From Isolation to Intervention:
United States Foreign Affairs in the 1930s
Key idea: During the 1930s, the United States moved slowly
from a position of neutrality and America First, into
involvement in a second world war.
A.
President Hoover practices isolationism
Hoover believed in staying out of world affairs — focus on the
US and the Great Depression
1931: Japan invaded Manchuria, took it over and renamed it
Manchukuo, League of Nations — passed a resolution
condemning Japan
1932: United States passed the “Stimson Doctrine”: the US
will not recognize any government established by force
(Stimson is Hoover’s sec of State)
B.
Roosevelt begins limited involvement and Improved relations
with Latin America
1933: “Good Neighbor Policy” — with Latin America
Revoked Platt Amendment — except for US rights to
Guantánamo Bay
At first, Roosevelt focused his foreign affairs on improving the
economy
1933: recognized the Communist government of USSR —
why? To boost trade (and play Russia off against Japan)
1934: Tydings-McDuffie Act — gradual removal of US
from the Philippines — why? Governing a territory costs $$
1934: Reciprocal Trade Agreements
We’ll lower our tariffs for anyone who lowers theirs
C.
Italy
Rise of Dictators in Europe
Germany
Japan
Soviet Union
Benito
Mussolini
(1922)
Fascism
Adolf Hitler (1933)
Nazism
Emperor Hirohito Joseph Stalin
Prime Minister
Communism
Tojo
Militarism
Desire to recreate the
Roman
Empire
In search of greater
“living space” for the
German people
(Master Race)
Need more raw
materials due to
Japan’s small
landmass
Angry about
territorial loss from
First World War
Blame problems on the
Jews (Mein Kampf)
Dictators use the Great Depression and anger over the Treaty of
Versailles to garner support for their programs.
1.Treaty of Versailles
•
Italy: even though one of the Allies, get less new
territory than France or Great Britain at the end of
World War I
•
Germany: has to pay reparations, accept responsibility
for WWI, very bitter towards France, Great Britain
2.Great Depression
•
Germany has massive unemployment & inflation
(created by war reparations)
•
US economy crumbles, can no longer help Germany —
Germany must blame someone else