Transcript Background to World War II: American Foreign Policy 1920-1941

BACKGROUND TO
WORLD WAR II:
AMERICAN FOREIGN
POLICY 1920-1941
1920s Foreign policy
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The Red Scare of 1919—"100% Americanism”—
follows World War I. Americans want to let Europe
deal with its own problems following the war.
Americans show an incredible indifference to the fate
of Europe during the 1920s
1920s Foreign Policy
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The U.S. follows foreign policy that is narrow, cautious,
and self-centered.
No membership in the League of Nations
In July 1921 Congress passed a joint resolution that
declared the war with Germany officially over.
The U.S. military is reduced to 118,00 by 1927.
1920s Foreign Policy
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Anti-Japanese immigration policy; tight immigration
laws a paradox considering number of immigrants
already in U.S.
1920s Foreign Policy
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Washington wants World War I debts paid. America
had loaned Allies during and after war a total of
$11billion. Great Britain proposes canceling
reparations debts if U.S. will cancel Great Britain's $4
billion debt. U.S. refuses.
Hyperinflation in Germany
Dawes Plan
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was an attempt in 1924 to solve the
reparations problem, which had bedeviled
international politics following World War I.
The Allies' occupation of the Ruhr industrial
area contributed to the hyperinflation crisis
in Germany. The plan provided for their
leaving the Ruhr, and a staggered payment
plan for Germany's payment of war
reparations. Because the Plan resolved a
serious international crisis, Dawes shared the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1925 for his work.
1920s Foreign Policy
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The Good Neighbor Policy. The U.S. has a history of
intervention in Latin America going back to the time
of Andrew Jackson (1830s).
Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt and many other
Americans slowly recognize the basic unfairness of
America’s Latin American policy.
1920s Foreign Policy
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The United States also renounces the right to
intervene in Cuban affairs by terminating the Platt
Amendment.
U.S. Senator Orville
Hitchcock Platt
Washington Naval Conference
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The Washington Naval Conference convened in
November 1921.
Secy. of State Charles Evans Hughes proposed a 10
year holiday in the construction of capital ships—
battleships and heavy cruisers—and he also
recommended the scrapping of other ships.
Washington Naval Conference
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A step toward arms control
The US and 8 other nations (Britain, Japan, France,
Italy, China, Portugal, Belgium, The Netherlands—the
Soviet Union was not invited)
A dangerous naval race began between the US and
Japan: Japan was spending 1/3 of its total budget
on naval construction.
Washington Naval Conference
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The Five-Power naval treaty was signed in
February, 1922, and was to remain in effect until
1936. The treaty placed a limitation on the numbers
and sizes of major warships, although it did not
affect smaller vessels such as destroyers, submarines
and cruisers.
Established a ratio: 5 (Great Britain): 5 (United
States): 3 (Japan): 1.75 (France): 1.75 (Italy).
Washington Naval Conference
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Four Power Treaty: the US, British, Japanese and
French agreed to respect each other’s Pacific
possessions: status quo in the Pacific, another
concession to the Japanese.
Nine Power Treaty: the 9 conferees reaffirmed the
Open Door Policy in China, recognizing China’s
sovereignty
No restrictions on small warships and no provisions for
enforcement.
Kellogg-Briand Pact
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Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, signed by 62 nations:
renounced war as a solution for international
conflicts.
Frank B. Kellogg, Secy. of State under Coolidge,
wins a Nobel Peace Prize.
Popular in the Senate, passed 85-1.
Lacked provisions for enforcement.
Aristide
Briand
Frank Kellogg
Stimson Doctrine
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U.S policy response (January 1932),
to Japan and China, of non-recognition of territorial
changes that were executed by force.
Named after Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of
State under Hoover (1929–1933), the policy
followed Japan's unilateral seizure of Manchuria in
northeastern China.
Secy. of State Cordell Hull
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The longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the
position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the
administration of FDR during much of World War II.
Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his
role in establishing the United Nations, and was
referred to by President Roosevelt as the "Father of
the United Nations".
Nye Committee 1934-1936
The Nye Committee conducted 93 hearings and
questioned more than 200 witnesses between 193436. The hearings covered four topics:
 The munitions industry
 Government contracts
 War profits
 The background leading up to
U.S. entry into World War I.
 The committee documented the huge profits that arms
factories had made during the war.
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Neutrality Acts
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1935: imposed a general embargo on trading in
arms and war materials with all parties in a war.
1936: It forbade all loans or credits to belligerents.
1937: It included the provisions of the earlier laws
but included a “cash and carry” provision for
nonmilitary goods.
1939: It allowed for arms trade with belligerent
nations on a cash and carry basis, thus ending the
arms embargo.
Lend Lease Act, March 1941
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H. R. 1776
AN ACT
Further to promote the defense of the United States,
and for other purposes.
Destroyers for Bases Deal
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On September 2, 1940, as the Battle of
Britain intensified, Secretary of State Cordell Hull arranged
the transfer of 50 warships to the Royal Navy. In exchange,
the U.S. was granted land in various British possessions for
the establishment of naval or air bases, rent free:
Newfoundland
Eastern side of the Bahamas
Southern coast of Jamaica
Western coast of St. Lucia,
West coast of Trinidad
Antigua
British Guiana (present day Guyana)