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, 1934Favored 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