Isolationist: ____________________
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR, “FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND THE SHADOW OF WAR: 1933-1941”
“There are no evil thoughts except one: the refusal to think.” – Ayn Rand
MAIN QUESTION FOR CHAPTER:
Analyze change and continuity in American foreign policy between World War One and World War Two.
Word or phrase
gaffe (811)
Most
Relevant
Theme(s)
Meaning in context
a social blunder
Identification
1.
In the bombshell announcement Roosevelt withdrew America from the London
Economic Conference because he felt that it would hamper his ability to help the American
economy by being tied to the standards of other countries (Rob).
2.
The Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) fulfilled America’s earlier promise of freedom for
the Philippines. It basically freed America from taking care of the Philippines, leaving army
bases but reserving naval bases (Rob). This embodied the growing sentiment of isolationism
in America. It was like when your parents seem nice by letting you go out with your friends,
but really they just do not want to deal with you (AWD).
Summary
3.
In 1933, Roosevelt ignored hardcore anti-communists and Roman Catholics and
recognized the Soviet Union by starting diplomatic relations with the Bolshevik regime. He
did so partly to increase trade and partly to balance Germany and Japan’s rising power. It
was like when Bean from Ender’s Shadow makes friends with a bully; he did so in order to
have someone to fight off any other marauding bullies (Germany and Japan) (MC).
4.
In 1933 at the seventh Pan American Conference in Montevideo, Uruguay, the US
delegation formally decided upon a policy of nonintervention in the Montevideo Pact. By
making such a pact previous acts and pacts such as the Monroe Doctrine were bypassed.
This was like the laws on Prohibition, although prohibition was favored in the 18th
Amendment, it was later realized how ineffective and unrealistic the law was, and it was later
revoked and revised (Krista).
5.
The Good Neighbor Policy was a philosophy of Roosevelt’s, regarding positive and
peaceful relations with Latin America through methods such as consultation and
nonintervention. Recognizing the ineffectiveness of violence in the Caribbean in the past and
seeking to strengthen the Western Hemisphere, a successful compromise was reached in
1941 by use of these methods regarding Mexican seizure of Yankee oil properties. This is like
a student making a kind and reasonable request of a teacher, recognizing the ineffectiveness
of yelling at and criticizing the teacher (NM).
6.
Devised in 1934 by Secretary Hull and President Roosevelt, the Reciprocal Trade
Agreements Act was designed to enhance and revive American export trade for purposes of
relief and recovery from the Great Depression while activating low tariff policies of New
Dealers. Tariffs in US and other countries lowered existing tariffs by 50 percent, breaking the
precedent of a high import tax that existed since the Civil War. This was like realizing that
you can find Abercrombie and Fitch clothes at TJ Maxx for a cheap price, but the same
quality, so you buy more clothes from there, allowing you to spend less money and TJ Maxx
to get more business (Krista).
7.
A Senate committee headed by Senator Nye was appointed in 1934 to investigate
munitions manufacturers who were thought to be war–provoking. He and the committee
exaggerated evidence regarding America’s entry into World War One, shifting blame to
American bankers and arms manufacturers because they were the ones who made money
out of the war. This would be like doing very poorly on a skating competition and blaming it
on your coach because she still gets paid even if you lost and now you’ll pay for more lessons
to get better, allowing the coaches to make money of your failure (Krista).
8.
Spurred by actions of Mussolini, the Neutrality Acts of 1935 to 1937 were passed in
fear of another bloodbath. The Acts stated that when the president proclaimed the existence
of a foreign war, certain restrictions go into effect, such as, no American could sail on
belligerent ships or make loans to belligerents. It was f like when your parents have a big
fight and you try to intervene, but after getting grounded yourself you decide to lock yourself in
your room when they are fighting (Krista).
9.
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) proved to be a miniature World War Two.
Spanish Rebels headed by General Francisco Franco intended to overthrow the established
Loyalist regime, and the neutrality acts redefined so arms embargo to Loyalists and rebels,
which helped condemn fellow democracies to death. This is like when two friends have a
fight and instead of choosing one friend to back, you talk behind both friends’ backs and soon
everyone starts ganging up on one of the girls, leading her to become quiet and submissive
(Krista).
10.
The “Quarantine Speech” was a speech delivered by President Roosevelt in 1937,
spurred by aggressions of Italy and Japan. Roosevelt expressed his idea of an economic
barricade to “quarantine” the aggressors. His speech created protest from isolationists who
feared such a moral stand would lead to a shooting environment or war. This is like
boycotting school because it allows you to do what you want to, but it ends badly because
your parents and the government get angry at you (Krista).
11.
The Panay incident occurred when Japanese forces shelled and sank the US ship.
While in less isolationist times this would have sparked the war, the government then avoided
all conflict. It was like the Aroostook War because it involved a little bit of trivial conflict, but
the government mostly stayed out of it and the conflict did not escalate (JDH).
12.
In September 1938, the Western European democracies gave Hitler Sudetenland from
Czechoslovakia. The Munich Appeasement was in the hopes that giving in to Hitler would
satiate his thirst for power to bring “peace in our time.” Hitler vowed Sudetenland was his last
territorial claim. This is like giving a dog that is eating your garden some of your delicious
vegetables in hopes that he’ll only want one last bite for he surely must be full (Krista).
13.
After signing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, Germany worked with the
USSR to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, leading to Britain and France declaring war
on Germany. However, neither appeasement nor sufficient opposition could be mustered
against Germany in time; Germany invaded Poland, truces were broken, and the dreaded
World War II was under way. This was like when a bully picks a fight at school – the victim’s
friends said they would help, but some are unwilling and others are unable to stand up to the
bully quickly enough to avoid the onset of a huge fight (AWD).
14.
The Neutrality Act of 1939 provided that henceforth the European democracies might
buy American war materials on a cash-and-carry basis. This meant that they would have to
transport the munitions on their own ships after paying for them in cash. America would thus
avoid loans, war debts, and the torpedoing of American arms carriers. This is like parents
telling their teen, “Sure, we’ll get you a car, but you have to pay for half and the gas and
insurance” (KE).
15.
Defined as the months following the collapse of Poland, while France and Britain sat
idle, the inaction that defined this period of the “phony war” was ended by the Soviets who
attacked Finland to secure buffer territory. Also, inaction was ended when Hitler attacked
Denmark and Norway. Meanwhile, the US climbed out of recession with huge economic
gains from sale of war goods until the end of this “phony war,” but these improvements
became more difficult to enjoy with the growing might boasted by Germany. It was like when
Snape started little conflicts with Harry Potter, giving warning signs while sometimes also
indirectly helping Harry. Then, Snape went on to commit murder and reveal his unforgivably
malevolent agenda (AWD).
16.
Following the unexpected fall of France, Congress attempted to brace itself for war
and wrote the conscription law in 1940 that was the first peacetime draft made.
Approximately 1.2 million troops would be trained each year. This was like installing an
expensive security system in your house when you live in Sherborn, although the threat to
you is minimal the danger around you is enough to make you want to be prepared (Krista).
17.
At the Havana Conference the United States agreed to share responsibility with the
rest of the world to uphold the Monroe Doctrine. It followed the take-over of France,
Denmark, and Netherlands. This would be like all of the students surrounding the school to
keep the teachers out of the school where the school represents the vulnerable European
territory Germany threatens to take over (teachers = Germany) (Krista).
18.
The Isolationists, in order to avoid American blood shed at all costs, formed the
America First Committee proclaiming “England Will Fight to the Last American!” They
wanted America to protect its own grounds in case Hitler decided to plot a transoceanic
assault. It’s like the Americans had a huge bag of candy that they wouldn’t share with the rest
of the world, in case someone tried to steal it (Beth).
19.
Charles Lindbergh was a famous pilot who crossed the Atlantic by plane in 1927. He
was also recognized for his orations, and contributions among the isolationists in World War
II, offering support for the military focus to be on domestic defense alone. Lindbergh’s
defensive ideas are similar to the concept of the “Home Field Advantage” in sports. The
United States should remain on its “Home Field” so as to maintain the advantages of the
Atlantic Ocean, and a centralized base of operations rather than charging into unfamiliar
territory (NM).
20.
The Lend-Lease Bill, patriotically numbered 1776, was entitled as “An Act Further to
Promote the Defense of the United States.” It would send limitless supplies of arms to the
victims of aggression, who would finish the job and keep the war on their side of the Atlantic.
The act was heavily debated because it was basically an indirect declaration of war and went
against America’s Neutrality Act. It’s like saying that you would never cheat and then giving
the dumbest person in the class all the answers to the test (Beth).
21.
On May 21, 1941, a German submarine torpedoed the Robin Moor, an unarmed
American merchantman outside of a war zone. This was the response of the Germans to the
Lend-Lease Bill, having decisively identified the U.S. as enemies. This is similar to the first
capture in a game of chess; while eventual conflict was inevitable, the two players had, until
that point, maneuvered successfully and peacefully around all opposing pieces (NM).
22.
From the constrained German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact of 1939 grew uneasy
relations between Hitler and Stalin, especially when Stalin refused to accept German control
of the Balkans. Thus, Hitler decided to attack the Soviet Union, taking its oil and resources
and hence being able to take out Britain more easily. On June 22, 1941, almost exactly one
year following the fall of France, Hitler launched this damaging attack on the Soviets, under
the impression that his armies would win over Stalin’s in a matter of weeks. Roosevelt quickly
aided Moscow with military supplies and later with large sums of money. Contrary to Hitler’s
original idea, the Red army could not be defeated in a matter of weeks, and the Nazi troops
were not equipped for a Russian winter. Therefore, they were balked at the entrance to
Moscow. Hitler’s attack on the Soviet Union was like high school; two “frenemies”
(friends/enemies) may at first be outwardly friendly towards each other, but then one of them
stabs the other in the back (ARM).
23.
The eight-point Atlantic Charter in 1941 was formally accepted by Roosevelt and
Churchill and endorsed by the Soviet Union later. Based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points, the
new covenant outlined the aspirations of the democracies for a better world at the war’s end.
It was like going to a restaurant that you enjoy, and then telling a friend about it so they can
have the same experience (Beth).
24.
The Reuben James was an American destroyer that was one of the many ships
attacked by Germans. In this case, the ship was torpedoed off southwestern Iceland, killing
more than a hundred officers and enlisted men. The series of attacks caused congress to
repeal the Neutrality Act of 1939 in mid-November 1941. It’s like when a little brother is
annoying you, and your parents originally tell you to deal with it, but then he does something
really awful and your parents allow you to strike back (Beth).
25.
On December 7, 1941, “Black Sunday,” the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was
the date that would “live in infamy” that triggered US involvement in World War Two. United
States leaders, focused on potential attacks from Germany on the Atlantic coast, were
surprised at this sudden onslaught in the Pacific that caused considerable damage and about
three thousand casualties. It was like the 9/11 attacks that would come almost sixty years
later; both were extremely violent and destructive, creating powerful, horrific messages that
triggered responses indicating the perpetuation of American strength (AWD).
Other Questions to Consider
A.
To what extent was the US’ withdrawal from the London Economic Conference comparable to the US’ failure to join the
League of Nations?
B.
To what extent should we compare the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937 to the Embargo Act of 1807 and the Nonintercourse Act of 1809?
C.
To what extent should we compare the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 to the Mexican War of 1846-1848?
D.
The authors ask, “Could American have done more to save” those who died in the Holocaust. Identify and analyze reasons
why the US did what it did.
E.
Is it fair to call the Lend-Lease Bill “an economic declaration of war”?
F.
To what extent should we compare the attack on Pearl Harbor and the attack on September 11, 2001? Is it fair to say that we
would not have entered World War Two or begun the War on Terror had these attacks not occurred?
G.
To what extent was World War Two a continuation of World War One?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Is it fair to call World War Two the “Good War”?