Governments in Action: USA 1919-1941

Part 1: The Growth of Isolationism

1. How did the USA react to the treaty of Versailles?

2. How did the policies of the USA encourage isolationism?

The American president (Woodrow Wilson) believed that the USA should take a leading role in World affairs in

order to try and keep the peace. However, the popular view in America seemed to be that the USA should stay

out of the affairs of other countries and become ISOLATED (on its own).

BUT WHY WAS THIS?

USA wants to becomeIsolated from other

Countries: BUT WHY?

Americans did not want more dead soldiers

from wars thousands of miles away

Afraid of the massive

cost of wars in the future

“It would be better for us if we stayed out of the problems of other

countries.”

Wilson lost the election in 1920 to Warren Harding. In addition, the new

President REJECTED the TREATY OF VERSAILLES even though Wilson was

one of the creators of it.

This meant that the USA would not join the League of Nations. How could the League be

effective without one of the most powerful countries?

What did the USA do to encourage isolationism?

1. Reject the Treaty of Versailles

2. Fordney-McCumber Tariff

3. Reduce immigration

Fordney-McCumber Tariff

Reduce Immigration(Reduce no. of people moving to

USA)

This tariff was a tax that was placed on foreign goods. This made them more expensive and made American products more attractive to the customer. This policy worked well and helped to create the ‘boom’ of the 1920s. However, foreign governments retaliated by putting taxes on American goods. The USA had now isolated itself economically.

There was an increasing fear of foreign people after WW1. This was due to the war, but mainly the fear that they would take American jobs (because they accepted lower wages.) Also, many feared their new political ideas (especially communism)

The US government passed laws that were specifically designed to reduce immigration numbers from poorer countries.

How did the USA try to reduce immigration?

People had to take a literacy test where they had to read a

passage of English. This helped English speakers, but other people could not afford English lessons. Those who failed were not allowed in.

The Immigration Quota Act 1921

“Only 357,000

people are allowed in

every year”

“Only 3% of the existing number of people who live here in the

USA will be allowed in!”

“This means that because there is already much more Irish people

than Asian, the 3% quota will allow much

more Irish in than Asian!”

RESULT

The USA became isolated from other

countries both economically (trade) and politically (by staying out

of the affairs of other countries.)

Immigration levels were reduced as the USA began to fear

‘foreigners’ (threat to jobs and general distrust). Their policies were

designed to keep out Africans, Asians and

South Americans whilst continuing to

allow in White Europeans.

The aim of isolationism ultimately damaged World peace as the USA failed to join the League of Nations.

Many now saw the League as a ‘Talking shop with no Teeth’.