9-4: The Myth of Isolation

Thematic Learning Objectives NAT 1.0 Explain how ideas about democracy, freedom, and individualism found expression in the development of cultural values, political institutions, and American identity. NAT 3.0 Analyze how ideas about national identity changed in response to U.S. involvement in international conflicts and the growth of the United States. WOR 2.0 Analyze the reasons for and results of U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military initiatives in North America and overseas.

Key Concept Participation in a series of global conflicts propelled the United States into a position of international power while renewing domestic debates over the nation’s proper role in the world.

Overview What is the role of the U.S. in the world? How does the country best achieve national security?

Making the Peace The Fourteen Points Eliminate the causes of war Open diplomacy Freedom of the seas National self-determination Creation of an international peace-keeping organization League of Nations

Making the Peace The Treaty of Versailles National boundaries redrawn New nations created Allies insisted on punishing Germany German colonies confiscated Germany forced to pay reparations League of Nations created

Making the Peace The Battle for Ratification Opponents Increased partisanship after the war Republicans won congressional majority in 1918 Congressional support needed to ratify the treaty Opponents Reservationists Wary of League of Nations Feared future involvement Irreconcilables Would not sign under any circumstances Feared loss of U.S. autonomy

Making the Peace Wilson’s Tour and Breakdown Rejection of the Treaty Wilson refused to compromise on League of Nations Public opinion tour and stroke Rejection of the Treaty Senate refused to ratify treaty U.S. did not join League of Nations

Postwar Problems The Red Scare Bolshevik Revolution Palmer Raids Attempts to arrest suspected communists and anarchists Disregarded civil liberties Strikes of 1919 Post-war inflation and labor strikes Expectation of government help due to WWI labor boards Coal Wars and Blair Mountain Reinforced perception of unions as socialists and anarchists

Postwar Problems Race Riots Nativism Response to Great Migration Discrimination in the North Re-emergence of the KKK Nativism Quota Laws Emergency Quota Act Limitations on Eastern, Southern Europeans Limitations on Asians National Origins Act Case of Sacco and Vanzetti

The Fiction of Isolationism Foreign Policy Unilateral actions International investment Peace treaties Selected intervention Tried to maintain isolationism

The Fiction of Isolationism Disarmament and Peace Washington Naval Conference Limitations on battleships 5-power treaty Kellogg-Briand Pact Elimination of war Outlawed military aggression

The Fiction of Isolationism Tariffs Fordney-McCumber (high) Triggered reciprocal tariffs World trade declined War Debt and Reparations Dawes Plan Rescheduled German reparation payments American private loans to Germany