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AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN THE INTER-WAR YEARS
The United States entered the First World War "to make the world safe for democracy," Isolationism then cause the U.S.A. to turn back on Europe.

The depth of American isolationism was during 1920s and 1930s; America then found a way out of isolation permanently as they went in for World War Two.

Note: Before that all happened, while U.S.A was drastically reduced it's military and diplomatic presence abroad during the 1920s, at the same time its banking and commercial expansion during this era firmly established it as the world's premier economic power.

WHY AMERICA WAS ISOLATIONIST IN THE INTER-WAR YEARS

Economics and Foreign Policy

America did not get involved in the foreign affairs of these years because of her economic position; she only got involved when her economic interests were threatened. Her Economic Positions

Paul Kennedy summarized the American position in the 1920s.

"U.S.A. was the only major country, apart from Japan, to benefit from the Great War. It became the world’s greatest financial and creditor nation. They produced many manufactured goods and foodstuffs, also by far the largest stocks of gold. They had a domestic market so extensive that massive economies of scale could be practise by giant firms and distributors, especially in the booming automobile industry. Consumer demand could absorb virtually all of the goods which increased productivity offered."

Tariffs

America did not need the world’s raw materials nearly as much as previous great powers, an economic protectionism would dominate her attitude to world affairs over the next two decades. In 1930s, the Americans began "circling the wagons", or becoming more isolated, when their economy began to slump.

The Fear of Entanglement

America didn’t want any part of the European agreements, because they did not want to become a guarantor.

Remember general attitude toward European affairs, i.e., Europeans had a penchant for war and that Americans were a peace loving nation.

AMERICA IN WORLD AFFAIRS DURING THE INTER-WAR YEARS

No nation (in spite of the above) could remain totally isolated from world affairs. The following is intendeded, then, to show the extent and limitations of American involvement during these years.

Non-involvement in International Organizations

U.S.A. never did joined the LoN. She did not take part in many of the international groups or conferences that took place during these years. She only took part when she considered the actions consistent with her isolationist stance. But she did participate in international conferences or agreements, which was the Washington Naval Conferences, The Kellog-Briand Pact denouncing war, and The Reparations related issues. She took part in these three only, because Europe owed her a considerable amount of money and saw this as the only way of retrieving it.

Soviet Recoqnition

The Americans viewed the Soviet communists as the godless enemies of property and democracy. She had an intervened in the Russian Civil War, but Wilson saw the futility of aggressive aspects of communist ideology frightened Americans into thinking that the Soviet Union was behind every worker strike. Though some strikes, such as the Pullman strike, were crushed ruthlessy for this.

By 1930's it became clear that the Russians were not going to pass the U.S.A.. In 1933 the Amewricans formally recoqnized the U.S.S.R. based on the promise from Stalin that communist propaganda would not be aimed at the U.S.A.

America and World Politics in the 1930's

America remained uninvolved in the world affairs during the 1930's for all of the reasons mentioned before. The Great Depression added to this list of reasons. During the first phrases of the Depression the turmoil alone was enough to keep her at home. Later, during the Roosevelt adminstration, the domestic revolution brought on by the New Deal occupied her energies. It is, however, worthwhile to look at American attitudes toward major events during the 1930's: During the Japanese invasion of Munchuria, the U.S.A. reaffirmed its commitment to the Pact of Paris (Kellogg-Briand). It was a clear violation. Later, when the Japanese invaded China proper, the historic American Open Door Policy regarding China was violated. These actions did not prompt decisive actions on the part of the Americans. In fact, in 1935, U.S.A. further reduced its commitment to Asian affairs by arranging her withdrawal from the Philippines (taken from the Spanish in 1898).

After 1935 it was very clear that the only real driving force behind the American foreign policy was to avoid war.

The Neutrality Acts

In 1935, the Congress passed a law which authorized the president, in the event of a war, to place an embargo (stop trade) on both belligerents. During the Ethiopian Affair the law expanded to make action obligatory for the president. This was a further attempt to isolate America from the political troubles of Europe.

Note: Because of American support of China during the Japanese invasion, the Neutrality Acts were not invoked. Roosevelt refused to accept that a state of war existed between the two nations for this would have meant that he would have had to cut off aid to the Chinese. Though U.S.A. continued to aid the Chinese with loans and by maintaining its military and naval bases in the treaty ports.

Americans reduced their involvement in Latin American affairs. The Monroe Doctrine, dollar imperialism and they "speak softly, but carry a big stick" policies of past adminstrations had seen American troops stationed in Nicaragua and Haiti. The American presence was obvious in nearly every Central American country.

In the late 1930's, Roosevelt became more concerned about the dictator states. However, this did not change the U.S.A.'s official position regarding neutrality. Some discussions between the U.S.A. and Britain occured in 1937 reviewing the difficulties of the naval challenge in Europe and the Far east that each nation faced.

Steps out of Neutrality: September, 1939 - December, 1941

When the war broke out in Europe, there was no doubt about which side the Americans supported. In this concern the Neutrality Acts represented a problem for Roosevelt.

One first formal step taken by Roosevelt to help Britain was the 'destroyers for bases' trade. Fifty old destroyers were transfered to Britain in exhange for ninety-nine year leases at eight sites in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

The "cash and carry" provisions of the Neutrality Acts did allow exactly that. Britain could purchase materials in the "arsenal of democracy," but only on cash basis. This would soon have bankrupted Britain.

In March of 1941 the Americans showed their true colours by passing the Lend Lease Act which authorized the American president to give credit to "any country whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the U.S.A.." While much or most of this aid was meant for Britain, it is important to note that in November 1941, the U.S.A. extended a one billion dollar lend-lease credit to the Soviet Union to help defend itself against Nazi Germany.

In the final act which brought America out of isolation was tge attack at Pearl Harbour. While America had not been isolationist regarding the Far East, this event not only got her involved in the Pacific war, but also the war already going on in Europe.