The American Pageant
Chapter 34: The Shadow of War
Totalitarian Governments
• Fascism- A political philosophy that advocates a
strong, centralized, nationalistic government
headed by a powerful dictator (ITALY and
SPAIN)
• Nazism- the political philosophy- based on
extreme nationalism, racism, and militaristic
expansionism- that Adolf Hitler put into practice
in Germany from 1933 to 1945. (GERMANY)
• Communism- one-party government and state
ownership of property. (SOVIET UNION)
London Economic Conference:
• FDR proves that foreign policy is a secondary concern
for his administration compared to economic recovery at
home.
• An international agreement to stabilize the currency
would mean that FDR couldn’t use many of the
inflationary policies that were part of the New Deal
• FDR essentially pulls the American delegation from the
conference, destroying any chance for a worldwide
response to the Great Depression and weakening the
possibility of international cooperation against future
threats.
FDR’s Foreign Policy
• Formal recognition of Soviet Union in 1933
• Good Neighbor Policy
– Actions seemed to show FDR’s desire to be a
regional, rather than a world, power
– Desire for a unified Western Hemisphere against
potential threats
– U.S. withdrawal from Haiti, relaxing of the Platt
Amendment in Cuba
– Test of the policy in Mexico proved FDR was willing to
even hurt American investments to foster goodwill
between Latin American countries and the U.S.
Isolationism
• Gerald Nye’s Senate Committee
– Investigated evidence regarding U.S. entry
into World War I.
– Said it was not German submarines, but
actually a plot by American bankers and arms
manufacturers that got us into WWI.
– Led to isolationist sentiment and the fear of a
large standing army.
Isolationism: neutrality legislation
• Neutrality acts of 1935, 1936, 1937
– When the President proclaims the existence of a
foreign war, restrictions automatically go into
effect.
– No American can sail on a belligerent ship or sell
of transport munitions to a belligerent or make
loans to a belligerent.
– SPECIFICALLY to keep us out of a conflict like
World War I.
– Third Neutrality Act bans arms sales and loans to
nations involved in civil wars.