Was the USA isolationist?

Learning objective – to be able to reach a judgement about how far USA was isolationist between 1920 and 1941.

I can describe some events that show USA was and was not isolationist.

Grade D

I can explain how far the USA was isolationist.

Grade B

I can explain and assess why the USA was or was not isolationist.

Grade A

Starter – Write five words that describe this cartoon drawn in 1940.

What was the official US foreign policy between 1920 and 1941?

Between 1920 and 1941, the USA followed a foreign policy of isolationism. This meant keeping out of foreign affairs. Linked to this, was the policy of normalcy – this was the policy of concentrating on internal affairs. This was established by President Warren Harding

But how far was the USA isolationist in this period?

USA refuses to sign the Treaty of Versailles

Despite President Wilson attending and signing the Treaty of Versailles, Congress refused to ratify the treaty and rejected it. One of the reasons for this was Wilson’s stubbornness in refusing to amend the agreement.

Instead the USA signed a separate peace treaty with Germany in 1920.

USA refuses to join the League of Nations

The League of Nations was established in the 1920s as a forum to discuss and solve international disputes.

Despite this being the brainchild of President Wilson, the USA refused to join under pressure from Congress. This was despite 80% of the population wanting to join according to an opinion poll.

Famine relief in EuropeThe USA set up the Famine Relief Administration in 1920. This aimed to help famine victims across Eastern Europe.

This was hugely successfully under the direction of future President Herbert Hoover and was estimated to have saved 10 million lives.

The Washington Naval Treaty, 1922In 1922, the USA hosted a conference which reduced armaments placed in the Pacific Ocean.

This was signed by USA, Britain and Japan – although Japan soon broke the agreement.

The Dawes Plan, 1924In 1924, the US financier, Charles Dawes drew up a plan which assisted Germany in repaying its war debts – as they were having difficulty in keeping up their payments.

This brought a temporary recovery to Germany.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928In 1928, Robert Kellogg, US Secretary of State, and Aristide Briand, the French Foreign Minister, signed an agreement that declared that they rejected war as a way of settling disputes.

15 other countries signed the agreement.

The Young Plan, 1929In 1929, Owen Young reorganised German reparation payments, extending it to 1980.

This soon failed with the onset of the Great Depression.

Relations with Latin AmericaThe USA continued to follow the Monroe Doctrine which declared that all the Americas were under the area of US influence.

They sent troops to Nicaragua, Haiti and the Dominican Republic during the 1920s and 1930s.

Roosevelt established the Good Neighbour Policy in 1933 which focused upon making trade links in the Americas.

Reaction of the Chinese Crisis – 1931-40In 1931, Japan invaded China. This aggressive act saw huge pressure on the USA to intervene and support the League of Nations condemnation of Japan.

USA refused and only acted when this invasion spread south to Indo-China in 1940.

The Neutrality Acts – 1935 and 1937With growing aggression in Europe during the 1930s, the USA passed two neutrality acts which forbade America from lending money or aid to anyone engaged in an overseas war.

This would end in 1939 when the USA began to lend money to Britain and France.

TasksComplete the worksheet and write in full sentences.

Plenary – This is a modern cartoon reflecting on US foreign policy in the 1920s and 1930s. Is it fair?