American Foreign Policy:

1920-1932

American Foreign Policy:

1920-1932The Fiction of Isolationism

Use the power point to answer the following questions.

1.After reading the slide entitled Foreign Policy Tensions, define the term isolationism.2.Who were the leading isolationist Senators? What was their main objection to the Treaty of Versailles?3.What were the goals of the Washington Naval Conference?4.How did the Four-Power Treaty affect East-West relations in Asia and the Pacific?5.What did the Nine-Power Treaty establish? Why?6.What was the major effect of the Five-Power Treaty? Define the term naval holiday.7.How did European war debt affect the American economy?8.What was the purpose of the Dawes/Young Plan?9.How did the Clark Memorandum change U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America?10.What the purpose of the Kellogg-Briand pact? The problems?11.Why do you think the subtitle of this presentation is the Fiction of Isolationism?

Foreign Policy TensionsForeign Policy Tensions5 The Red Scare of 1919—"100% Americanism”—follows World War The Red Scare of 1919—"100% Americanism”—follows World War

I. I.

5 Americans want to let Europe to “stew in its own juice”. Americans Americans want to let Europe to “stew in its own juice”. Americans show an incredible indifference to the fate of Europe during the show an incredible indifference to the fate of Europe during the 1920s. 1920s.

5 The U.S. follows foreign policy that is narrow, cautious, and self-The U.S. follows foreign policy that is narrow, cautious, and self-centered and refuses to be bound by any agreement to preserve centered and refuses to be bound by any agreement to preserve international peace. (No “entangling alliances”) international peace. (No “entangling alliances”)

5 The U.S. military is reduced to 118,00 by 1927.The U.S. military is reduced to 118,00 by 1927.

5 Anti-Japanese immigration policy; tight immigration laws a paradox Anti-Japanese immigration policy; tight immigration laws a paradox considering number of immigrants already in U.S.considering number of immigrants already in U.S.

5 Washington wants World War I debts paid, quarrels with almost Washington wants World War I debts paid, quarrels with almost everybody over various issues. America had loaned Allies during everybody over various issues. America had loaned Allies during and after the war a total of $11 billion. and after the war a total of $11 billion.

5 Great Britain proposes canceling reparations debts if U.S. will Great Britain proposes canceling reparations debts if U.S. will cancel Great Britain's $4 billion debt. U.S. refuses.cancel Great Britain's $4 billion debt. U.S. refuses.

5 July, 1921 July, 1921 Congress passed a resolution declaring WW I officially Congress passed a resolution declaring WW I officially over!over!

5 The nation remains primarily isolationist throughout the 1930s.The nation remains primarily isolationist throughout the 1930s.

American IsolationismAmerican Isolationism5 Isolationists like Senators LodgeIsolationists like Senators Lodge and Brandegee refused to allow the and Brandegee refused to allow the

US to sign the Versailles TreatyUS to sign the Versailles Treaty

5 Main objection – Article XMain objection – Article X US would have to defend a leagueUS would have to defend a league member if attackedmember if attacked Fearful of being drawn into Fearful of being drawn into

anotheranother war in Europe war in Europe

5 U.S. never joined the League of U.S. never joined the League of Nations, hampering the League's Nations, hampering the League's credibility as a mediator of world credibility as a mediator of world conflictconflict..

5 Security treaty with France also Security treaty with France also rejected by the Senaterejected by the Senate

Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge, Sr. [R-MA][R-MA]

Sen. Frank BrandegeeSen. Frank Brandegee [R-CT[R-CT

Washington Naval Washington Naval Conference-1921 Conference-1921

5 Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain and Japan to oppose Russian expansion in China; Britain and Japan to oppose Russian expansion in China; come to each other’s aid in time of war. Would the British come to each other’s aid in time of war. Would the British aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States?States?

5 Treaty was terminated in 1923.Treaty was terminated in 1923.

5 Goals of the U.S. Goals of the U.S. promote peace, naval disarmament and promote peace, naval disarmament and ease the political situation in the East Asia.ease the political situation in the East Asia.

Four-Power Treaty Four-Power Treaty (1921)(1921)5 US, France, Great Britain, and Japan US, France, Great Britain, and Japan agree to respect each agree to respect each

other’s territory in China (status quo)other’s territory in China (status quo)

5 respecting the Pacific holdings of the other countries signing respecting the Pacific holdings of the other countries signing the agreementthe agreement

5 not seeking further territorial expansion, and mutual not seeking further territorial expansion, and mutual consultation with each other in the event of a dispute over consultation with each other in the event of a dispute over territorial possessionsterritorial possessions

5 However, the main result of the Four-Power Treaty was the However, the main result of the Four-Power Treaty was the termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902.termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902.

5 Affirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, Affirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, signed by all attendees of the Conferencesigned by all attendees of the Conference

5 Establishes Establishes Open Door Policy Open Door Policy as international lawas international law

Nine Power Treaty Nine Power Treaty (1922)(1922)

Five-Power Treaty Five-Power Treaty (1922)(1922)5 A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:

US Britain Japan France ItalyUS Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67 5 5 3 1.67 1.67

5 Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines].fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines].

5 A moratorium was placed on the building of naval ships – a A moratorium was placed on the building of naval ships – a ten year “holiday”ten year “holiday”

5 LoopholeLoophole no restrictions on small warships, cruisers no restrictions on small warships, cruisers

European Debts to the European Debts to the USUS

Hyper-Inflation in Hyper-Inflation in Germany:Germany: 19231923

Dawes PlanDawes Plan (1924)(1924)

Young PlanYoung Plan (1930)(1930)5 $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½ $26,350,000,000 to be paid over a period of 58½

years.years.5 By 1931, Hoover declared a debt moratorium.By 1931, Hoover declared a debt moratorium.5 Cycles helped ease financial problems on both Cycles helped ease financial problems on both

sides of the Atlanticsides of the Atlantic

Break the Break the Dawes ChainDawes Chain

For three generations you’ll have to slave away!For three generations you’ll have to slave away!

Locarno PactLocarno Pact (1925)(1925)

5 Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, Guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. Versailles of 1919.

5 Germany signed treaties with Poland and Germany signed treaties with Poland and Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders Czechoslovakia, agreeing to change the eastern borders of Germany by arbitration onlyof Germany by arbitration only.

Geneva Conference Geneva Conference (1927)(1927)5 Extend the existing limits on naval construction begun at the Extend the existing limits on naval construction begun at the

Washing Naval Conference Washing Naval Conference

5 Limit the construction of cruisers, destroyers or submarines. Limit the construction of cruisers, destroyers or submarines.

5 No agreement was reachedNo agreement was reached

Clark Memorandum Clark Memorandum (1928)(1928)

5 Clark pledged that the US Clark pledged that the US would not intervene in Latin would not intervene in Latin American affairs in order to American affairs in order to protect US property rights.protect US property rights.

5 The US decides about when The US decides about when to intervene on behalf of to intervene on behalf of Latin American nationsLatin American nations

5 This separated the This separated the Roosevelt Corollary from Roosevelt Corollary from the Monroe Doctrinethe Monroe DoctrineSecretary of StateSecretary of State

J. Reuben ClarkJ. Reuben Clark

Kellogg-Briand Pact Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)(1928)

5 Women take the lead in the peace movement to Women take the lead in the peace movement to prevent future wars (Jane Addams wins the Nobel prevent future wars (Jane Addams wins the Nobel Peace Prize)Peace Prize)

5 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy.war as tools of foreign policy.

5 62 nations signed.62 nations signed.

5 ProblemsProblems no means of actual enforcement and no means of actual enforcement and gave gave Americans a false sense of security. Americans a false sense of security.

permits defensive warspermits defensive wars