United States pre- W.W.II Foreign Policy

Nye Committee report: “The Merchants of Death” U.S. loans to European Allies compelled U.S. to enter the war. U.S. loans to European Allies compelled U.S. to enter the war. Default of Allies on the “war debt” Default of Allies on the “war debt” Prohibit U.S. banks from making future loans Prohibit U.S. banks from making future loans

Congress Responds Neutrality Law 1935 No loans No loans No trade No trade No travel No travel

Recognition of the Soviet Union Trade established Trade established Better to have as a “friend” than a “foe” Better to have as a “friend” than a “foe” It was long overdue… It was long overdue…

Philippine Independence Gradual withdrawal from the island nation by US interests - $$$ Gradual withdrawal from the island nation by US interests - $$$ Maintain control over the military bases in the Philippines Maintain control over the military bases in the Philippines Mutual respect Mutual respect Independence delayed and changed Independence delayed and changed

Reciprocal Trade Agreements US tariff reductions helps boost trade with our Latin neighbors US tariff reductions helps boost trade with our Latin neighbors We all benefit economically and politically from this policy. We all benefit economically and politically from this policy. Helps spur US overseas markets Helps spur US overseas markets

Good Neighbor Policy US belief that it’s better to win friends than beat up enemies US belief that it’s better to win friends than beat up enemies We can’t afford to keep troops deployed overseas We can’t afford to keep troops deployed overseas Helps cement friendships at a critical time in world history Helps cement friendships at a critical time in world history

American Isolationism and the Great Depression Due to our desire to remain “isolated” from the world around us, the world slips slowly into conflict. Due to our desire to remain “isolated” from the world around us, the world slips slowly into conflict. Once again, Europe is engulfed by the specter of war. Once again, Europe is engulfed by the specter of war. War erupts on many fronts- Africa and the Far East. War erupts on many fronts- Africa and the Far East. Some use war as a means of economic recovery while others are victimized by it. Some use war as a means of economic recovery while others are victimized by it.

The Rise of Totalitarianism

Benito Mussolini Took power in Italy in the 1920s Took power in Italy in the 1920s Promised a return to greatness Promised a return to greatness Invoked the day’s of ancient Rome Invoked the day’s of ancient Rome Early conquest was Ethiopia Early conquest was Ethiopia The weak link in the Axis alliance The weak link in the Axis alliance

Joseph Stalin Came to power after the death of Lenin Came to power after the death of Lenin Ruled with an “iron fist” over the Soviet people Ruled with an “iron fist” over the Soviet people Purged his general staff leaving his military weak Purged his general staff leaving his military weak Very paranoid Very paranoid

Emperor Hirohito Considered a “god” by his people Considered a “god” by his people Due to his youth, he is easily swayed by the military leaders of Japan Due to his youth, he is easily swayed by the military leaders of Japan Leads his country on an expansionist policy Leads his country on an expansionist policy

Francisco Franco Came to power after victory in the Spanish Civil War ( ) Came to power after victory in the Spanish Civil War ( ) Aided by the Nazi’s, Italian’s Aided by the Nazi’s, Italian’s Opposed by the Soviets Opposed by the Soviets Abraham Lincoln Brigade Abraham Lincoln Brigade

Adolf Hitler Took power in 1933 Took power in 1933 Opened the first “concentration camp” Dachau in ‘33 Opened the first “concentration camp” Dachau in ‘33 S.A. and S.S. and Gestapo help control the people S.A. and S.S. and Gestapo help control the people

The Road to WWII Japanese Invasion of Manchuria-1931 Japanese Invasion of Manchuria-1931 Italian invasion of Ethiopia-1935 Italian invasion of Ethiopia-1935 German re- militarization of the Rhineland-1936 German re- militarization of the Rhineland-1936 Japanese assault on China proper Japanese assault on China proper Spanish-Civil War (‘dress rehearsal for WWII’) Spanish-Civil War (‘dress rehearsal for WWII’) German annexation of Austria, invasion of Czechoslovakia German annexation of Austria, invasion of Czechoslovakia German invasion of Poland-9/1/39 German invasion of Poland-9/1/39