Post WWI DiplomacyUnit 8.1

Fourteen Points During WWI, President Wilson tried to shape the peace settlement. Some of the broader ideas:

Many territorial questions

Recognition of Freedom of the seas

End of secret treaties

Reduce national armies and navies

Self-determination of many nationalities in Europe

General association of nations (what would become League of Nations )

Treaty of Versailles President Wilson came to defend his Fourteen Points Many of his ideas were included Germany had to admit guilt for the war and pay Reparations Article X – established the League of Nations

Battle for the Treaty in the Senate Irreconcilables Could not accept membership into

the League of Nations no matter what.

Would not vote for it at all

Reservationists Led by Henry Cabot Lodge Would accept it if certain

provisions were added President Wilson chose to fight this

and it would be the downfall of the treaty.

Treaty was rejected and the U.S. never joined the League.

Isolationists? Washington Conference (1921)

Naval disarmament

US – 5

Britain – 5

Japan – 3

France – 1.67

Italy – 1.67

How did this plan actually help Japan in the Pacific?

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) Idea led by Jane Addams (won Nobel

Prize)

Renounced War as an instrument of foreign policy

Signed by 62 nations

Failed to provide for action against violators

Dawes Plan (Not Dawes Act with Indians – but Dawes Plan) Cycle of payments flowing from U.S. to Germany and from Germany to the

allies (Reparations). Britain and France then used money to pay back loans from U.S. in WWI.

Stock Market crash in 1929 stopped the U.S. loans and made recession worse in Europe.

Effects: Many Europeans resented what they saw as U.S. greed, while many Americans saw more reasons to be isolationists in the 1930s.

Early 1930s Good Neighbor Policy

(actually started by Hoover)

Roosevelt improved relations with Western Hemisphere nations

Benefited the U.S. during WWII as we did not have threats here (no Zimmerman)

Amendment proposed to make Declaration of War a referendum voteWhat does this show?

Recognition of Soviet Union During the Red Scare, Republican Presidents of the 1920s refused diplomatic recognition

Roosevelt does in 1933 (says to boost trade), would be an ally in WWII

Mainly Isolationist – overall attitude

Mid 1930s As events in Europe and China unfolded the U.S. reacted in a mainly

isolationist fashion. Neutrality Acts (of 1935, 36, 37) America First Committee – spoke out against the U.S. getting involved in

WWII (before Pearl Harbor). Included Charles Lindbergh

Spanish Civil War and Munich Conference – U.S. did not get involved and indirectly helped the Fascists become more powerful

Links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrRrst1i0g – little hitler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo87Q1Y48ws – Kellogg-Briand pact

Reflection Questions How did the 1st World War effect the U.S. and how it dealt with international

policy during the 1920s and 1930s? In what ways did the United States have a false sense of security with its

post-WWI foreign policy? How did the U.S. both create and kill the League of Nations? What did the U.S. do that helped create the 2nd World War?