Isolationism and Neutrality Timeline
Date
1928
Event
Clark Memorandum
1928
1931
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Japan invades Manchuria
1932
Stimson Doctrine
1933
The US extends diplomatic
recognition to the USSR
Japan walks out of the League of
Nations
1933
1934
Senator Gerald Nye leads an
investigation into the causes of
America’s involvement in WWI
1935
Congress passes the Neutrality Act
of 1935
1935
Italy invades Ethiopia
1936
Hitler sends German troops to
occupy the Rhineland
Bold moves by Italy and Germany
prompt Congress to pass the
Neutrality Act of 1936
The Spanish Civil War begins (19361939)
1936
1936
1936
Hitler & Mussolini form the RomeBerlin Axis
1937
Congresses the Neutrality Act of
1937
Significance/Outcome
Abrogates (cancels) the Roosevelt
Corollary (1904)
Outlaws offensive war
Violates the 9 Power Treaty &
Kellogg-Briand Pact. Hoover refuses
to consider economic or military
sanctions
The US refuses to recognize
territory Japan acquires by force
US opens trade with the Soviet
Union, results are disappointing
Japan suffers no consequences
despite breaking the League
covenant
The investigation produces a report
suggesting that the American arms
industry had pushed the nation into
WWI for its own profit. Increasingly
Americans believe that the US
should have stayed out of WWI
The US cannot sell or export arms,
ammunition, or implements of war
to nations at war
The League of Nations applies
economic sanctions but stops short
of initiating an oil embargo against
Italy—the League’s ineffectiveness
at stopping aggression is apparent
This action is a direct violation of
the Treaty of Versailles
 Arms embargo with countries
at war
 Ban on loans to nations fighting
The US does not intervene but
American volunteers form the
Abraham Lincoln Brigade help the
loyalists fight the fascists in Spain
The alliance of these nations forms
the basis of the Axis Powers during
WWII. Later in 1940, Japan would
join the Axis Powers.
 Arms embargo against nations
at war
 Travel ban on warring nations’
ships
 Trade with countries at war on
a cash-and-carry basis allowed
if goods were not contraband
or sent on foreign ships
1937
1937
Japan launches a full invasion of
the Chinese mainland (SinoJapanese War)
Roosevelt gives his “Quarantine
the Aggressor” speech
1937
1938
Italy withdraws from the League
Hitler brings about the union of
Germany and Austria (Anschlusseconomic or political union)
1938
Hitler annexes the Sudetenland
1939
Hitler occupies the rest of
Czechoslovakia
1939
Hitler and Stalin sign a NonAggression Pact
Sept. 1, 1939
1939
Sept. 3, 1939
Germany invades Poland
Neutrality Act of 1939
Britain and France declare war
on Germany because of their
treaties with Poland
Condemned by the League
of Nations, this war would
continue until 1945
Roosevelt deplores
“international lawlessness.”
Isolationists are outraged.
Public opinion does not
support this policy.
League takes no action
This action violates the
Treaty of Versailles.
Roosevelt sends a message
of concern to Hitler.
Mussolini, Chamberlain, and
Dalaier sign the Munich Pact
which represents a policy of
appeasement. Hitler
“promises” the Sudetenland
“is the last territorial claim I
have to make in Europe.”
Britain and France abandon
the policy of appeasement
an declare the will to defend
Poland against an attack
The alliance of these nations
with opposite political
philosophies sends fear
through Europe and
America. The pact contained
a secret provision to divide
Poland.
World War II formally
begins. US responds with
the Neutrality Act of 1939
The law lifts the embargo on
contraband and approves
the cash-and-carry export of
arms. Stopping just short of
war, FDR aides allies
War would spread
throughout Europe. France
falls to Germany in 1940.