US Foreign Policy Between the Wars

Key Themes and Issues:

1. The Myth of interwar isolationism

2. U.S. Actions in Latin America

3. Economic Aspects

4. The Road to WWII

Curious Isolationism (Unilateralism):

“The day of isolation in world affairs in over,” Ogden Mills, 1926

Refusal to join the League of Nations did not represent a turning away from the rest of the world.

US more involved in world affairs than ever before: Naval Disarmament pacts: Washington Naval Conference 1921,

Military involvement in Latin America

dollar diplomacy (“informal empire”) around the world.

Key issue is not whether US should participate in world affairs, but the nature & extent of that involvement

The United States adopted a generally unilateralist outlook during this period – Unwilling to turn over its decisions to a higher body (League of Nations).

LATIN AMERICA 1:

The Monroe Doctrine 1820

1904 Roosevelt Corollary (ie Platt Amendment 1902)

Dollar Diplomacy

US interests: Protect US property and internal disorder (fear of European involvement)

“Caribbean Basin”

Following WWI: Threat of European intervention no longer significant

By 1920 the US had troops in Nicaragua, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Honduras

Herbert Hoover shifts over to a less interventionist policy “Good Neighbor” continued by FDR.

By 1934 no US troops left in Latin America

Latin America 2 (Nicaragua):

Example of the shift from Dollar Diplomacy to “Good Neighbor”

Entrance of US troops to aid a revolt against the Nicaraguan liberal party regime

Control over all finances.

Quest to find acceptable conservative party regimes

The problem of Agusto Sandino

US intervention: 1927-1933

US pullout and dictatorship

General pattern: US pulls out leaving strong dictators in charge -

Somoza, Trujillo.

Latin America 3: (Good Neighbors?):

Loans to buy US goods

Reciprocal Trade Agreements, 1934-

Favored Nation Trading Status/ Reduced US tariffs

Pan-American Conferences

Montevideo, 1933; Lima, 1938; Panama, 1939

Affirmed sovereign rights of L-A nations; declared solidarity, mutual interests, even collective security

Proclaimed policy of non-interference in L-A internal affairs

1934 Treaty with Cuba rejects 1903 Platt Amendment.

Economic Aspects:

Dollar Diplomacy in the rest of the world

Loans: Dawes Plan 1924

US as the largest creditor nation in the world

Open Door policy in Asia, Middle East

Protectionism (tariffs)

US policies retarded recovery of European economies making them susceptible to Depression and Totalitarian alternatives

The New Order and the outbreak of War:

Rise of Totalitarian Regimes:

1933 Germany

1931 Japan

Appeasement:

1937 China

1938 Czechoslovakia

US little influence on events

Isolationism in the US:

Nye Committee Report 1934

America First Committee

World War Two: The Path to War

US Phony War, 1939-40

Partisan Neutrality

Pro-Allies vs Axis

Draft, Sept. 1940

Lend-lease, March 1941

Convoy Protection

Atlantic Charter, August 1941

War aims, though US not even in the war!

Protect self-government

Freedom of seas

Postwar general security system (ie: UN)

Freedom from fear & want

“Open Door” economic system

Japan

Ambitions in China

Invasion of Mancuria 1931

Invasion of China 1937

Invasion of Indochina 1940

US Response, 1941

Freezing of Assets

Scrap metal embargo

Oil Embargo

Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7th 1941

War Declared, Dec. 8th 1941

Conclusions

1. There was some genuine isolationist sentiment, but few really wanted the US to stay out of world affairs completely.

2. US avoided formal alliances, but signed many treaties, accords etc.

3. Dollar Diplomacy remained the preferred means of conducting US foreign policy.

4. Military intervention was rare, except in Latin-America before the ‘good neighbor policy’ of the 1930s.

5. Failure to join the League of Nations weakened that organization; also damaged US ability to influence foreign affairs & prevent international crises from escalating