U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1930’s Isolationist America and the Coming of WWII

WWI: a Mistake?

Johnson Debt Default Act (1934) Sen. Hiram Johnson (R-CA) Prohibited all loans to countries which had defaulted on WWI loans from U.S. Only Finland had repaid in full

“Uncle Shylock”

Sen. Gerald P. Nye, D-ND Senate Munitions (Nye) Committee, “Merchants of Death” “... war is not a matter of national honor and national defense, but a matter of profit for the few.”

Neutrality Acts, Designed to prevent American entry into the FIRST World War Neutrality Act of 1935 empowered the president, on finding a state of war, 1. to declare an embargo on arms shipments to the belligerents 2. to announce that U.S. citizens traveling on belligerents' ships did so at their own risk. 3. This act set no limits, however, on trade in materials useful for war, such as copper, steel, and oil Neutrality Act of 1936 added a prohibition on extending loans or credits to belligerents. Neutrality Act of 1937 included civil wars, empowered the president to add strategic materials to the embargo list, and made travel by U.S. citizens on belligerents' ships unlawful.

Hitler’s Invasion of Poland September 1, 1939

Non Aggression Pact of 1939

Charles Lindbergh, 0ctober, 1939 I believe that we should adopt as our program of American neutrality - as our contribution to western civilization -- the following policy: 1. An embargo on offensive weapons and munitions. 2. The unrestricted sale of purely defensive armaments. 3. The prohibition of American shipping from the belligerent countries of Europe and their danger zones. 4. The refusal of credit to belligerent nations or their agents.

“Cash and Carry” Neutrality Act of Belligerents (Allies) were permitted to buy American arms and strategic materials, 2. But they had to pay cash and to transport the goods in their own ships. 3.The president was empowered to designate a "combat zone" in time of war, through which American citizens and ships were forbidden to travel.

Tripartite Pact (1940)

“Fall of France”

Battle of Britain

1940

First Ever Peace Tine Draft

Destroyers for Bases Deal, WWI U.S. Destroyers for 8 British Naval Air Stations in the Western Hemisphere

FDR Press 1940 Conference “No American boys will be sent into any foreign wars.” “I hate war. Eleanor hates war. We all hate war.”

"An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States“ HR 1776 “Lend –Lease”-1941 “Arsenal of Democracy” “ The Allies need planes, tanks and guns. And we will Give them planes, tanks and guns.” –FDR “All Aid Short of War”

America First Committee Senators Gerald Nye (ND), William Borah (ID) Burton K. Wheeler (MT)

Sen. Burton Wheeler on Lend-Lease “It warranted my worst fears for the future of America, and it definitely stamps the President as war-minded.” “The lend-lease-give program is the New Deal's triple-A foreign policy; it will plow under every fourth American boy.” “If it were, then we should lend and lease war materials. If it were, then we should lend and lease American boys.... Our boys will be returned - returned in caskets.”

“Uncle Joe” – Our Pal

August 9,1941 USS Augusta Placentia Bay, Newfoundland

Undeclared Naval War in the North Atlantic

USS Reuben James Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame? She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea. CHORUS: Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names, Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James? One hundred men were drowned in that dark watery grave When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved. 'Twas the last day of October we saved the forty- four From the cold icy waters off that cold Iceland shore. It was there in the dark of that uncertain night That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight. Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor. Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright In the farms and in the cities they are telling of the fight. And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main And remember the name of that good Reuben James. Many years have passed since those brave men are gone; Those cold Iceland waters are still and they're calm. Many years have passed, but still I wonder why - - The worst of men must fight, and the best of men must die. --Woody Guthrie Escort Duty of Iceland Torpedoed and Sank by U Killed

“Shoot on Sight” Orders by FDR

October, 1941

September, 1941

Angooki B-gata ( 暗号機 B 型 ) ("Type B Cipher Machine"), “MAGIC” Machine “Ultra” decrypted “Purple”

Ambassadors Kichisaburo Nomura and Saburo Kurusu U.S Secretary of State Cordell Hull

December 7

The END of Isolationism