American Foreign Policy 1930s How did the role played by America in world affairs change between 1929 and 1990?

Why do you think Americans returned to isolationism? The examiner wants you to be able to track how foreign policy changed decade by decade Remember! The 20s & 30s: After fighting in WWI on the allied side America returned to a policy of Isolationism after the war. This meant that although the USA continued to trade with other countries it did not get involved in any quarrels which they thought may result in war. Why do you think Americans returned to isolationism?

BUT Isolationism was not total BUT Isolationism was not total. Write the headings ‘isolationism’ and ‘involvement’. Read the actions America took and decide which column they fit into. The USA did not join the League of Nations in the 1920, even though it was Woodrow Wilson’s idea. The USA lent money to European countries The USA led disarmament meetings Kellog-Briand Pact 1928 – renounced war as a means of settling disputes Neutrality Acts in the 1930s – limited how much trade the US could do with countries at war. The USA did not enter WWII in 1939

The League in Manchuria The Dispute:           In the 1930s there was a world-wide economic depression.   Japan tried to overcome the depression by building up an empire. In 1932, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria and  threw out the Chinese.   They set up their own government there and called it Manchoukuo. China asked the League to help. The League sent a group of officials led by Lord Lytton to study the problem (this took a year).   In February 1933 it ordered Japan to leave Manchuria.

Japan refused to leave Manchuria. Instead, Japan left the League.         Many countries had important trading links with Japan.   The League could not agree on sanctions or even a ban on weapons sales.   Britain and France did not want a war, so nothing was done. The Japanese stayed in Manchuria. The League had failed. Source B America's consistent refusal to use nothing more than words in support of the League had shown just how toothless and helpless the international community was when it came to enforcing and upholding the peace.   John Costello, The Pacific War (1981) A British secondary school textbook

Study the cartoon carefully. It is called ‘The Gap in the Bridge’ Take a minute to make a list of all the things you can see in the cartoon. Who is the main figure in the cartoon? What is the message of the cartoon? How useful is this cartoon?

So, why did America go to war in 1941? FDR wanted to join the war from the start but public opinion was against it. As a democracy the USA did not approve of Hitler & the Nazis. FDR warned that if Britain & the Royal Navy were destroyed then USA could be next. Pearl Harbour: On 7th December 1941 the Japanese Air force attacked the American fleet moored at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. It was an unprovoked attack as America was not officially at war with Japan. 2343 Americans were killed and the US public were outraged. America immediately entered the war.

What was America’s contribution to WWII? Before Entering the War: The ‘Lend – Lease‘ Scheme allowed Britain to buy now pay later on armaments. Did not sell armaments to Germany After Entering the War: America provided huge military might in men & resources…improved morale of allied soldiers. America led the Pacific Campaign against the Japanese. American forces played key role with GB in D-Day landings. America ended the war by dropping A-Bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

In summary… Before the war – Isolationism. Didn’t want to get involved in any more costly wars. Eventually got involved after Pearl Harbour, Japanese attack, 1941 Unlike Europe, America emerges from the war stronger and richer than she was before…now she is a… SUPERPOWER!