U.S. Foreign Policy during the Interwar Years
Objective:
Students will analyze the United States’ foreign policy between the years 1919 and 1941 by
examining a timeline of events, political cartoons, and primary sources.
Directions:
(1) Use the timeline below to explore America’s actions with a side-by-side comparison of
international events. (2) Answer the questions that follow the timeline. (3) Next, analyze the
cartons in Part II and answer the corresponding questions. (4) Finally, read the excerpt from
Charles Lindbergh’s 1939 speech and answer the questions that follow.
United States Activity
International Activity
Senate Rejected Treaty of Versailles – U.S. will
not join the League of Nations
1919
European Powers Agree to terms outlined in
Treaty of Versailles
U.S. hosted Washington Naval Conference;
Five Powers Treaty: “Voluntary Disarmament”
1922
Benito Mussolini named Premier of Italy
1924
Joseph Stalin consolidated power in the
Soviet Union following Lenin’s death
Kellogg-Briand Pact: “Peace without
Enforcement” – Nations promise not to resort
to war to solve international conflicts
1928
1931
Japan invaded Manchuria
Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) Elected President
1932
March ’33: FDR sworn in as president of U.S.
1933
Nye Committee Report Published: Created
impression that arms factories were “war
profiteers” who maneuvered US into WWI
1934
First Neutrality Act: Banned sale of arms to
belligerent nations
1935
(1) Italy invaded Ethiopia
(2) Hitler announced end to German
compliance with Treaty of Versailles
1936
(1) Anti-Comintern Pact: Japan & Germany
take anti-communist stand, agree to share
information about Communist groups
(2) Germany occupied the Rhineland
(1) Neutrality Act Revised: Ban now also
placed on sale of arms to either side in a civil
war (Spain)
(2) FDR re-elected as President of U.S.
Jan. ’33: Adolf Hitler named Chancellor of
Germany
United States Activity
(1) Neutrality Act Revised: Limited trade
(loans and credit) with warring nations.
Established a “cash-and-carry” policy for sale
of nonmilitary supplies to belligerents – nation
must pay cash and pick up in own ships
International Activity
1937
Japan invaded China; Rape of Nanking
(2) U.S. provided aid to Chiang Kai-shek and
the Nationalists in China
1938
(1) Neutrality Act Revised: Warring nations
can now buy arms on “cash-and-carry” basis
(2) FDR gives fireside chat declaring American
neutrality
(1) Destroyer-for-Bases Deal: England receives
old American destroyers & US can build naval
bases on British territory
(2) Export Control Act: Gave FDR power to
restrict sales of strategic materials – July:
blocks sale of airplane fuel & iron to Japan
(3) Congress passed Selective Service &
Training Act: 1st peacetime draft in US History
(4) FDR elected to 3rd term as President
(1) Lend-Lease Act (March) – U.S. will lend or
lease arms to any country deemed “vital to
the defense of the United States”. Aid
provided to Britain, China, Russia & others
FDR argued that U.S. should be the “arsenal of
democracy”
(2) May: FDR pledged to “actively resist” Hitler
and “give every possible assistance to Britain”.
(3) Atlantic Charter (May): FDR and Churchill
committed US and Engl. to a post-war world
of democracy, non-aggression, free trade, &
freedom of the seas
1939
(1) Anchluss (unification) of Austria and
Germany completed
(2) Much Agreement: Neville Chamberlain
(Eng.) gives in to Hitler’s demand for
Sudetenland to avoid war – appeasement.
Chamberlain claimed “Peace in Our Time”
(1) Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
(2) Sept: Germany invaded Poland using the
blitzkrieg form of attack; ***Start of WWII
in Europe***
(3) England/France declare war on Germany
1940
(1) Germany Invaded/Occupied France
(2) Battle of Britain – England defeated
Germany
1941
(1) Hideki Tojo named Prime Minister of
Japan
(2) June: Germany Invaded Soviet Union
(3) Dec. 7: Japan bombed Pearl Harbor
(4) Dec. 11: Germany & Italy declared war
on U.S.
Timeline Questions
1. What is unique about Franklin Roosevelt’s election as U.S. President in 1940?
2. One way to analyze America’s neutrality/isolationism is by describing the period in phases. Look over the
timeline and then break down the period into three phases. What are the time frames for the phases?
3. What characteristics of American neutrality are found in each phase?
4. There are four Neutrality Acts or revisions of Neutrality Acts listed in the timeline. What event in America’s past
might have inspired passage of these acts?
5. The United States revised its Neutrality Act in 1937 to include a “cash-and-carry” provision. What specific event
in relation to your answer to question four might have inspired the “cash-and-carry” system?
6. Was the United States neutral in the years leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declaration of
war that followed? Use at least three specific actions or legislation to support your answer.
Part II – Political Cartoons
Cartoon 1
1. Name five details you see in the cartoon.
2. What do the broken trees represent?
3. What is the main point of the cartoon?
4. Is this cartoon supportive or critical of American foreign policy in relation to the events in Europe?
Cartoons 2 and 3
Use the cartoons and the timeline to answer the following questions.
1. Identify three details for each cartoon.
2. Who does the Old Man of the Sea represent?
3. What will the “aid” help win?
4. What do the two beds in the cartoon on the right represent?
5. After what event do you think the cartoon on the right was published? Hint: look on the signs of Europe’s bed.
Cartoon 4
1. Identify three details about the cartoon.
2. When would this cartoon have been published?
3. Who is pushing the crank?
4. What does this cartoon say about American neutrality?
5. What is the main point of the cartoon?
Cartoon 5
1. Identify three details in the cartoon.
2. When might this cartoon have been published? What American legislation might this cartoon represent?
3. Define embargo –
4. Based on the timeline what might have been the Japanese response to this American legislation?
1. What position did Charles Lindbergh take in the United States’ involvement in the European war?
2. What reasons did Charles Lindbergh use in defending his position?
3. Do you think he is persuasive? Why or Why not?