Interwar FOREIGN POLICY (between WWI & WWII) [APUSH Review Unit 7 Topic 11] Period 7: 1898-1945

Summary

In this video, Heimler explores U.S. foreign policy between the World Wars, focusing on the nation's shift towards isolationism after World War I. Despite growing concerns over the rise of fascism and totalitarian regimes in Europe, the U.S. initially embraced neutrality, evidenced by policies like high tariffs and the Kellogg-Briand Pact. However, as global tensions escalated, President Franklin D. Roosevelt subtly supported the Allies through programs like Cash and Carry and Lend-Lease. The video culminates with the U.S. entry into World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Takeaways

• 😀 After World War I, American foreign policy shifted towards isolationism, driven by a desire to avoid European entanglements.
• 😀 President Warren G. Harding’s 1920 campaign promised a 'return to normalcy,' emphasizing healing over heroics and nationalism over international involvement.
• 😀 The U.S. implemented protective tariffs like the Fordney-McCumber Act (1922) and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930) to reduce foreign competition and promote domestic industries.
• 😀 The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) sought to make war illegal, but its lack of enforcement made it ineffective, further reflecting U.S. isolationist tendencies.
• 😀 By the 1930s, the rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes in Europe, including Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany, and militaristic Japan, made isolationism harder to maintain.
• 😀 Despite witnessing global aggression (e.g., Japan invading Manchuria, Germany occupying the Rhineland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia), the U.S. stayed committed to isolationism until World War II broke out.
• 😀 Isolationists in the U.S. argued that past involvement in World War I had not ensured global safety and that profit-driven corporate interests had led to America’s entry into the war.
• 😀 Interventionists countered that the growing military threats in Europe and the vulnerability of the U.S. due to modern technologies (submarines, airplanes) necessitated action to prevent the war from reaching American shores.
• 😀 President Franklin D. Roosevelt, sympathetic to Britain’s cause, moved the U.S. towards support for the Allies while maintaining a neutral stance through programs like Cash and Carry, Destroyers for Bases, and the Lend-Lease Act.
• 😀 U.S. neutrality ended after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leading to a formal declaration of war against Japan, and subsequently, Germany declared war on the U.S.

Q & A

What was the primary reason behind America's shift to isolationism after World War I?

After World War I, America turned toward isolationism due to a desire to avoid further European entanglements. Americans were tired of the devastation of the Great War and sought a period of domestic peace and recovery.

Who was the president elected in 1920, and what was his stance on foreign policy?

Warren G. Harding was elected in 1920, running on the campaign promise of a 'return to normalcy.' He emphasized healing and restoration over international intervention, reflecting America's isolationist mood.

How did the Fordney-McCumber Act and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff reflect America's isolationist foreign policy?

The Fordney-McCumber Act of 1922 and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930 both raised tariffs on imported goods, encouraging Americans to buy domestically produced items. This policy isolated the U.S. from international trade and reduced foreign economic influence.

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and how did it reflect America's desire for isolation?

The Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed in 1928, aimed to make war illegal or at least renounce it in principle. While it was a symbolic gesture against war, it was unenforceable and ineffective, reflecting America's attempt to avoid international entanglements.

What were some of the key events in the 1930s that led Americans to become increasingly concerned about foreign affairs?

In the 1930s, the rise of fascist and totalitarian governments in Italy, Germany, and Japan, as well as their aggressive actions (e.g., Japan's invasion of Manchuria, Germany's occupation of the Rhineland and Austria, and Italy's invasion of Ethiopia) heightened American concerns about global instability.

What was the Nye Committee, and how did it influence American public opinion on foreign intervention?

The Nye Committee, formed in the 1930s, investigated the role of American corporations in profiting from World War I. It concluded that some companies had pushed the U.S. into war for financial gain, reinforcing isolationist arguments that war should be avoided at all costs.

What was the main argument made by interventionists during the pre-World War II debate?

Interventionists argued that America could no longer afford to remain isolated, as modern technology like submarines and airplanes made the Atlantic Ocean no longer a sufficient buffer. They believed that if Britain fell to Nazi Germany, the war could easily reach U.S. shores.

How did President Franklin D. Roosevelt navigate the isolationist sentiment while supporting the Allies before the U.S. formally entered World War II?

Roosevelt adopted a policy of 'intervening isolationism,' providing aid to the Allies through programs like Cash and Carry, Destroyers for Bases, and eventually the Lend-Lease Act, all while maintaining the appearance of neutrality to avoid backlash from isolationist Americans.

What was the Cash and Carry program, and how did it support Britain during the pre-war years?

The Cash and Carry program, passed in 1939, allowed belligerent nations to purchase arms from the U.S. as long as they paid cash and transported the goods on their own ships. This primarily benefited Britain, which controlled the seas at the time.

How did the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, change America's foreign policy?

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to the deaths of over 2,400 Americans, which prompted President Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. This attack, followed by Germany declaring war on the U.S., ended the debate over isolationism and officially brought America into World War II.