoophole no restrictions on small warships, no no restrictions on small warships, no enforcement mechanism enforcement mechanism

European Debts to the USEuropean Debts to the US

Hyper-Inflation in Germany:Hyper-Inflation in Germany: 19231923

Dawes PlanDawes Plan (1924)(1924)

Kellogg-Briand Pact Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)(1928)

15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy.as tools of foreign policy.

62 nations signed.62 nations signed.

ProblemsProblems no means of actual enforcement and gave no means of actual enforcement and gave Americans a false sense of security. Americans a false sense of security.

DIPLOMACY IN THE 1930S: DIPLOMACY IN THE 1930S: ENGAGEMENT to IsolationismENGAGEMENT to Isolationism

Japanese Attack Manchuria Japanese Attack Manchuria (1931)(1931)

League of Nations condemned the League of Nations condemned the action.action.

Japan leaves the League.Japan leaves the League.

Hoover wanted no part in an American military action in Hoover wanted no part in an American military action in the Far East.the Far East.

Hoover-Stimson DoctrineHoover-Stimson Doctrine(1932)(1932)

US would not recognize any territorial US would not recognize any territorial acquisitions that were achieved by force.acquisitions that were achieved by force.

Japan was infuriated because the US hadJapan was infuriated because the US hadconquered new conquered new territories a few territories a few decades earlier.decades earlier.

Japan bombed Japan bombed Shanghai in Shanghai in 1932 1932 massive massive casualties.casualties.

Critics argue all this did was further alienate Critics argue all this did was further alienate the Japanesethe Japanese

Hoover’s Foreign Policy in Latin America

– 1928, goodwill tour, Hoover renounces the Roosevelt Corollary of Monroe Doctrine of 1823- Roosevelt asserted that European nations should not intervene in countries to the south of the US, however under certain conditions, United States intervention might be justified.

Hoover’s Foreign Policy in Latin America

– Begins formulation of Good Neighbor Policy (nonintervention policy)

– U.S. helped negotiate the Treaty of Lima 1929, ending a 60 yr conflict between Chile and Peru

FDR’s “Good Neighbor” FDR’s “Good Neighbor” PolicyPolicy

Important to have all Important to have all nations in the Western nations in the Western Hemisphere united in Hemisphere united in lieu of foreign lieu of foreign aggressions.aggressions.

FDR FDR The good The good neighbor respects neighbor respects himself and the rights himself and the rights of othersof others..

Policy of non-Policy of non-intervention and intervention and cooperation.cooperation.

FDR Recognizes the Soviet FDR Recognizes the Soviet UnionUnion

(late 1933)(late 1933)

FDR felt that FDR felt that recognizing recognizing Moscow might Moscow might help the US help the US against Japan.against Japan.

Maybe trade with Maybe trade with the USSR would the USSR would help the US help the US economy during economy during the Depression.the Depression.

U.S. Isolationism

• Geneva Conference- arms limitation talks– 1933, Hitler and Mussolini withdraw– 1935, Japan withdraws from Washington Conference

naval agreements

• Reasons for U.S. isolationism:– Failure of “internationalists” and the League to limit

aggression (ex. Japan-China and Italy-Ethiopia)– Nye Committee Report blaming munitions & banking

industry for U.S. involvement in WWI. – Public opinion against U.S. involvement in Europe,

leading to the Neutrality Acts

FDR’s “I hate war” Speech FDR’s “I hate war” Speech (1936)(1936)

From Isolationism to WarFrom Isolationism to War

Neutrality Acts: 1935, 1936, Neutrality Acts: 1935, 1936, 19371937

Congress responds to voters to prevent a repeat of the events that led U.S. into WW I. When the When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect:into effect:

Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations.Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations.

Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations.Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations.

Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations at war at war

Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-and-carry” basis and-carry” basis pay when goods are picked up, pay when goods are picked up, no loansno loans

This limited the options of the President in a crisis.This limited the options of the President in a crisis.

America in the 1930s declined to build up its America in the 1930s declined to build up its forces!forces!

US NeutralityUS Neutrality

U.S. Isolationism / Neutrality Acts 1937

• Neutrality Act 1937– Sino-Japanese War. FDR supports China's efforts to

defend & did not invoke the Neutrality Acts and allowed arms shipments to China.

– This outraged the isolationists in Congress who claimed that the spirit of the law was being undermined. Roosevelt stated that he would prohibit American ships from transporting arms to the belligerents, but he allowed British ships to transport American arms to China.

– Extended 1939 to provide assistance to Great Britain

U.S. Isolationism / Quarantine Speech

• Chicago October 1937– FDR warns that Japanese aggression is a

threat to world peace and that aggressors should be “quarantined” by the world community to prevent the spread of the “contagion of war”

– Public reaction to the speech was overwhelmingly hostile. Most saw it as FDR’s attempt to justify and further aid to belligerent nations

Panay Incident (1937)Panay Incident (1937)December 12, 1937.December 12, 1937.

Japan bombed Japan bombed USS USS PanayPanay gunboat & three gunboat & threeStandard Oil tankers onStandard Oil tankers onthe Yangtze River.the Yangtze River.

The river was an The river was an international waterway.international waterway.

Japan was testing US resolve!Japan was testing US resolve!

Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and promised Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and promised no further attacks.no further attacks.

Most Americans, especially isolationists were satisfied Most Americans, especially isolationists were satisfied with the apology.with the apology.

ResultsResults Japanese interpreted US tone as a license for Japanese interpreted US tone as a license for

further aggression against US interests. further aggression against US interests.

German Aggression

– 1935 – compulsory 1935 – compulsory military service; revives military service; revives German armyGerman army

– Occupies Rhineland, Occupies Rhineland, 1936 1936

– Annexes Austria Annexes Austria (anschluss), 1938(anschluss), 1938

– September 1938, annexation of the Sudetenland (western Czechoslovakia)

Munich Conference

• Munich Conference- G.B., France and Germany – Hitler claims that his territorial claims are

complete and Neville Chamberlain declares “peace in our time”

• Six months later Germany occupies all of Czech. And turns his attention to Poland– GB and France pledge to defend Poland from

Nazi attack

1939 Neutrality Act1939 Neutrality ActSeptember 1, 1939, Hitler invades Poland, GB and France

declare war on Germany

In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland.In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland.

FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow the FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow the US to aid European democracies in a limited way:US to aid European democracies in a limited way:

The US could sell weapons to the European The US could sell weapons to the European democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis.democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis.

FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones which US ships and citizens could not enter.which US ships and citizens could not enter.

Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act:Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act:

Aggressors could not send ships to buy US Aggressors could not send ships to buy US munitions.munitions.

The US economy improved as European demands The US economy improved as European demands for war goods helped bring the country out of for war goods helped bring the country out of the the 1937-38 recession.1937-38 recession.

America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy.”America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

“This nation shall remain a neutral nation. But I cannot ask

that every American remain neutral in thought as well.” ~FDR

War Begins / US Intervention

• May 1940, FDR asks Congress for 1 billion in defense funds. Gets it!

• Fight for Freedom Committee- declare war now

• America First Committee- nonintervention, Lindberg, Sen. Gerald Nye, & Hearst Publishing.

• FDR runs for unprecedented third term. Beats Willkie with 55% of the popular vote

Gallup Polls: European War and World War Gallup Polls: European War and World War 1938–19401938–1940

Selective Service Act of 1940

• the first peacetime conscription in United States

• This Selective Service Act required that men between the ages of 21 and 35 register with local draft boards.

• Later, when the U.S. entered World War II, all men aged 18 to 45 were made liable for military service, and all men aged 18 to 65 were required to register.

““America First” CommitteeAmerica First” Committee

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

War Begins / US Intervention

• England near bankruptcy and cannot afford “cash & carry” FDR introduces “Lend-Lease”– Lend or lease arms to any

nation deemed “vital to the defense of the United States”

– GB (and other allies -USSR) get weapons on the “promise’ to pay later

“Lend-Lease” Act (1941)Great Britain.........................$31 Great Britain.........................$31 billionbillionSoviet Union...........................$11 Soviet Union...........................$11 billionbillionFrance......................................$ 3 France......................................$ 3 billionbillionChina.......................................$1.5 China.......................................$1.5 billionbillionOther European.................$500 Other European.................$500 millionmillionSouth America...................$400 South America...................$400 millionmillionThe amount totaled: The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000$48,601,365,000

Atlantic Charter

• British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt

• aboard warships in a secure anchorage in Ship Harbor, Newfoundland, and was issued as a joint declaration on 14 August 1941

• Outlines the war goals and goals of the post war world

Atlantic Charter• In brief, the 8 points were:

– No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom.

– Territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned.

– All peoples had a right to self-determination. – Trade barriers were to be lowered. – There was to be global economic cooperation and

advancement of social welfare. – Freedom from want and fear; – Freedom of the seas; – Disarmament of aggressor nations, postwar common

disarmament

Japanese Aggression 1931-Japanese Aggression 1931-19411941

US / Japan• Dec 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor

attacked• U.S. naval force in the Pacific is

greatly reduced• 2400 killed (over 1100 on 2400 killed (over 1100 on

ArizonaArizona), 1200 wounded; ), 1200 wounded; – 20 warships sunk or severely 20 warships sunk or severely

damaged; 150 planes destroyeddamaged; 150 planes destroyed

• Dec 8, FDR asks for a declaration of war.

• Dec 11 Germany & Italy declare war on U.S.– U.S. reciprocates

FDR before FDR before Congress Congress asking for a asking for a Declaration of Declaration of War against War against Japan, Dec. 8, Japan, Dec. 8, 19411941

FDR Signs the War FDR Signs the War DeclarationDeclaration

Paying for the WarPaying for the War

Betty Grable: Allied Pinup GirlBetty Grable: Allied Pinup Girl(She Reminded Men What They Were (She Reminded Men What They Were

Fighting For)Fighting For)