America Struggles With Neutrality…Again

Journal #111 Why did the United States open relations with Russia in 1933? Why did the United States open relations with Russia in 1933?

US Shakes Hands with the Soviets (Since 1917, the US refused to recognize the Soviet gov’t (Since 1917, the US refused to recognize the Soviet gov’t –Refused to pay loans made to Russian monarchy & taken over American property FDR sent ambassadors to USSR  could now study it from w/in FDR sent ambassadors to USSR  could now study it from w/in USSR now open for Am exports) USSR now open for Am exports)

Reciprocal Trade Agreement Passed in 1934 Passed in 1934 Gave president power to make agreements with countries to reduce tariffs (close to 50%) Gave president power to make agreements with countries to reduce tariffs (close to 50%) Trade increased, nations became more friendly towards US Trade increased, nations became more friendly towards US

Good Neighbor Policy Continuation Continuation 1933 Pan-American conference in Uruguay 1933 Pan-American conference in Uruguay –US promised to end all military action in Latin America 1934: abolished Platt Agreement but kept base at Guantanamo Bay 1934: abolished Platt Agreement but kept base at Guantanamo Bay

More Isolationism (1930s, Girl Scouts of America changed uniforms to khaki to appear less militaristic (1930s, Girl Scouts of America changed uniforms to khaki to appear less militaristic Campaigns to stop selling toy soldiers Campaigns to stop selling toy soldiers –promoted militarism Tried to abolish Memorial Day) Tried to abolish Memorial Day)

Nye Committee Set up to research why US entered WWI Set up to research why US entered WWI –(What changed Wilson’s mind) Report suggested US went to war for profit for munitions and banking Report suggested US went to war for profit for munitions and banking (To avoid another war, US had to avoid financial agreements & keep ships and people at home) (To avoid another war, US had to avoid financial agreements & keep ships and people at home)

Neutrality Acts (After Italian invasion of Ethiopia) (After Italian invasion of Ethiopia) Stated that if a state of war existed, the US couldn’t ship or sell arms to countries that were fighting Stated that if a state of war existed, the US couldn’t ship or sell arms to countries that were fighting (Second Acts prohibited the loans and credit) (Second Acts prohibited the loans and credit)

Spanish Civil War Francisco Franco attacked Spanish republican gov’t Francisco Franco attacked Spanish republican gov’t (Hitler & Mussolini gave full aid to Franco (Hitler & Mussolini gave full aid to Franco –Dress rehearsal for their armies) (Group in the US formed the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (1,000 volunteers) to fight against Franco) (Group in the US formed the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (1,000 volunteers) to fight against Franco) –(Young Communist League and Wobblies)

Guernica – Pablo Picasso

Spanish Civil War (Brutal and very violent (Brutal and very violent It has been calculated that the Nationalist Army executed 75,000 It has been calculated that the Nationalist Army executed 75,000 10% of all soldiers who fought in the war were killed.) 10% of all soldiers who fought in the war were killed.) (After the war it is believed that the government of General Francisco Franco arranged the executions of 100,000 Republican prisoners. It is estimated that another 35,000 Republicans died in concentration camps in the years that followed the war.) (After the war it is believed that the government of General Francisco Franco arranged the executions of 100,000 Republican prisoners. It is estimated that another 35,000 Republicans died in concentration camps in the years that followed the war.)

Roosevelt Challenges Isolation 4 th Neutrality Act – US could now sell goods to nations at war, paid for up front, but not weapons 4 th Neutrality Act – US could now sell goods to nations at war, paid for up front, but not weapons FDR was not an isolationist, (but didn’t want to come across as a warmonger) FDR was not an isolationist, (but didn’t want to come across as a warmonger) Japan invaded China, (soon controlled most of the sea) Japan invaded China, (soon controlled most of the sea) –US started sending weapons to China

Quarantine Speech (10/5/1932) (10/5/1932) Warned of actions of Japan, Italy and Germany Warned of actions of Japan, Italy and Germany Said that the US should get together with other democracies and isolate the aggressors Said that the US should get together with other democracies and isolate the aggressors (Accused of trying to get US involved in another war) (Accused of trying to get US involved in another war)

Panay Incident (12/12/1937) (12/12/1937) US boat in China (Yangtze River) and 3 oil tankers attacked by Japanese US boat in China (Yangtze River) and 3 oil tankers attacked by Japanese Japanese authorities apologized and offered to pay for damages Japanese authorities apologized and offered to pay for damages –US accepted (Public favored leaving China and avoiding another war) (Public favored leaving China and avoiding another war)

Meanwhile… (Things heating up in Europe (Things heating up in Europe Hitler decides he must help the Germans living in Austria…) Hitler decides he must help the Germans living in Austria…)