THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S From Isolationism to Interventionism

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  The U.S. was about to experience one of the most turbulent decades in our young nation’s history  From financial collapse of the stock market, to the environmental drought of the dust bowl, to having a President elected for the 3 rd time, the U.S. would experience highs and lows not seen before

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  The decade begins with the impact of the Stock Market Crash of 1929  It brings record unemployment (25 million), people were reduced to living in Hoovervilles and waiting in breadlines, but a new President arrives as well.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected in 1932

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S

 FDR: The President of the U.S. throughout all of WWII  -Serves from 1933 until his death in 1945  -Only man ever elected to more than two terms  -Suffered from Polio from childhood and was bound to a wheelchair, which he hid from the public  -Democrat from New York  -Regarded as one of our greatest Presidents of all time

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  To get us out of the Great Depression, FDR implements a new policy known as the New Deal  American citizens are concerned with problems at home, so FDR must remain focused on domestic issues.  FDR continues the policy of Isolationism: The foreign policy of remaining apart or alone from other countries problems

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  This policy would work for the first half of the decade, but as tension rose, and the Axis powers aligned, our help would be needed by our allies  The two oceans would only save us for so long from being dragged into World War II

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S

 Problems first start in 1931 when Japan invades Manchuria, China. We condemn this move and our relationship with Japan starts to unravel.  Then Italy invades Ethiopia in The U.S. citizens want reassured by FDR that the U.S. will remain neutral  First Neutrality Act: 1935 law signed by FDR that forbade the U.S. from trading arms and war materials with all countries at war

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  The U.S. passed two more neutrality acts in 1936 and 1937 as the Spanish Civil War broke out, and Hitler started taking land  These acts furthered the U.S. policy of isolationism by:  1. Outlawing travel on the ships of countries at war  2. Forbade all loans to countries at war  3. No ships could transport people or articles to warring nations

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  As tension builds in Europe, FDR is feeling pressure to help our two biggest allies, England and France  He finds middle ground by appeasing the American people and helping our allies in 1937  Cash-n-Carry Act: Any nation at war could get supplies and materials from the U.S. if they paid cash, and carried it away on their ships (Went against the Neutrality Acts)

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S

 As England and France bought supplies, the money coming in helped the U.S. slowly climb out of the Great Depression  America responds by providing military aid to the victims of aggression. This makes the U.S. the “Arsenal of Democracy”  But to this point, the U.S. still was not building up its military because they believed this would be a European war

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  By September 1939 Hitler had started WWII and people believed it was important to help England and France, but more important to stay out of the war  FDR needs to start preparing for war, but has an election to win in November 1940  FDR easily wins the election, his third term, and immediately increases aid going to England

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S  Lend-Lease Act: 1941, the U.S. could sell, transfer, exchange, lend, or lease any equipment or arms to any country whose defense was vital to the defense of the United States  Designed to support England’s war effort without the U.S. getting involved in the war

THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1930S

 When the war started, the hard feelings of isolationism started to fall away  American people were still split on this war. People either claimed to be an isolationist, or an interventionist  All of that changes on December 7 th, 1941