American Foreign Policy:

1920-1941

American Foreign Policy:

1920-1941

Foreign Policy TensionsForeign Policy Tensions

InterventionismInterventionism DisarmamentDisarmament

• Collective securityCollective security

• ““Wilsonianism”Wilsonianism”

• Business interestsBusiness interests

• Liberal Dems. (N.)Liberal Dems. (N.)

• IsolationismIsolationism

• NativistsNativists

• Anti-War movementAnti-War movement

• Conservative Reps.Conservative Reps.

American IsolationismAmerican Isolationism5 Isolationists (Lodge) Isolationists (Lodge)

refused to ratify refused to ratify Treaty of Versailles.Treaty of Versailles.

5 Rejected security treaty Rejected security treaty w/ Francew/ France

5 July, 1921 July, 1921 Congressional resolution Congressional resolution declaring WWI officially declaring WWI officially over!over!

Sen. Henry Cabot Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]Lodge, Sr. [R-MA]

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

5 Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain to aid Japan in event of Japanese war w/ the USto aid Japan in event of Japanese war w/ the US

5 Goals Goals naval disarmament & political situation in Far East. naval disarmament & political situation in Far East.

Five-Power Treaty Five-Power Treaty (1922)(1922)5 A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:

US Britain Japan France ItalyUS Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67 5 5 3 1.67 1.67

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

5 LoopholeLoophole no restrictions on small warships no restrictions on small warships

European Debts to the European Debts to the USUS

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

Dawes PlanDawes Plan (1924)(1924)

Young PlanYoung Plan (1930)(1930)

5 For three generations, you’ll have to slave away!For three generations, you’ll have to slave away!

5 $26.35 bil. paid over 58½ years$26.35 bil. paid over 58½ years

5 1931: Hoover declared 1931: Hoover declared debt moratoriumdebt moratorium

Locarno PactLocarno Pact (1925)(1925)

5 Guaranteed common borders of France, Belgium, & Germany Guaranteed common borders of France, Belgium, & Germany (Versailles, 1919)(Versailles, 1919)

5 Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration onlyarbitration only.

Clark Memorandum Clark Memorandum (1928)(1928)

5 US would not intervene in US would not intervene in Latin American affairs in Latin American affairs in order to protect US order to protect US property rightsproperty rights

5 Complete rebuke of Complete rebuke of Roosevelt Corollary!Roosevelt Corollary!

Sec. of StateSec. of StateJ. Reuben ClarkJ. Reuben Clark

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

5 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression; war as tools 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression; war as tools of foreign policyof foreign policy

5 62 nations signed62 nations signed

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

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

5 League of Nations condemned actionLeague of Nations condemned action

5 Japan leaves LeagueJapan leaves League

5 Hoover: no military action in Far EastHoover: no military action in Far East

Hoover-Stimpson Hoover-Stimpson DoctrineDoctrine

(1932)(1932)5 US would not recognize any territorial acquisitions US would not recognize any territorial acquisitions

that were achieved by force.that were achieved by force.

5 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.

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

FDR’s “Good FDR’s “Good Neighbor” PolicyNeighbor” Policy

5 Unite W. Hemisphere in Unite W. Hemisphere in lieu of foreign aggressionslieu of foreign aggressions

5 ““The good neighbor The good neighbor respects himself and the respects himself and the rights of othersrights of others.”.”

- FDR, c. 1935- FDR, c. 1935

5 Policy of non-intervention, Policy of non-intervention, cooperationcooperation

FDR Recognizes the FDR Recognizes the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

(late 1933)(late 1933)

5 FDR felt that FDR felt that recognizing Moscow recognizing Moscow might bolster the US might bolster the US against Japanagainst Japan

5 Maybe trade with Maybe trade with the USSR would the USSR would help the US help the US economy during the economy during the DepressionDepression

Nye Committee HearingsNye Committee Hearings(1934-1936)(1934-1936)

5 ““Merchants of death”Merchants of death”

5 Committee did charge Committee did charge that bankers wanted war to that bankers wanted war to protect their loans & arms protect their loans & arms manufacturers for profitsmanufacturers for profits

5 Claimed that Wilson had Claimed that Wilson had provoked Germany by sailing provoked Germany by sailing into warring nations’ watersinto warring nations’ waters

5 Result: Result: Neutrality ActsNeutrality Acts

Sen. Gerald P. Nye [R-ND]Sen. Gerald P. Nye [R-ND]

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

Ludlow Amendment Ludlow Amendment (1938)(1938)

5 Proposed amendmentProposed amendment

5 Natl. referendum for Natl. referendum for war declarationwar declaration

5 Introduced several times Introduced several times by Rep. Ludlowby Rep. Ludlow

5 Never actually passedNever actually passedRep. Louis LudlowRep. Louis Ludlow[D-IN][D-IN]

US NeutralityUS Neutrality

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

5 When the President proclaimed the existence of a When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go foreign 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 at war Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations at war [in contrast to WW I].[in contrast to WW I].

Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-and-Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-and-carry” basis carry” basis pay when goods are picked up. pay when goods are picked up.

Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War.Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War.

5 Limited the options of President in a crisis.Limited the options of President in a crisis.

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

Panay Incident (1937)Panay Incident (1937)5 December 12, 1937.December 12, 1937.

5 Japan bombed Japan bombed USS USS PanayPanay gunboat & 3 gunboat & 3Standard Oil tankers onStandard Oil tankers onYangtze R.Yangtze R.

5 Problem: International watersProblem: International waters

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

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

5 Most Americans were satisfied with the apology.Most Americans were satisfied with the apology.

5 ResultsResults Japan interprets US as passive ; continues Japan interprets US as passive ; continues aggression in Pacific aggression in Pacific

Spanish Civil War Spanish Civil War (1936-(1936-1939)1939)

American “Lincoln Brigade”American “Lincoln Brigade”

Fascist AggressionFascist Aggression5 1935: - Hitler denounced the Versailles Treaty &1935: - Hitler denounced the Versailles Treaty &

the League of Nations [re-arming!] the League of Nations [re-arming!] - Mussolini attacks Ethiopia. - Mussolini attacks Ethiopia.

5 1936: - German troops sent into the Rhineland.1936: - German troops sent into the Rhineland. - Fascist forces sent to fight with Franco in Spain. - Fascist forces sent to fight with Franco in Spain.

5 1938: - Rome-Berlin Tokyo Pact [AXIS]1938: - Rome-Berlin Tokyo Pact [AXIS] - Munich Agreement - Munich Agreement APPEASEMENT! APPEASEMENT!

5 1939: - German troops march into the rest of1939: - German troops march into the rest of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia. - Hitler-Stalin Non-Aggression Pact. - Hitler-Stalin Non-Aggression Pact.

5 September 1, 1939: - German troops march into September 1, 1939: - German troops march into Poland Poland blitzkriegblitzkrieg WWII WWII

1939 Neutrality Act1939 Neutrality Act5 Response to German invasion of PolandResponse to German invasion of Poland

5 FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow the US to aid European democracies in a limited way:the 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 which US FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones which US ships and citizens could not enter.ships and citizens could not enter.

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

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

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

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

““America First” America First” CommitteeCommittee

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

“Lend-Lease” Act (1941)Great Britain.............................$31 billionGreat Britain.............................$31 billionSoviet Union.............................$11 billionSoviet Union.............................$11 billionFrance......................................$ 3 billionFrance......................................$ 3 billionChina........................................$1.5 billionChina........................................$1.5 billionOther European........................$500 millionOther European........................$500 millionSouth America..........................$400 millionSouth America..........................$400 millionThe amount totaled: The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000$48,601,365,000

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Admiral Isoroku Admiral Isoroku YamamotoYamamoto

Pearl Harbor from the Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit of a Japanese Cockpit of a Japanese

PlanePlane

““A date which will live in infamy.”A date which will live in infamy.”

Pearl Harbor – Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor – Dec. 7, 19411941

USS ArizonaUSS Arizona, Pearl , Pearl HarborHarbor

2,887 Americans Dead!2,887 Americans Dead!

Pearl Harbor MemorialPearl Harbor Memorial

FDR Signs the War FDR Signs the War DeclarationDeclaration